It’s easy for men to misunderstand summer style; Should you wear shorts in the office? Can you look smart and not overheat? How can you pull off a crisp, summery shirt? Here, we’ve rounded up the dos and don’ts to help boys get through every sticky situation they may find themselves in during the warmer months: from the pub to the beach, via London Fields. (Some starters: dress up, slip into loafers, dress preppy, and make sure you make the hard switch to no-show socks).
How to dress on holiday:
Do: Be brave, try matching your tops and bottoms
Do not write out the coordinates for men completely. Tinie Tempah proved he worked at Maro Itoje’s charity art sale in a shirt that matched his sky-blue Issey Miyake trousers; Stormzy, on the other hand, is a fan of the forest green Homme Plissé shorts and shirt set. Bright SMR Days printed cotton suits are perfect for the holidays, as are matching white linen pieces in Saint Tropez style.
Don’t: Wear a Paisley (or other printed) cotton shirt
When abroad, slightly too tight shirts with terrible prints should be avoided; Looser cuts are great for avoiding the “dad got lost in Palma” aesthetic.
Do: Try the men’s safari style
An idea from the front of Marylebone (Chiltern Firehouse): embrace safari style. At a Gucci party this past Sunday, men wore khaki shirts with front pockets, paired with matching trousers and sandals. Think YSL, Morocco, etc.
Don’t: Don’t be seen in the wrong polls
Drawstrings are out, smart custom chests with buttons are the ticket. While David Cameron loves Vilebrequin, I recommend Gusari and Orlebar Brown for top swimmers.
As for the office:
Do: Try a lightweight, double-breasted summer dress
Fine cotton suit? He works for work. Opt for a subtle beige color following Ed Skrein’s lead at the Rebel Moon premiere, Luca Faloni creates a lovely navy blue style, or try pairing a striped pinstripe jacket with white jeans as Ralph Lauren suggests.
Don’t: Don’t pack plain white leather sneakers
Look out for flat-soled, white leather sneakers and plim soles. These seem simple now. Wear loafers instead.
Do: A striped blue and white shirt
This classic is a great bet for bringing summery freshness to desk work – if you can get away with it, a great vintage polo shirt paired with stylish chinos is another surefire hit.
Don’t: Wear shorts of any kind
A troubling increase in searches this week: “men’s work shorts” are up 200 percent. Let’s hope it’s builders and not office goers (which is okay too). It’s not okay to bare your knees from 9 to 5.
When you’re at the bar:
Do: Wear 7-inch shorts
However, starting from 17.00, it’s time to take out your badges! Perfecting the length is key: for the barre, a 7-inch crop at the bottom of the thigh is smart (COS makes a nice pair), while for jogging or sunbathing, 5-inch gym shorts do the trick. We’re very wary of anything knee-length, watch out for cargo shorts (Peter Phillips wore them to the Badminton horse trials and looked a bit like dads abroad) and if you’re Gen Z, consider jorts (loose denim shorts).
Don’t: Be afraid of boat shoes
Wear these instead of the Loro Piana-style suede heels Prince Harry wore in Nigeria. Miu Miu started the stylish clothing trend among women and now it’s time for men to set sail too.
Do: Try a short-sleeved denim shirt
For a vibrant update on the Hawaiian shirt (fewer of these for 2024, please), try an oversized, short-sleeved denim shirt. Model Ebeneze Brown can show you how to do it, and Calvin Klein’s is perfect.
Don’t: Wear anything Tommy Robinson might wear
As a good general rule for the summer months, really avoid any signs that represent Robinson and his merry band of hooligans (including some streetwear brands with logo labels).
To spend a nice weekend in the countryside:
Do: Consider participating in current sports
Golf, rugby, tennis; You name it, these are indispensable for this summer. Blue Array found searches for “golf polo shirt” increased by 340 percent last month, while rugby shirts and Challengers-like tennis whites were a big hit.
Don’t: Walk without a hat
Finding the perfect hat is key – the easy option is a Ralph Lauren colored hat (not too expensive at £55). Avoid snapbacks, but don’t be afraid of Panama; At Cambridge, students wear them in the summer with high-waist chinos, shirt sleeves and small Fortnum & Mason picnic baskets. Elegant.
Do: Tie a sweater around your neck like an old Sloane
It started with street style displayed at fashion shows, now everyone in town and countryside is copying Princess Diana and draping cashmere around their shoulders. The easiest clothes elevator.
Don’t: Drool in sweatpants
Unless you’re in your bedroom with the curtains closed or you’re not infected, tracksuits are in fashion this summer. Lean into tiki instead.
Or a swanky rooftop restaurant and bar in London:
Do: Wear a gorgeous pair of loafers
Gucci’s horsebit loafers are always a must-have, of course, but Sebago, Duke + Dexter and Grenson are big hits (but never opt for styles with a knockoff Gucci piece on top).
Don’t: Never try to wear them with no-show socks
This is deadly. If you’re determined to show off some ankles, remove the socks altogether, otherwise wear a long black or white sock (Uniqlo’s are great) please. “Invisible” socks never do what they say on the tin.
Do: Give summer blacks a try
All black for summer? Damian Hurley, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Lennon Gallagher did so as the weather improved. Massimo Dutti and COS are good starting points on the main street.
Don’t: Only show up with tinted sunglasses
The Hollywood set is all Aperol Spritzes to match theirs – there’s orange, too.
To have a picnic in the park:
DO: Swap a pearl for luck
No, these aren’t just for Grandma. TwoJeys is a favorite of Generation Z and will launch a new collaboration with Zara this June.
Don’t: Wear sneakers with holes
The battered marathon Asics have a hole above the big toe, an eyesore. Smart runners from On, Loewe and Hoka work well (the latter has its sights set on a trendy crowd and is hosting a hot London party tomorrow with boutique LN-CC).
Do: Add some gorp seasoning
The East London look is all about gorpcore (essentially walking wear). For outdoor activities, tuck your toes in with Salomon Gore-Tex shoes or an Arc’teryx t-shirt.
Don’t: Go topless
You can take it off while sunbathing, but a definite no to topless men on Oxford Street. Think twice before running around like Harry Styles and Paul Mescal.
At a long and lavish weekend wedding:
Do: Wear a colorful linen suit
Sadiq Khan rocked this look with a green two-piece from London brand Percival. In the last week alone, Moss has seen demand for men’s linen suits rise by 22 per cent, and alongside WAX London it’s a great choice.
Don’t: Put your faith in a white T-shirt
They don’t look good under a suit. Match the color of your top or choose a suitable shirt; Remember: being overdressed is a more comfortable place to be.
Do: Try a collarless shirt like BBC’s Matthew Amroliwala
The most stylish anchor Matthew Amroliwala loves his collarless white shirt. Paapa Essiedu wears them well, too (see: BAFTAs).
Don’t: Remember that the next morning’s breakfast outfit is just as important.
Consider a knitted polo shirt from Sandro or Sunspel. You’ll feel better because you look more well-groomed, I promise.
Top 10 buys:
SALOMON, XT-6 GORE-TEX trainers, £165, net-a-porter.com
Classic Chino Shorts, £55, cos.com
Cotton Chino Ball Cap, £55, ralphlauren.co.uk
Sand Safari Shirt, £149, suitupply.com
London trunks, £145, gusari.co.uk
Brown boat shoes, £180, timberland.co.uk
Shield Rod Striped Heavy Rugger, £120, gant.co.uk
Signed Pearl Necklace, £106, twojeys.com
Petit Piqué Polo Shirt, £95, lacoste.com
Stateside reloaded, £132, ray-ban.com