The warmer months are (supposedly) fast approaching, so here’s a quick guide on men's summer wardrobe essentials this sunny season.
Whether you’re heading on a hot date, going on holiday or attending a wedding, there are a few essentials every man should own to look the part.
Summer is all about colours, practicality and fun. So as a starting point, you should be looking for men's minimalist summer outfits consisting of black, maroon and dark green. These colours can return when you’re putting a partridge in a pear tree.
Instead, opt for beige, light blue and other pastel colours, as they offer a cool touch to your outfit selection. If you do pick a more flamboyant colour, only use it for one item of clothing. Otherwise, you may start to look like a traffic light ice lolly.
Once you have the basic colour palette in your head, it’s time to go shopping. Here are our top men’s summer wardrobe essentials…
A vibrant polo shirt
Navy and white polo shirts are a given in any gentleman’s summer wardrobe. However, the key is to mix it up a little bit. Opt for a vivid red, sky blue or sea green one from Zara with a dress shirt style collar. It’ll not only make you look smart but super confident too.
A casual belt
A stiff woven belt is perfect for spring and summertime. You’ll get plenty of years out of it and it’s also extremely easy to combine with various outfits. For instance, a light brown stiff woven belt can go with a pair of espadrilles or dark brown loafers, enabling you to dress up or down for certain occasions.
For a premium choice, Mr Porter has a large range of designer woven belts for you to mull over.
Chinos
When it comes to chinos, khaki, beige and burgundy slim ones from Burton are your best option for both value and fit. You can match these up with a pair of quality men’s Oxford shoes for work and loafers for a smart/casual date.
For further advice, The Idle Man has quite a useful guide on how to wear a pair of chinos here.
Light blue denim jeans
(Above: Percy Stride Alfred Oxfords £265)
Combining a fun date with a meal out? A pair of light blue denim jeans (ideally ripped), shows you’ve acknowledged the summer season, but have also dressed practically. After all, you don’t want to be sitting in a nice restaurant wearing a pair of shorts!
For a snug fit, try this pair from boohoo MAN.
Denim jacket
A denim jacket belongs in every summer man’s wardrobe. In the colder months, it can be used as a layering piece to keep warm. While in the summer, you can wear it in the cooler evenings or have it slung over your shoulder like James Dean.
We recommend this dark blue one from Topman, as this can go with light blue, dark blue and black jeans, as well as beige/khaki chinos.
White trainers
Nothing says summer like a pair of white trainers. GQ recommends Common Projects – and we couldn’t agree more. With a lack of logos, they’ve spent their time and budget on designing a pair of white sneakers that last.
Purchase a pair and you can style it with shorts, chinos and jeans in any colour.
Chino shorts
If you’re planning on getting your pins out, do it in style! Matched with a pair of loafers, chino shorts can help bridge the gap between beach bum and smart.
Summer 2019 is all about going big, so we’re daring you to pick up a pair of white or ivory chino shorts. River Island do a fantastic multipack with two pairs (one grey and one ivory) for £30!
Quality sunglasses
With Meghan Markle recently sporting a pair of Finlay & Co sunglasses, there’s no wonder why people are circling around the London based company.
The men’s range is equally as impressive, oozing summer and starting at an affordable price range. We highly recommend the Bowery as it can suit pretty much everyone (including those with large heads), due to its angular shape.
Classic, timeless, and an absolute must for any summer wedding or evening meal out. You can match them with suit trousers, chinos and jeans, so you have the versatility to switch from smart to casual.
Stylish and bold, they’re the ideal way to cap off a smart navy suit or a skinny dark blue pair of jeans.
For more inspiration, you might find our previous post useful: ‘4 Outfits to Wear with Classic Men’s Oxford Shoes’.