What to wear in 80 degree weather

How 80 degrees feels depends on humidity and sun

Eighty is a threshold in forecasting as well as in your closet. The National Weather Service uses plain air temperature as its feels like figure up to about 80°F, and switches to the heat index above it, which combines temperature and humidity. At exactly 80 the heat index barely moves, even on a humid day, but it rises steeply with every few degrees after that, which is why an 80 degree morning that climbs to 86 can feel far hotter than the forecast high suggests.

Sun makes an equally big difference. The weather service notes that heat index values assume shade and light wind, and that full sunshine can add up to 15°F. In practice, an 80 degree afternoon on an open sidewalk or at an outdoor game can feel like the low 90s, while the same outfit in the shade of a café awning feels pleasant. Plan your clothes for where you will spend the hottest hour, not for the number on your phone.

Humidity decides how well sweat works. In dry heat, sweat evaporates quickly and a loose cotton or linen shirt feels cool. In sticky humidity, sweat lingers, so fabrics that dry fast and stand away from the skin become more important than the fiber on the label.

Fabrics and fit that keep you cool at 80°F

Fit matters as much as fabric. Texas A&M AgriLife recommends lightweight, loose fitting clothes for hot weather because air circulating next to the skin carries heat and lets sweat evaporate. A slightly relaxed shirt, a wide leg trouser or an A line skirt will feel cooler than the same fabric cut close to the body, and it also shows sweat less.

For everyday wear, linen is the classic warm weather fiber: it is crisp, it stands away from the skin and it dries quickly, though it creases within an hour. Seersucker, with its puckered stripes, holds the fabric off your skin and hides wrinkles. Open weave cotton such as voile, poplin, chambray and lightweight oxford breathes well, and so does fine jersey for T shirts. Heavy twill, thick denim, fleece and tightly knit polyester trap heat.

There is one useful exception. For exercise, yard work or anything that makes you sweat heavily, AgriLife advises moisture wicking synthetics or merino over cotton, silk and linen, which absorb sweat and stay wet. That advice is about activity, not about a shirt for lunch. A good rule is natural, loose weaves for sitting, walking and working indoors, and technical fabrics for real exertion in the sun.

Colors and sun protection

Light colors reflect more of the sun's heat, and AgriLife notes that darker colors absorb more, so white, stone, pale blue and sage feel cooler in direct sun. The trade off, covered in more depth in our 70 degree guide, is that thin light fabric lets through more ultraviolet light: the Skin Cancer Foundation puts an ordinary white cotton T shirt at a UPF of only about 5, while darker, brighter and more tightly woven fabrics block much more.

For a short day in town, choose the lighter color and enjoy it. For hours outside at the beach, a festival or a kids' game, a tightly woven shirt in a medium shade, or a garment labeled with a UPF rating, is the better choice, along with sunglasses and a hat with a brim of at least 3 inches (about 8 cm) that shades your ears and neck.

Jeans, sweaters and hoodies at 80 degrees

You can wear jeans in 80 degree weather, and plenty of people do, but which jeans matters. Lightweight denim in a loose or straight cut, with a breezy top, is comfortable for an evening or a day spent mostly indoors. Heavy, rigid or skinny jeans hold heat against the legs and stay damp once you sweat, so on a sunny, humid day they will feel like the wrong choice by midafternoon. Linen trousers, cotton chinos, wide leg pants or a skirt give the same coverage with far more air.

A sweater or hoodie at 80°F only makes sense indoors, where some offices, classrooms and cinemas are kept cold. Carry it rather than wearing it. A thin cotton cardigan, a linen overshirt or a light cotton knit folds into a bag and covers the air conditioning without adding weight to the walk.

80 degree weather outfits for men and women

For casual days, men can wear chino or linen shorts that end just above the knee with a camp collar shirt, a linen button down with the sleeves rolled or a well cut T shirt, finished with canvas sneakers, boat shoes or leather sandals. If shorts feel too casual, lightweight chinos or drawstring linen trousers with a short sleeve shirt look put together and stay cool. A cotton polo is the easiest single piece for a day that includes lunch somewhere nice.

For women, a cotton or linen midi dress with flat sandals, a pair of wide leg linen trousers with a tank or a loose shirt, or a denim or cotton skirt with a relaxed tee all work well in 80 degree weather. Shorts in a looser, longer cut with a sleeveless blouse feel cooler than short fitted ones, and a sundress with espadrilles moves easily from the park to dinner. Add a wide brimmed straw or cotton hat for any long stretch in the sun.

At the office, men can switch to tropical wool or cotton trousers and a short sleeve or lightweight long sleeve shirt, with loafers worn without visible socks where the dress code allows. Women can wear a linen blend shift dress, cropped trousers with a shell top, or a midi skirt with a short sleeve knit, and leave a light cardigan at the desk. Our guides to business casual for men and women cover what most offices still expect in summer.

Shoes, socks and sweat

Feet swell a little in heat, so leave room in sandals and loafers and choose leather or canvas over synthetic uppers, which trap sweat. Espadrilles, leather slides, breathable sneakers and fisherman sandals all suit 80°F. If you wear closed shoes without visible socks, thin no show socks in cotton or a wicking blend prevent blisters and keep insoles fresh far longer than bare feet.

Sweat marks are the other practical problem at this temperature. Loose tops, mid tones and patterned fabrics hide them best, while pale gray jersey and fitted silk show them most. Wash warm weather clothes after each wear rather than letting sweat sit, since dried antiperspirant and sweat can yellow fabric over time. Our guide to removing deodorant and sweat stains explains how to deal with marks that have already set.