You know the feeling: When you step out into the sunshine debuting your bold, leopard-patterned silk skirt. You look great at first, but with each step you take, you realize what a big mistake you’ve made. The sweat begins to pool around your thighs and the fabric just weighs you down.

Unfortunately, when it comes to women’s apparel, there are some styles and fabrics that just aren’t viable for hot, humid conditions — no matter how much you want to wear your favorites year-round.

Grab the reins of control over New England’s iconic humidity by engineering your wardrobe so you look presentable — and stay cool — for work, play or anything else that comes your way this season. We’ve got some tips. …

Consider Fabric

As tempting as it is to wear leather and denim, especially hot weather means more breathable materials like cotton, linen, chambray and seersucker are the way to go.

Cotton, a natural fiber, is lightweight and allows air to circulate. A high quality cotton garment can absorb moisture, just beware of sweat stains that may show up when wearing darker cotton colors.

Linen, typically used for bedsheets, absorbs any moisture or dampness and evaporates it quickly. Plus, linen doesn’t stick to skin and even has a cooling effect on the body.

Chambray is a lighter version of denim. You can achieve a similar look, but with a lot less chafing.

For its part, seersucker seems to be resort wear uniform, usually seen in light summer blazers fit for outdoor company meetings or shorts for trips to the Cape.

Avoid polyester and viscose/rayon blends; they are water repellent, which allows for sweat to build up (hello, pit stains). And, although silk tends to be a lightweight fabric, it’s also water repellent and can retain body odor. Not a good combination!

Local Favorites: Bamboo Cotton Tee by Blue Seaciety, $40; White Maya Linen Shift Dress by Herself, $200

Courtesy Ministry of Supply

Fabric innovator Ministry of Supply’s Kinetic A-line Dress

Go With the Flow

Certain fashion styles allow for a more breezy look and feel without being too restrictive. In other words, there’s space left between your skin and the fabric, so your body can breathe.

Take for example maxi dresses with a flowing hem. Not only can you play up the whole ethereal summer look, but feeling the “swish, swish” of your skirt as it billows in the wind feels glorious. Take it up a notch with a subtle, but flirty, leg slit for even more ventilation.

For this same reason, A-line skirts are also ideal, as opposed to pencil skirts that stick to your skin or ride up.

On work days, try a pair of wide-leg pants, especially one made with a linen or cotton blend. Your pants won’t stick to your sweaty skin each time you stand up from your office chair. High-waisted wide-leg pants look extremely chic .

Culottes, belonging to the wide-leg pants family, are usually hemmed right at the shin or below the knee and have very wide leg openings for a full, flowing effect.

A loose chambray or cotton button-up or tunic, tucked into pants or shorts works well for both the office and weekend outings.

Local Favorites: Women’s Kinetic A-line dress by Ministry of Supply, $175; The Column Maxi Dress by Zanni, available at For Now Seaport store until Aug. 31, $148

Courtesy Elizabeth & Clarke

Dare to spill on Elizabeth & Clarke’s Unstainable Whitney a-symmetrical tee

Look Smart

The year is 2019, and it’s time to dress smarter. Innovative clothing designed with moisture and stain-resistant fabric are totally ideal for summer ice-cream outings with the kids. You’ll be able to handle an ice-cream spill, no sweat (ha!).

At local fashion company, Ministry of Supply, you can find machine washable, moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant tops and bottoms made for sharply dressed professionals and designed with high-performance materials and technology.

Although white clothing reflects sunlight, it’s a risky color for mothers. Accidents and spills are inevitable, but today’s technology allows us to have the best of both worlds. Clothing subscription service, Elizabeth & Clarke, offers a line of clothing treated with molecules that suspends liquid, preventing stains, and comes in various colors, including white!

Local Favorites: Women’s Aero Dress Shirt by Ministry of Supply, $115; The Unstainable Whitney by Elizabeth & Clarke, $60