What to Wear – Surviving Summer in New Orleans

New Orleans is hot. I heard that so many times before going on my trip but it never actually sank in. At least not until that moment our plane landed at Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans. Trust me when I say New Orleans is hot. The temperature did not drop below 95 degrees F during the days we were there and that’s not even including the heat index or the Feels Like temperatures. Walking outside from the AC is a huge temperature change and the sweat pours almost as soon as your feet hit the pavement.

Choosing what to pack for your summer trip to New Orleans can be tricky if you’ve never been there. Take my advice here and pack for sub-tropical weather. It’s hot, it’s humid, but it is totally worth the trip if you can stomach the heat.

The first thing to keep in mind is the fact you are going to sweat regardless of what you wear. There’s no escaping perspiration when you’re spending your summer days in New Orleans. Because of this, you want to wear clothes that are breathable. Moisture-wicking and lightweight layers will help you stay dry as long as possible.

Cotton sundresses for ladies, cotton shirts, and loose fitting shorts for men seem to be a no-fail route to take when dressing for a New Orleans summer. Here are some more ideas for what to wear in New Orleans during the summer.

Shop For a New Orleans Summer Vacation

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Do Choose:	Don’t Choose:
light-colored cotton & linen fabrics shorts t-shirts tank tops capris sundresses well-padded sandals sneakers with socks skirts with leggings (to prevent chaffing)	jeans sweaters/sweatshirts sneakers without socks dark clothing flannel any Teamware other than the Saints heavy fabrics

 

Shop for Accessories

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Accessorize:

Hair ties and headbands will help keep your hair off of your face. This is a good idea to prevent forehead pimples and excessive sweating.

Umbrellas and parasols will hide you from the sun keeping the sweat away longer.

Thin leggings/capris are great for sundresses and skirts to prevent chaffing if you don’t have chaffing cream.

Miscellaneous

Avoid spray tanning before visiting New Orleans in the summer. I didn’t and it melted off! No, seriously – it melted. I had streaks and splotches of spray tan everywhere.

Make sure to apply sunscreen liberally. Even on overcast days.

Stay hydrated, it doesn’t take much to dehydrate in New Orleans during the summer.

One of the many great things about New Orleans is you aren’t judged. Big, small, short, tall – New Orleanians are some of the friendliest people I have met and if you go out without makeup on they won’t judge you! New Orleans’ summer & makeup don’t go very well together so consider opting for some SPF tinted moisturizer instead.

Tell Me: Did I miss anything? What would you recommend wearing in New Orleans during the summer?