Cotton shirts and jeans are ideal for warm climates as they dry slowly and keep you cool. Dark shirts provide better cover against sunburn. You can also use different colours to identify swimmers in team sports and games. The soft feel of cotton, both wet and dry, is one of the reasons T-shirts are so popular as swimwear.

T-Shirts are classic swimwear

This minimal outfit is good for beginners to learn swimming in clothes. You can also use different colours to identify swimmers in team sports and games. Many public swimming pools allow T-shirts in the water, just ask.

Keep in mind that white T-shirts can be seen through when wet. To improve the sun protection factor, wear two or more T-shirts, perhaps a long sleeved one underneath a short sleeved one. Dark colours underneath light colours look good. Some T-shirts come with a hood to cover for your head against sunburn.

The more often you get your cotton shirts wet, the tighter the weave gets. This improves the sun protection when you go swimming.

Cotton clothes are good for serious swimming training. They soak up more water than their own weight, giving you a better workout because of the added resistance.

Shopping Tip for Women

Can't find T-shirts that are long enough? If you're shopping for a casual t-shirt, try looking in the boys' or men's section. Guy's T-shirts are cut longer and also tend to be cheaper. If you normally wear a size small or medium you can usually fit into a boys' X-Large quite comfortably. You can find boys' shirts with cute graphics too, like robots and cartoon characters.

Button Down Shirts

Buttoned shirts look good over a T-shirt and jeans, almost like a lightweight jacket. For swimming pick a larger size. These shirts don't stretch much and thus could limit your movements.


Button down shirt for sun protection.