I'm cool, now I need hot.
June 18, 2010 1:45 PM Subscribe
I've developed what I consider to be a great fall / winter / spring wardrobe... but what do I wear in the summer?
I consider myself to be a reasonably fashionable guy - I'm not necessarily on top of this season's trend, but in the cooler part of the year, my friends consider me the best dressed of the group. My winter apparel is usually a play on nice dark jeans or slacks (typically grey), a solid colored t-shirt, and a patterned or striped button down on top of it, with the collar open enough to let a splash of the underlying tee show through... sleeves rolled up usually, so it doesn't look too formal, and nice polished black shoes.
It works for me really well in the cooler months, but i find myself dropping back to cargo shorts (ugh) and a t-shirt in the summer months for heat management.
How can I class up my summer wardrobe (winter wardrobe provided above to give an idea of my style, as much as i can)?
I consider myself to be a reasonably fashionable guy - I'm not necessarily on top of this season's trend, but in the cooler part of the year, my friends consider me the best dressed of the group. My winter apparel is usually a play on nice dark jeans or slacks (typically grey), a solid colored t-shirt, and a patterned or striped button down on top of it, with the collar open enough to let a splash of the underlying tee show through... sleeves rolled up usually, so it doesn't look too formal, and nice polished black shoes.
It works for me really well in the cooler months, but i find myself dropping back to cargo shorts (ugh) and a t-shirt in the summer months for heat management.
How can I class up my summer wardrobe (winter wardrobe provided above to give an idea of my style, as much as i can)?
Best answer: My husband has some kind of fabulous shorts (I say this as someone who really thinks grownups should avoid shorts when not actually at a beach or in Bermuda). I call them his short pants, they're cut and styled closer to dress pants, or at least nicely cut chinos, than most shorts. They look very slick with a teeshirt or with a button-down or both. They're Volcom's "Friggin' Chino" short and they come in an array of colors and some subtle patterns, and they are really pretty sharp, for short pants. Good length, not too short (Hi, Dad!) not too long.
Then, a pair of lowtop Chucks or Jack Purcells or similar simple canvas sneakers, and you're golden. Sometimes my husband wears a pair of casual dress shoes, with no-show socks, with his short pants and it's kind of dashing in a Thom Brown sort of way and the people at work give him the side-eye.
posted by padraigin at 1:51 PM on June 18, 2010
Then, a pair of lowtop Chucks or Jack Purcells or similar simple canvas sneakers, and you're golden. Sometimes my husband wears a pair of casual dress shoes, with no-show socks, with his short pants and it's kind of dashing in a Thom Brown sort of way and the people at work give him the side-eye.
posted by padraigin at 1:51 PM on June 18, 2010
Best answer: Many designers make trim khaki shorts that hit just above the knee, I recommend you try some on.
posted by hermitosis at 1:53 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by hermitosis at 1:53 PM on June 18, 2010
Best answer: A long sleeve poplin button down rolled above the elbows, without an undershirt is not appreciably warmer than a tshirt and is much more stylish.
posted by OmieWise at 1:56 PM on June 18, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by OmieWise at 1:56 PM on June 18, 2010 [2 favorites]
I hate to specifically contrast someone's advice -- especially when it comes to something as subjective as fashion -- but please do not wear polo shirts. They're for frat boys and trapped-in-the-office guys who aren't sure what to wear on weekends other than their Casual Friday duds.
posted by griphus at 1:59 PM on June 18, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by griphus at 1:59 PM on June 18, 2010 [4 favorites]
nice linen or madras patch bermudas and a polo or a guayabera.
and nice huaraches.
posted by toodleydoodley at 2:02 PM on June 18, 2010
and nice huaraches.
posted by toodleydoodley at 2:02 PM on June 18, 2010
griphus, I agree about most polo shirts. I think solid-colored ones, though, don't send off the same frat boy signals. It's also dependent on what you wear it with—pants and a polo look a lot more professional than shorts and a polo, IMO.
/my two cents
posted by reductiondesign at 2:06 PM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
/my two cents
posted by reductiondesign at 2:06 PM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: For avoiding shorts, I'd recommend lighter colored, lightweight pants. Take a hint from traditional Middle Eastern garb - light-colored, loose, full-coverage clothes are great for dealing with heat.
posted by Lady Li at 2:19 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by Lady Li at 2:19 PM on June 18, 2010
The problem with men's clothes, especially summer clothes, is that they are necessarily restricted to the basics. You have your t-shirt and you have your shorts. Throw in the odd light pant for cooler evenings, but that is effectively it. We simply don't have the same stylistic palette that our female friends enjoy.
So what we lack in variation on the basic theme we have to pull together with careful pattern, fit and colour choices.
For what its worth, I'm a fan of casual natural textile button down short sleeved shirts.
That said, there are plenty of days when its going to necessarily be a white t-shirt, swimming trunks and flip flops. Sometimes, comfort > style.
posted by neksys at 2:21 PM on June 18, 2010
So what we lack in variation on the basic theme we have to pull together with careful pattern, fit and colour choices.
For what its worth, I'm a fan of casual natural textile button down short sleeved shirts.
That said, there are plenty of days when its going to necessarily be a white t-shirt, swimming trunks and flip flops. Sometimes, comfort > style.
posted by neksys at 2:21 PM on June 18, 2010
White poplin polo (untucked!), nantucket reds (carelessly cuffed!), topsiders (broken-in!).
Lather, rinse, repeat all summer long, gin and tonic in hand.
posted by brozek at 2:22 PM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
Lather, rinse, repeat all summer long, gin and tonic in hand.
posted by brozek at 2:22 PM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
easy.
new to newish white t-shirt, v-neck if you've got long hair and some muscles.
nice black jeans. or jean shorts made from old black jeans if it's hot enough.
white or black shoes. chucks or vans.
no socks.
non oakley / aviator / shitty sunglasses if you want.
done.
posted by nathancaswell at 2:25 PM on June 18, 2010
new to newish white t-shirt, v-neck if you've got long hair and some muscles.
nice black jeans. or jean shorts made from old black jeans if it's hot enough.
white or black shoes. chucks or vans.
no socks.
non oakley / aviator / shitty sunglasses if you want.
done.
posted by nathancaswell at 2:25 PM on June 18, 2010
oh and don't wear flip flops in the city. that shit is disgusting.
posted by nathancaswell at 2:26 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by nathancaswell at 2:26 PM on June 18, 2010
Best answer: oh and loosish white dress shirts with the sleeves rolled up are a surprisingly cool and classy look. pair it with some loafers and you're ready to stroll the beach looking like you own a yacht.
posted by nathancaswell at 2:30 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by nathancaswell at 2:30 PM on June 18, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the advice! Some really good starting points to go find my style. I'm off to shop!
posted by frwagon at 4:08 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by frwagon at 4:08 PM on June 18, 2010
oh and loosish white dress shirts with the sleeves rolled up are a surprisingly cool and classy look. pair it with some loafers and you're ready to stroll the beach looking like you own a yacht.
And for pants: linen. Perhaps even seersucker.
posted by mhum at 4:47 PM on June 18, 2010
And for pants: linen. Perhaps even seersucker.
posted by mhum at 4:47 PM on June 18, 2010
You can't go wrong with chinos and poplin shirts in colors to complement your eyes. A nice belt with matching mocs pull the look together.
posted by Pamelayne at 6:39 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by Pamelayne at 6:39 PM on June 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Why not get a lighter wash of jeans for the warmer weather?
posted by reductiondesign at 1:51 PM on June 18, 2010