From the perspective of this article, we are actually quite lucky with the weather in old Blighty. That bright yellow thing apparently known as ‘The Sun’ visits infrequently, so for the most part, I find my winter / spring autumn wardrobe creeping into the Summer months.
That being said; and increasingly over recent years, we have been experiencing progressively warmer summers. With that in mind, I feel it important to share some of my insights into what I deem to be the best items to kit yourself out with to look classy and stay cool when the sun graces us with her presence. And as always, whilst there are myriad places that you can buy these items from, there are no better than Mullen & Mullen, so please do reach out.
Linen
Whether it be trousers, shirts, shorts, or suits, linen is an absolute non negotiable when it comes to dressing in summer. There is nothing better than a lovely pair of tailored, pleated linen shorts with either a soft cotton t-shirt of a linen shirt to get you through those casual summer BBQ’s. With the popularity of summer weddings, a light material suit is also a rather crucial staple. Linen naturally lends itself more to a casual look, meaning that the separates are incredibly versatile, and you can get real value for money out of a linen number. My personal choice would either be a classic navy, dark green or even brown to give you great versatility.
When it comes to shirts and shorts, think pastel colours. Classically summery, a light pink, blue, yellow or pretty much any other colour linen shirt should be in every mans wardrobe. Not only can you go for a classic linen shirt with an open colour, I would recommend experimenting with camp collars, cuban collars and classic linen OCBD’s for a spice of variety.
Seersucker
Dressing in summer; certainly for me, is expressing yourself and having fun. For me, outside of colour and pattern, I think a great way to do this is texture. Whether it be a pair of shorts, trousers or a full suit, seersucker is a superb choice. Despite not owning as much as I would like, I am a huge fan of seersucker. Not only does it work perfectly for a pair of casual and vibrant swimming trunks, it looks equally as good as a navy double breasted suit. The beauty of seersucker is its beautiful, ridged texture which offers a great casual nod. It is also very light and breathable, and can certainly cope with being slung over the back of a chair at a hot summer wedding. For me, a pair or two of seersucker shorts is something I will always get out for the warmer months.
Knitted Polo’s
To finish off, I want to talk briefly about a style classic when it comes to mens summer outfits. From legends such as Sean Connery to Paul Newman, the knitted polo is a classic option for summer. For the most part, these polos are woven very lightly, so do not think Knitted = Sweat City. They bring a beautiful texture, oddly especially with the small pockets of skin showing through. Either with swimming trunks or shorts to linen trousers, a navy or white knitted polo can be a fantastic option for an summer holiday evening meal.
To finish, below are a selection of images from some of my favourite menswear creators, showing off what pretty well sums up my inspiration for this summer.
I hope you enjoy.
Until next time,
Felix Arnold