Looking for a sweaty summer suit

When I applied for a job two months ago, I was a hot mess. But nerves weren’t to blame for my sweaty forehead – it was my suit. Look, it was 88 degrees in New York, and the snazzy navy number that seemed just right when I packed it back in London had transformed into a wetsuit as I zipped the inferno-like subway from Brooklyn to Midtown . Instead of rushing into the meeting with the nonchalance of Serge Gainsbourg, I tumbled in like a hot, steaming lump of worsted. My current boss turned a blind eye to my shockingly crimson skin, but I’ve since wondered which two-piece suit would have stayed cool in such sizzling conditions. So my search for the sweat-free summer suit began.

Such a search is no longer limited to classic materials such as linen, crimped seersucker or fresco, a well-ventilated wool with an open weave. Mills create “sexy” mohair-wool blends that let the air in while still retaining a daring shine, said New York tailor Paolo Martorano. And there are carefully constructed warm-weather hybrids that fuse cotton (lightweight but not always breathable), linen (breathable but wrinkle easily) and silk (crease-resistant), as well as newer eco-friendly fibers like hemp and bamboo, said Mr. Porter’s style director Olie Arnold . You can also choose from sporty synthetic styles — Veilance makes a popular machine-washable nylon-spandex set — but if you’re looking for a suit that doubles as an air conditioner, “I’d always trust natural fabrics,” said Mr. Arnold.