The summer style essentials every man should buy now
From an all-Americana shirt to classic Tom Ford swimwear, here’s our shortlist of staples that’ll take you into the lightness and brightness of the current season
Words: Josh Lee
In association with:
With summer comes a shifting of habits – perhaps you’re feeling more adventurous and are looking at an escape to Sicily or a fortnight-long sojourn to the Pacific Islands; and, maybe, given that you’ll be showing a bit more skin for the foreseeable, your fitness regime has gone into overdrive – and few are as important as altering your wardrobe appropriately.
Out goes the wool pea coats of winter, and the blouson jackets of the transitional seasons, and in comes the lightweight fabrics, the more relaxed fits, and – if you’re set for some seaside splashing – a nice rotation of swimwear.
Below, in tandem with MR PORTER, we’ve curated a considered selection of staples you’ll need for the months ahead. Of course, these may be essentials, but they’re anything but basic – they aren’t your everyday throwaway T-shirts, or your wear-once shorts; they aren’t the linen shirts that lose all shape and colour after the first wash, nor are they the shoes that’ll only see one dust-heavy summer. Far from it. These are the investments that you buy once, and then bring out annually, around this time of year, for the rest of your life.
So, to help make light work of dressing for the most glorious months of the calendar, read on…
MR P. Striped Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt
Of course, we could go for the de rigueur plain-white T-shirt here, the item popularised by style heroes such as James Dean, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. But, with summer being the ultimate time to showcase some colour and verve, we thought it best to opt for something with a bit more punch – MR P.’s offering has a sort of throwback feel due to its horizontal stripes, meanwhile the slightly loose fit works particularly well on breezy seaside walks as it flaps gently in the wind.
Cherry Los Angeles Logo-Embroidered Shirt
Pure Americana with its bucking bronco and bowling motif emblazoned on the back, this boxy shirt is a playful alternative to more subdued counterparts, and the lack of embellishment on the front, bar the word ‘Cherry’, keeps the spirited feel in check. Pair with a white vest and some great denim to replicate that West Coast look.
Loro Piana Andre Camp-Collar Shirt
Inevitably, any stretch of sun we’ll witness in the UK will be broken up by a lull of grey weather – so, chances are that you’ll have to revert back to covering the limbs. We’re quite drawn to Loro Piana’s shirt, not only due to its clean appearance and versatile, neutral hue, but also because it is breathable (thanks to its linen-and-silk-blend makeup) while offering some protection from the evening breeze.
Bode Cotton Shorts
Another vibrant item, these shorts, rather amusingly, take their design cues from an early-20th-century kitchen towel, and both the variation of stripe widths and interplay of light and dark tones will help you contrast nicely against a beach of baggy cargo shorts. Due to the statement scheme, either pair with the matching shirt, or a plain T-shirt, in order to keep the top half of your ensemble subdued.
Orlebar Brown Washed Linen Trousers
With the mercury slowing rising, it’s time to fold away those heavy denim jeans and thick wool chinos in favour of some lighter legwear. Orlebar Brown, renowned for its superlative resortwear, has these straight-leg options that are perfect if you’re trying to evoke a Riviera style, and the elasticated waist detailing creates a discreet off-duty touch.
Tom Ford Swim Shorts
When making a splash on the Med, the style stakes will likely be high, and Tom Ford is always a reliable name when it comes to choosing a swimwear option. A quick-drying shell and the tailored silhouette make the above appropriate to wear to the beachside bar following an afternoon in the water, and the side fasteners allow for constant adjustment (an ideal feature, given that holiday indulging is on the cards).
Loewe x On Cloudtilt 2.0 Stretch-Knit Sneakers
Of course, summer is not entirely all fun and games – hard yards need to be put in, too. Making workouts and Sunday runs a little easier on the legs are these sneakers that are made from flexible stretch-knit and meld together Loewe’s artful eye with On’s deft hand at creating products with functionality in mind. We don’t only like the pristine exterior, but, on a practical level, the stacked foam soles – as the Cloudtilt name suggests – allow for an extremely comfortable step.
Brunello Cucinelli Eyewear Acetate Sunglasses
Less ubiquitous than wayfarers, more elegant than aviators, and just incredibly refined with its lightweight frame and tortoiseshell pattern, we advise you to block out the sun – and elevate your look in the most subtle of ways – with this bit of evergreen eyewear.
Want more seasonal content? Here’s what to watch on Netflix in July…
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