【Seoul, South Korea Wear Test】Did a Merino Wool T-Shirt Look Out of Place in This Fashion-Forward City?
From July 16 to 19, seven staff members spent four days in Seoul.
Myeongdong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Deoksugung Palace, N Seoul Tower, Suwon, and more.
Each of us wore different colors and quantities of C-one shirts as we explored the city on foot.
Before leaving, we wondered: “Would a simple T-shirt look out of place in such a fashion-conscious city?”
The short answer is no. In fact, it was in unexpected situations that we appreciated merino wool the most.
(per person)
A Climate Similar to Tokyo—But with Greater Temperature Swings
During our stay, Seoul felt similar to Tokyo in temperature and humidity. Daily highs reached 29–31°C, with daytime humidity of 30–50%. It was still undeniably hot.
Tokyo (mid-July average)
30〜32℃ / Humidity 70–80%
Hot and humid, with persistent muggy conditions and sharp temperature differences from air-conditioned interiors.
Seoul (July 16–19, 2026)
29〜31℃ / Humidity 30–50%
The temperature and humidity felt similar to Tokyo, but some mornings and evenings dropped to around 17°C, creating large temperature swings within a single day.
One defining event was a severe storm from the evening of Day 2 through the morning of Day 3. The weather was so intense that landslides occurred in mountainous areas, and the next morning felt chilly. Strong sunshine returned that afternoon, producing a temperature swing of more than 10°C in one day.
Did It Look Out of Place in a Fashion-Forward City?
Myeongdong, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Hannam-dong each have completely different atmospheres. Some areas are filled with tourists, while others attract highly fashion-conscious locals. As we walked through them, each of us considered how a single, simple T-shirt would look.
“I thought I might look slightly out of place at Starfield Suwon, but there were many families and tourists enjoying their own styles, so it did not concern me.”
“This time I wore it as part of a layered outfit. It blended naturally with the city and felt easy to wear. It is simple and versatile on its own, but styling can bring out even more of its appeal.”
“Local men seemed to favor basic colors. I thought a pale T-shirt might stand out, but as long as the color was not too bold, it blended in well.”
“Perhaps because we were in tourist areas, few people seemed overly concerned with fashion. The atmosphere felt like everyone was simply enjoying their own style.”
“The city mixes pop culture and tradition, creating a sense that you are free to wear anything. I saw young men serving in the Korean military walking around in uniform on their day off and initially thought it was military-inspired fashion—until I realized the uniforms were real (laughs). The next day, I paired military pants with a black wool T-shirt. It looked unexpectedly stylish and blended naturally into the cityscape.”
The shared feeling was less “Will it look out of place?” and more “It depends on how you wear it.” Worn alone, layered, or paired with military pants, its simplicity makes it easy to adapt to the wearer’s personal style.
Sweat and Odor—An Honest Report
The hot days continued, and we sweated plenty. When walking for hours around outdoor attractions, the amount of perspiration was no different from summer in Tokyo.
“It felt extremely hot, but sweat and odor did not bother me very much.”
“After wearing it all day, I noticed a slight smell around areas that sweat easily, such as the neck and back. But it was no more than you would expect from any garment worn for a long time in midsummer, so it was not particularly concerning.”
“I was impressed that I could not smell my own perspiration. I wore the same shirt for about two days without any problem.”
“The shirt picked up the smell of barbecue the previous evening, but it was completely gone the next day. There was no sweat odor either, and the humidity quickly released the wrinkles.”
“By evening, I had sweated enough to leave salt marks on my back, but the wool quickly absorbed the moisture, so I felt no stickiness at all. Odor was not an issue either.”
The shared opinion was that odor was “barely noticeable.” Strong smells from places such as barbecue restaurants may cling temporarily, but they fade with time. Several members reported the same experience.
A Temperature Swing of Over 10°C—Where Wool Truly Excelled
The most memorable part of this trip was not simply the heat, but the situations involving major temperature changes.
The morning after the storm felt cool enough to be chilly. That afternoon we sweated under direct sunlight, and at night we stood in the cool breeze at N Seoul Tower, 270 meters above the city. Despite all these changes within one day, we managed without an extra layer.
“Day 3 felt chilly in the morning and suddenly hot in the afternoon, but the wool regulated my temperature remarkably well. At first the afternoon seemed too hot, but it felt comfortable wherever there was a breeze. I experienced neither sweat chills nor stickiness.”
“When we visited N Seoul Tower shortly before 9 p.m., the 270-meter elevation brought a cooler breeze than below. Wearing a wool T-shirt was the right choice. I needed no outer layer and did not feel cold. I sweated while walking downhill on the way back, but the shirt dried quickly.”
“Some days shifted quickly from a chilly, rainy morning to much warmer conditions. The temperature regulation really helped, and I did not experience stress such as shoulder or neck stiffness from the temperature changes.”
“I completed the sightseeing trip without wearing the cotton clothes I had brought, which meant less laundry.”
“The sunlight was intense outdoors, and exposed skin felt painfully prickly. The areas covered by the wool T-shirt felt more comfortable and protected. It also managed perspiration without developing an odor, which was a great help.”
It was not simply “cool.” It was able to adapt to temperature changes.
We experienced this under the most dramatic conditions—the day after a severe storm.
Conclusion
“Odor is not a concern” and “It stays dry even when you sweat”—these qualities apply anywhere in hot weather. What Seoul additionally taught us was that merino wool is most dependable when temperatures change dramatically throughout the day.
Japanese summers also involve repeated transitions between air-conditioned interiors and the outdoors. In places with low air-conditioning settings, outdoors at night, or during sudden weather changes, a merino wool T-shirt can perform better than you might expect.
C-ONE MERINO WOOL T-SHIRT
Four days without odor.
One T-shirt through a 10°C temperature swing.
Seven people tested the performance of merino wool T-shirts during summer in Seoul.
Try one for yourself this summer.
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