What to wear in New Orleans in summer comes down to one rule: dress for the humidity, not the temperature. Wear the lightest, most breathable things you own, bring a hat, and pack shoes you don't mind getting wet. Everything else is negotiable.
We're an apparel company in a city where it's sticky from May through September and a lot of the rest of the year too. We've spent twenty years watching visitors walk into our shops on Magazine Street and Chartres Street in jeans in July, looking like they've just come out of a sauna. We'd like to help.
Understand What You're Dressing For
The heat in New Orleans is wet heat. A summer day that reads as 90 degrees on your phone feels a lot heavier here, because the air is already full of water and your sweat has nowhere to go. We wrote a whole tribute to it in Humidity: New Orleans' Most Brutal Unifier.
It can also get dangerous. In 2023 the city broke its record for excessive heat warnings in a single year, according to NOLA Ready, the city's emergency preparedness office. Its advice for hot days starts with light, loose-fitting clothing in breathable materials. We'd add water and shade, as much of both as you can get.
Fabrics
This is the part that matters most.
Linen is the summer champion. It wrinkles, and nobody here cares. Seersucker has a long history in the South for a reason too.
Lightweight cotton and cotton blends are your everyday shirts. Look at the fabric weight if you can find it. A thinner shirt dries faster and lets air through. Many of our tees are printed on Bella+Canvas shirts that run about 3.8 ounces in a poly-cotton-rayon blend, which keeps them light. That's partly why they work down here.
Heavy cotton is not your friend in August, with one exception: a sleeveless shirt can get away with it, since your arms are doing the ventilating.
Avoid thick denim and dark colors if you'll be in the sun all day. Black and gold is the exception on game days. Our Saints outfit guide covers how to survive the Dome in early season.
Go Sleeveless
Locals live in tanks and sleeveless tees from Jazz Fest until the first cool front in October, and nobody will look at you twice. It's one of the easiest ways to stay cooler.
Our Died of Humidity Sleeveless Tee is the obvious pick here, since it says what everyone is thinking. Honest note: it's a 6.5-ounce garment-dyed cotton tee, so it's on the sturdier side. The open sides are doing the work. If you want something lighter, any of our regular tees will do.
Hats
Bring one. The sun here is serious, and there's not always shade on a parade route or a walk down Magazine Street.
A mesh-back trucker is the local standard, because the mesh lets heat out. The NOLA X Hat is a low-profile Richardson trucker with nylon mesh in the back, in black and gold. If you prefer something softer, the Strange Things Happen Hat, designed with Freddy Tyler Paul, is an unstructured cotton 5-panel that packs easily.
Wide-brimmed straw hats are great too, especially in the French Quarter, where you'll be walking a lot.
Shoes
New Orleans sidewalks have opinions. Live oak roots push them up. Potholes appear overnight. Some blocks in the Quarter are uneven enough that you'll want to watch where you step. Streetcar tracks love a narrow heel.
So comfort first. Good sandals with real straps, not flip-flops that slap off your heel when you hit a crack. Breathable sneakers you don't mind getting dirty.
If you're going out at night, leave the stilettos at home unless you enjoy suffering.
And plan for wet feet. A summer downpour can flood streets in a matter of minutes. Locals wear white shrimp boots for a reason, and while you probably don't need to buy a pair, you should bring shoes that can handle a puddle.
Rain
Summer afternoons in New Orleans often come with a thunderstorm that dumps a lot of water fast and then moves on. You'll be dry again in an hour, and somehow still sweating.
A compact umbrella is worth carrying, and doubles as shade. A light rain jacket is mostly useless here in July; you'll be wetter inside it than out. Never drive or walk through standing water. You can't tell how deep it is, and there's no telling what's floating in it.
If you're visiting during hurricane season, which runs June through November, keep an eye on the forecast. Our hurricane prep guide is written for locals, but visitors can use it too.
Looking Like You Live Here
Once you're dressed for the weather, you're halfway to blending in already. The rest is in our guide on how to not look like a tourist in New Orleans. Spoiler: leave the plastic beads at the hotel when it isn't Carnival.
What to Wear in New Orleans: FAQ
What should I wear in New Orleans in the summer?
Light, loose, breathable clothing like linen and lightweight cotton. Add a hat and comfortable shoes that can handle a wet street. NOLA Ready, the city's emergency preparedness office, recommends light, loose-fitting clothing in breathable materials during heat waves.
Do I need rain gear in New Orleans?
Bring a small umbrella. Summer storms are frequent but usually short. A rain jacket tends to be too hot in July and August.
Can I wear shorts in New Orleans?
Absolutely. Shorts are normal all summer, at most restaurants and around town. A few upscale restaurants have dress codes, so check before you go.
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