There are some items in a man’s wardrobe that never go out of style. The details don’t vary much from year to year so you don’t have to worry about updating them all the time, and they are functional for multiple occasions.
Investing in your clothing is something we have always preached about, but it’s even more important when it comes to your wardrobe staples. You’re going to be wearing these for years, so quality and cost per wear are essential factors.
These are the summer pieces you should always have in your closet.
1. White linen sport shirt
You probably already have a handful of white dress shirts in your closet (we hope) but a linen shirt is a must-have for the summer months. It’s lighter and cooler than a cotton shirt and takes on an easygoing vibe.
A white linen shirt is a quintessential summer look when worn on its own, but it can easily be worn open-collared under a suit for weddings and events.
2. Navy Soft Suit
A navy suit is the first suit we think any guy should own regardless of the season. If you don’t have one, it’s time to invest. Avoid trendy fits and details and choose a simple, solid suit with a notched lapel and a soft shoulder, like the Dream suit from Luigi Bianchi Mantova.
The reason we stress getting a suit with a soft shoulder is that it is much easier to split apart and dress down than suits with a roped shoulder. It will also be more comfortable to wear, especially on hot summer days.
The jacket will look great with a pair of chinos and an open-collared shirt (like the linen one mentioned above), and the trousers can be worn with a different sport jacket or on their own with a silk polo.
If this is your first navy suit, stick with four-season wool fabric. If you’ve already got a basic navy suit in your wardrobe, you can branch out into a patterned linen or silk blend fabric for a more summery vibe.
3. Mac Coat
Long, sleek, and simple, a mac coat is the summer alternative to an overcoat. It is professional and classy without being stuffy, and it’s THE outerwear piece you need for the warmer months.
We suggest a black or navy mac coat for the most versatility, but tan or rich forest green are great options as well. You can wear it casually over jeans and a white tee for crisp evenings, or wear it to a business meeting over your suit. It’s a no-brainer for spring/summer outerwear.
4. Chinos
Chinos are the ideal middle ground between jeans and dress pants. The smart-casual trousers date back to the 1800s and are suitable for just about anything that doesn’t require a full suit.
A solid pair of chinos in a neutral colour like tan, navy, or grey will serve you well, and they’re often made of lighter-weight cotton than most jeans are. Dress them up. Dress them down. However you wear them, you won’t find them going out of style any time soon.
5. White Sneakers
If you asked us to choose a single casual shoe style to wear for the rest of our lives, it would be white sneakers. They are timeless. They’ve been around for a century, and they will continue to be a footwear staple for the foreseeable future.
White leather sneakers are easy to wear with jeans, can be worn with shorts, and even look great with a suit. They transcend trends and have solidified a permanent place in men’s fashion.
6. White Tee
You probably saw this one coming, but we couldn’t do this list without including a classic white t-shirt. We aren’t talking about the ones you buy in a pack of 10 from the grocery store. (If you’re doing that, we implore you to stop and invest in good basics instead.)
Our top choice for summer is a slub cotton t-shirt, which has some texture to it and elevates it beyond just a simple tee. It should fit well--not too tight--and be crafted in high-quality cotton so that it lasts throughout repeated washings. A slub cotton t-shirt can be worn on its own, under casual outerwear, or even as an undershirt.
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Bonus: Make sure to have a pair of wayfarer sunglasses in your summer accessory rotation. They’re a mainstay in both men’s and women’s fashion and they look good on just about every face shape.
Although this list isn’t exhaustive, it should get you started on building your stater summer wardrobe if you’re not sure where to start.
Questions about summer style? Need a hand doing a seasonal wardrobe audit? Get in touch.
