Experts reveal why wearing fewer clothes WON'T cool you down in the heat - and explains what to wear instead

READ MORE: How to stay cool in a heatwave WITHOUT air conditioning 

In the summer heat, you might be tempted to strip down to barely-there clothing.

But textile scientists and stylists say keeping covered may be better.

If you don a tank top and shorts, you're exposing more of your skin to the intense radiation of the sun, which can increase your risk of skin cancer at the risk of cooling off.

But experts stress the key to beating the heat is all in the fabric and choosing the right material and color of clothing is the most important thing when it comes to trying to stay cool in a summer heat wave.

Larissa Marie Shepherd, a professor who studies fibers and fabrics down to the molecular level, said: 'Not wearing anything isn’t good. I wouldn’t recommend it.'

Scientists have found that wearing fabrics and shapes that work with our bodies natural cooling systems - picking up sweat and getting rid of body heat - can help keep you cool all summer long.

Wearing less won't help you keep more cool, experts say. They recommend wearing long sleeve, loose fitting clothes in light colors in order to really beat the heat

Studies of indigenous Bedouin tribes in the Middle East found their traditional billowy robes were better at keeping the wearers cool than participants who were wearing uniforms with some skin exposed.

That's because all told, experts said keeping yourself cool has less to do with tank tops and shorts and more to do with air circulation and moisture on your skin.

First, air flow over your skin pushes heat off of it - like how sitting in front of a fan on a hot day cools you off. Generally, the more air a fabric lets air in, the cooler you'll feel.

Next, the better a garment is at helping remove moisture from the skin, the cooler you will feel. The quicker the water then evaporates from the fabric releases heat into the air and keeps it off of you.

Scientists say linen is king when it comes to summer attire, because it checks both these boxes.  The gaps in-between the woven fibers of this fabric let air through, which helps sweat evaporate from your skin more easily, cooling you down.

By contrast, fabrics like wool, which are densely packed together, trap heat in.

Considering these two factors, experts say you need to look to the garment tag and find out what your item is made from.

Shepherd told the Washington Post: 'You don’t want something that’s clinging to your body. You want something that’s lightweight and kind of breezy.

'If I’m just hanging out I would probably recommend something like a long-sleeve, linen, loose-fitting shirt.'

Linen is a wide, woven texture that lets some air onto the skin, which takes moisture away and can help you feel more cool. However, some stylists like Ms Newberger don't recommend it because it wrinkles easily

The natural fibers breathe best, pull moisture away from the skin and allow it to easily evaporate.

While stylists agree linen will do a good job keeping you cool, they warn of the fashion faux-pas that comes with linen: It wrinkles easily. So, when temperatures rise, you may have to choose between staying cool and looking cute.

However, linen's downside hasn't stopped Hollywood's chicest celebrities don the material while out and about in the summer heat.

Jennifer Lawrence, 33, was pictured just last month running errands in a what appears to be a white linen long-sleeved button down and pants IN New York, where temperatures temperatures soared into the 90s.

The natural, light-weight fabric is made from flax plants and is the most lightweight summer option, stylist Miranda Holder previously told DailyMail.com.

'Linen has to be the number one choice when it comes to midsummer style,' she said.

For people looking to stay cool and crisp, stylist Heather Newberger points her clients toward fabrics like lyocell and plissé, made from wood chips and cotton, respectively.

She said these materials stay cool like linen, letting air in and wicking heat from your skin, but won't wrinkle.

Once you've decided on your material, you should pay close attention to the fit of your clothing.

Wearing clothes that are tight to your skin traps heat and moisture, making you feel hot and sweaty. Opting for wide-legged pants and loose-fitting shirts should keep you cooler as it allows more air to circulate over your skin.

Luckily, Ms Newberger said this is in line with current fashion trends: 'We’re in a great space right now where oversized is king. The coolest looks out there tend to be things that are more oversized.'

She recommends 'an oversized shirt made with organic fibers and a wide-legged pant that moves the air through you and offers sun protection as well.'

Maxi dresses are also a great pick.

Lastly, when getting dressed for the heat, you need to consider the color of your clothing.

Fabrics with darker pigments, like black, gray or navy absorb more heat than lighter colored clothes - like creams and pastels - which can make you feel hotter.

In addition, some colors, like red, can trick you psychologically into feeling hotter, stylist Denise Caldwell told the Washington Post.

Instead, she recommended whites, nudes or light pastels, and said that within those camps everyone should be able to find a color that flatters them without making them hot.