There’s much to love about the summer months, a period that offers untold possibilities. And the season is all the more enjoyable when we know we have a collection of awesome outfits in our wardrobe. With so many social occasions to take part in, working to put together a few styles is paramount for ensuring that you have a dazzling outfit, whatever the occasion.
Need some help putting together a great summer wardrobe? We’re here to help. In this post, we’ll run through a bunch of outfit ideas and tips that’ll ensure you’re well-dressed and ready for fun all summer long.
Build Your Shirt Collection
Want to stand out from the crowd on a daily basis during the summer months? Then look at building your shirt collection. All too often, men end up wearing t-shirts all summer long, and while there should very much be space in the wardrobe for some quality t-shirts, we think a better approach is to assume that you’ll wear a shirt each day, not a t-shirt. There are plenty of light linen shirts available that can have you looking good and staying cool even on the hottest of days. Once you have a collection of five shirts, you’ll have something to wear all summer, for many years to come.
Quality Shorts for a Smart Casual Look
Summer can be hot, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to bring out the shorts. The problem is, most men spend so little time wearing shorts that they don’t fully understand how to style them correctly — and in the summer months, it shows. Worn correctly, shorts will do more than help keep you cool. They’ll also contribute to a stylish, casual look that turns heads. A quality pair of grey shorts, for instance, will become a go-to item that you wear all summer long. And as to what to wear with grey shorts? The colour lends itself to many pairings, including a green t-shirt, grey shirt, and a pink polo shirt. While you’ll want to add a couple of other short colours to your wardrobe, it’s the grey pair that you’ll end up wearing the most.
Invest in a Great Hat
Most men don’t have to wear a hat all that often. As such, they usually just make do with whatever’s lying around. In some cases, a day at the beach comes complete with a baseball cap that was given away for free at a university event a decade before.
A good hat is a worthy investment thanks to the sheer use you’ll get from it. Even if you don’t use it much this year, or indeed in any individual year, the cumulative use you’ll get will be significant. After all, invest in a quality hat, and you’ll be wearing it for a decade — or in some cases, perhaps even for your entire life. The type of hat you’ll buy will depend on various factors, including your general sense of style, your lifestyle, and your age. If you’re thirty or over, we think it’s worthwhile taking yourself to a hat store to get fitted for a havana (or similarly sophisticated hat), especially if you live in a sunny climate.
Get Office Ready
It would be nice if we could spend the entire summer season lying on a beach or going on adventures. Alas, that’s not the case for most of us. If you’re like the majority of people, then you’ll need to spend some of the summer in the office.
This presents a challenge — how to stay cool — but also an opportunity. With the right clothing decisions, you can keep the heat at bay and look your best. Start by streamlining your outfit so that it only includes a few items. You don’t need more than trousers, a shirt, and a light summer blazer. The key to looking good while staying cool is to choose the right fabrics. Put away your cotton professional clothing until the cold weather returns, and instead opt for light materials such as poplin and linen.
Summer Footwear Options for Men
Many men find that they can dress well on the top half of their body, but struggle with the lower half. Quality shorts, like the ones we mentioned above, will ensure that you’re mostly there. The other key detail to take care of is your footwear, which needs to be breathable, stylish, and ready for action. It’s best to invest in a few different types of summer footwear, so that you have options for when you’re going for cocktails on a rooftop terrace and when you’re going to the beach, though a quality pair of sandals can be appropriate for both. When in doubt about which footwear to wear, opt for the lightest option possible — your feet will thank you when the temperatures begin to climb.
Quality Sunglasses
Looking to instantly turn your ‘good’ outfit into a ‘great’ outfit? Then you need to invest in quality sunglasses. A great pair of shades offers more than just functionality. It really can give you a celebrity-worthy look.
In other areas of fashion, it’s more than possible to buy generic clothing and look just as good as wearing branded clothing. But in the sunglasses world, it’s best to stick to the known brands. Happily, there’s no shortage of quality brands to choose from, including Ray-Ban, Persol, Warby Parker, and Akila. You’ll likely need to spend a fair amount of money — more than $100 — to get a good pair, but it’ll be worth it, since properly cared-for sunglasses will look just as good ten years down the line as they do on day one.
When In Doubt, Tuck It In
Our final tip is a simple one: when in doubt, tuck it in. While you can wear t-shirts and shirts untucked, there’s very rarely an instance when tucking them in won’t elevate the look a little. Indeed, it’s a quick and effective way to turn a casual look into a more sophisticated style — just make sure you’re wearing a quality belt.
