The White Summer Story: The scientific stereotype

I am absolutely not the kind who sticks to colour and print stereotypes. My Winters aren’t about Grey’s and reds, and my Spring isn’t about floral prints and pastels. But there’s one stereotype that I can’t help but follow, that of whites i Summer. This is mostly because unlike other stereotypes, this one is scientific too. In fact, a dark shade during summers is nothing short of a health hazard!

White is the best reflector, while black is the best absorber. So a white shirt will reflect away the heat of sun rays and a black one will absorb them as much as possible. I usually pair my white tees and shirts with pastels and other muted colours. A lime green pair of shorts, an ice-blue, super soft pair of jeggings and Ash culottes are are my current favourites. When it comes to kurtas though, I prefer to team up my whites with guess what? Even more whites! The classic white kurta patiala not only reflects away heat, but gives enough room to the skin surface to breathe. It’s only when we wear clothing which doesn’t stick to the skin that the sweat evaporates directly from the skin, thereby cooling down the body temperature.

Tropical Summers are nothing less than torturous. If it wasn’t for the yellow mangoes, the red watermelons and the occasional grey Nor’westers, I wouldn’t have survived through any summer. And of course for white cotton! Be it the crisp, white shirt for office, the Little White Dress for Sunday brunch or the flowing white phoolkari for that party, whites never fail you. The fact that it provides the perfect backdrop to any accessory certainly adds to the joy.

So that’s my summer fashion story. What’s yours?