Like most menswear guys, I dread when summer comes around. It’s especially abhorrent for me, since I’m the crazy motherfucker who is into this mostly for suits and ties (in LA of all places). It doesn’t help that summer feels like its gotten longer or at least shifted its flight. Thanks to climate change, we Angelinos start to get warm in June and it lasts until October, making it even harder to wrap your head around seasonal dressing, let alone making fits for warm weather.
Now even though summer menswear is certainly a thing (and always has been, mind you), it’s hard not to think of menswear as being cold coded. After all, all of the best menswear stuff is worn in fall-winter: fair isle sweater vests, hearty denim, big coats, and leather jackets. Drama works for this season. Jackets and ties also inherently make more sense to be worn in the cold, or at least what passes for cold here in SoCal; at the very least, I’m simply unable to wear my favorite tweeds, flannels, and sweaters that I find cool.
This is an unsustainable mindset. We shouldn’t just be excited for one (or two) seasons and pout when we’re in the others. As someone who believes in having a deep connection with all of their clothes and outfits without any “defaulting”, I knew that something had to change. There was simply no room for a defeatist sentiment. I knew I had to reconcile my approach with the philosophies I’ve been spouting on this blog.
So I did it. And I can honestly say that I do enjoy dressing for summer. I have garments and particular outfits (uniforms??) that make me happy to wear and helps me look forward to their season. And to be clear, it took a while. That’s because it required the typical Ethan-core approaches necessary for personal style: thinking critically about details, finding a POV, and evaluating what you do in your everyday life.
This blog post (and companion pod) is my attempt at recounting how it worked for me. Because if you’re anything like me, you probably dread summer dressing simply because fall/winter excites you more. But if I could boil this down to one thing it would be that spring/summer is also exciting. And once we find that, then the summer fits will follow!
Have Summer Items You Enjoy
Summer clothes should always be interesting. That way you’ll get inspired to wear them!
The first step to embrace getting dressed in summer is to simply have clothes that you are excited to wear. This sounds like a no-brainer (it is), but believe me when I say that it took me years to figure this out!
I didn’t have to look too hard to figure out that my fall/winter garments were disproportionately more interesting than my summer stuff. This wasn’t just in my head, it was almost by design. Even early on, my fall/winter garments were full of interesting tweeds, sweaters, and coats while my spring/summer was just about tee shirts and shorts. This was because I spent more on fall/winter and let my summer attire languish to being a bunch of “whatever” pieces. At most, I would simply wear the same shirts and pants, just open and without a jacket. It was no wonder why I felt so defeated. My warm weather closet wasn’t exciting. And I don’t have to tell you that excitement is really the name of the game when it comes to the hobbyof making outfits.
I figured out that if I was excited to wear sweater vests and flannel trousers in summer, there certainly were some things that gave me the same sense of joy for summer. Yes, mindset was a part of it but that can only go so far. The clothes (and ultimately the outfits themselves) needed to be exhilarating and inspiring rather than something to simply tide you over for 4-5 months. It was wild for me to have this realization, as I’ve always been someone who talked about how important it is to feel connected with all of your clothes.
Again, this was a gradual process. It was definitely subconscious (or at least it wasn’t as deep as I’m making it out to be) but still quite intentional. Some of this may skip around (I am an unreliable narrator) but here’s what I remember.
One first step was to fully embrace rayon shirts, which resulted in building a hearty collection of rayon sportshirts, alohas, and even western shirts. While these could definitely be worn in fall/winter (and I do), they also are just built for warm weather. Their boxy cut, floppy long collar, and drapey fabric excited me as much as flannel or corduroy, which helped build that inspiration. They became such an easy garment to wear, not unlike how I wear a cotton turtleneck on my non-tie days. But menswear is more than just shirts!
As I continued making moves to up my summer game, I branched out and hit the main point: making sure my suits were warm-weather appropriate. This led me to invest in commissioning suits made in Crispaire fabric, which is not only breathable but has a fantastic drape. I also made sure to only buy jackets made of hopsack or Ring Jacket’s Balloon (another open weave cloth). It meant that I could still wear trad tailoring when it was hot (or at least, not in a way that would make me faint). And the best part is that thanks to living in LA, they were perfect for going year-round. I could have stopped here and simply kept wearing the same styles year round, but I wanted more. I want excitement!
Its all about having clothes that intentionally send-up summer, rather than just framing it “something to get by for a few months”.
In the end, the stuff that really gets me excited for the warm seasons were the garments that fully embraced how seasonal they were. After all, my beloved fall/winter garments were just as specific and that made me excited to wear them when it was time, so why not apply that logic to these guys?
One great example was wearing big shorts, be they gurkha repros or the classic offering of vintage RL. These were not the slim fit chino shorts I had in college; these were pointed in a specific aesthetic I liked, which made them exciting. Obviously they were just like the pants I typically wear (high waisted, big, and pleated), but short. And you know what? That was enough! Now I look forward to wearing them whether I’m going for the preppy school boy look, something military-esque, or doing a “suit”. Big pant Ethan became Big Short Ethan when July rolled around.
Other warm-weather items soon followed. Knit tees came courtesy of the Anthology. Tee shirts, a summer necessity, became cool to me once I started to only wear merch ones from my favorite things. Ribbed tanks (does this deserve a blog post?) were an interesting thing to peek out from under my button-ups, allowing the shirt itself to become an outer layer. Summer weight berets were obtained so I could still be Beret Ethan while in the sun. White suits and jacketswere always a move and I made sure to re-obtain them when I outgrew my vintage ones. My extremely wide legged linen gauchos exaggerated my slouchy demeanor in a way that galvanized my resolve. Even footwear had a few additions that made me excited, and they weren’t just sneakers: fisherman sandals and white bucks were an incredible boon to my style.
I even made sure to have items that expressed a summer vibe through their design, even if they weren’t exactly made of a seasonal fabric. If fair isles, dark flecks, and deep browns and greens could exude fall/winter, then I just needed to find the same sort of thing for the warm seasons. This came through light colored trousers (to differentiate against my typical dark pants and jeans) and neck ties (cream ties in summer are a move) or even playing with bold patterns like block stripes and abstract prints.
All of these garments are decidedly seasonal. But that’s what made them so exciting! It was all about finding the fun and season specific details that make them interesting for who they are. That’s why I love them. Above all that, their seasonality puts a time-limit on the window to wear them, making them not unlike my fall/winter attire. And you know what? That makes them even more exciting, because it means that to get the most out of owning them, I had to wear them.
And that brings me to the next part: making a specific spring/summer outfit that makes you excited to wear it!
Have A Warm Weather Themed Outfit
There’s just so many looks to do in summer that I can’t help but be inspired!
Prompts always help! When its warm, I like to lean into themed outfits, like wearing a khaki suit and an open shirt!
It’s an invitation to get a little dandy and wear a fun seersucker tie and beat up panama.
Or by going 70s and getting to break out my band tees!It’s a look I mainly wear in summer.
POV is essential!
I’ve heard from a few of my fandom friends that going to conventions year after year can be a bit repetitive– panels and the exhibition hall can get really same-y. What makes it different is the fun of cosplay, whether the fun then becomes about debuting a particular costume each year. In some cases, you can even repeat them albeit with a few touch-ups or alternative approaches. Giving themselves a POV is what makes each attendance that much more interesting!
Knowing “what you want to look like” not only removes anxiety from taking the guesswork workout out of fashion but also gives you something to look forward to. Obviously this can be true of all outfits year round but it presents an interesting prompt that serves to inspire a vibe to lean into. I’m of course talking about having a specific summer look (or looks) that you are excited to wear. And as you may have noticed, I have quite a few themes that I lean into during the warmer months that make the most sense when specifically worn in their appropriate season.
There’s the schoolboy look which utilizes shorts, socks, and loafers which is perfect when you feel like being cheeky and cute despite being in your late 30s. I definitely enjoy doing shorts and blazers for a fun juxtaposition. In a related way, there’s rugged ivy summer variation, where you pair your tried-and-true big shorts with rugged (but light) outerwear like chore coats and jungle jackets; you can decide whether your wear a colorful crew neck tee or tucked-in-but-severely unbuttoned OCBD. Hell you can even just wear the OCBD as an “outer layer” and go untucked.
And on that note of severely unbuttoned shirts, summer is also the moment for going full sleaze ball or something delightfully 70s. When it gets hot, I trade my 60s-70s ivy-trad for something a little more sexy and disco by wearing my flared jeans with my plethora of rayons, with or without a jacket (depending on how hot and bothered I want to be) and with some sort of necklace for added effect (since I’m not wearing a necktie). I could even do something a bit more rockabilly or generally 50s-60s casual here.
If I’m feeling “lazy”, I can still send up the vibes with one of my pocket tees or merch tees, both of which tend to only come out when it’s warm anyway. The look is exacerbated with my messy hair, which gets even more so thanks to my sweat. While all of it can certainly be worn in LA year round, I find that relegating it to being a spring/summer majority look creates excitement around the warm season, since that’s when this Ethan gets to come out and play.
I still wear a jacket and tie when its warm but the fits I make are still themed after summer. I want to feel (and look) like an old Italian man who gets an Aperol spritz in an outdoor cafe.
Of course, I can’t forget the misguided and foolish call for a jacket (or full suit) and tie, since that’s where my heart truly lies. Summer means that I get to be the Esquire Man: Warm Weather Edition, which is full of seasonally styled menswear. I’m talking about wearing white, cream, and khaki tailoring with abstract ties and boldly striped shirts. To be “this guy in the summer”, I get to wear bow ties, wear alohas with big pants, pair sandals with a suit and tie, and if I’m really feeling it, I break out my straw boater or panama. I also can’t forget the runaway collar, which was a staple move throughout the Golden Era and even came back in the late 60s and 70s. This about looking like a summer menswear illustration, where I have the leeway to lean into being extra and dandy. When in Rome! [On that note, summer is for dressing like you’re an old Italian man or if you had the opportunity to go to Pitti].
My final summer POV is when I dress not to cosplay a “type” of person but rather a slouchy vibe or just as a “game of proportions”. It’s all about silhouette, drape, and a breeze here, where you look relaxed. The goal is to balance elegance and ease without wearing anything “formal coded” in the slightest (outside of leather footwear, which is always optional), though having the vague theme of menswear is always there. This is where I get to wear my rayon shirts untucked with my exceedingly wide gauchos and fatigues or even do the “opposite” move by wearing a knit or pocket tee (small shirt, big pants anyone?). Minimalism is bound to happen here as most tees and shirts are minimally patterned, even if it’s a sportshirt (most of mine are solid). When I dress in this way for summer, I want to be the physical embodiment of slouch and ease. After all, isn’t that what summer is about?
Thinking about dressing in this way turns the season into a plethora of Occasions where I have the opportunity to dress like any of these guys any day I choose. Many of these things are inherently summer coded and make for a certain look, which should excite you to do them when it gets warm. In that way Having a Warm Weather POV makes summer dressing more than simply having clothes in seasonal fabrics. It’s a rare opportunity to do certain moves that you just can’t during other times of the year. We just need to find our warm weather “character” that excites us in the same way that corduroy sack jack or a big duffle gets us excited to cosplay as a 60s/70s ivy student in the fall.
If you look at my fit output in summer, especially during the last five years where I’ve been able to build up my summer wardrobe and my seasonal references, you’ll find that these looks tend to define nearly all of my spring/summer attire. Rarely do I have an outfit that is “season agnostic”! That’s because at the end of the day, it’s all about looking like someone you are excited to “be”. The fact that these specific looks only come out to play when it’s warm makes them like a long distance friend who gets to visit you for the summer.
Don’t Forget To Do Things In The Summer
Doing an outing even when its warm is sure to provide you with an idea on what to wear!
It helps you get excited to dress for the theme and the season!
Occasions, be they externally or internally motivated, are obviously a great way to provide a prompt. That’s why the final reason why I’ve started to get behind summer attire, is to give yourself activities to dress for!
I know that this can be tough for those of us not in the menswear industry, since we don’t have WM Brown outings or Pitti Uomo after parties that give us an opportunity to flex our summer digs, but that’s no reason to languish! We can always make our own Occasions to look forward to. It’s all about Hanging Out and give yourself something stimulating to look forward to, if not to just distract you from the fact that its hot. There is more to the day than the weather!
Summer is when we get to do picnics or paint in a hopefully shaded area of the park. There are outdoor concerts, whether it’s jazz, the Phil, or a folk singer. You can go out (or stay in) with a refreshing pint or Aperol Spritz. We can eat al fresco and hope that we don’t get some sort of sauce on our white linen suit. You can beat the heat by visiting a museum or embrace the sun in an outdoor garden (my local city has a few of these, which is why I do them often). After you get off work at 6PM and the sun is out, you can always try a new cafe and drink an iced coffee or the perennially delicious taro smoothie (with boba, mind you).
It is hoped that making time for these activities adds a bit more direction in how you approach summer dressing. It certainly does for me: an outdoor Aperol Spritz or Negroni at Capri Club (they make it sweet, so I can take it) calls for something Esquire Man or maybe something a 70s celeb would wear; I put away my dark tailoring and multiple patterns and instead opt for pastels, creams, and blues. A solo coffee date (and a good book on musical analysis) could call for an artsy, big pant look or something schoolboy-esque. If you’re just hanging out at home, a merch or crew neck tee may be needed, where simplicity (or your favorite band or fandom) is needed to keep your spirits up in the heat. And if you treat yourself to a vacation, well then that’s all the inspiration you need to make a cool outfit.
In Conclusion
Its taken a long time, but we don’t mind dressing when its hot! Though clearly, like most menswear guys, we would prefer if it was cold all year round…
Overall, this was how I finally got to a place where I actually enjoy dressing for summer. Yes, a lot of this is simply reframing my defeatist (and fall/winter obsessed) mindset but I’d like to think this is more than that. It’s about putting your best foot forward and putting yourself in a position to fully enjoy the opportunities that warm weather offers. It really does make a difference to actually own summer-appropriate garments that you find interesting, having POVs or “characters” that only come out in summer, and of course, getting to d a handful of activities that you can dress for. I can safely say that I no longer dread summer…at least not as much as I used to. I still do prefer the cold!
Recommending a seasonal wardrobe has been repeated in menswear media for eons, but for me, the theme is about embracing specificity and being okay with how temporary things are. For me, I had to realize that I couldn’t dress the same way week after week. Not in an anti-“outfit repeat” way, but that it’s just impractical to wear heavy fabrics and layers in hot weather. This is a good thing– a positive challenge for me to find the nuances in my expression for this particular season.
After all, we already do this for fall/winter. Menswear mfers seldom choose to wear something “agnostic” when they have the opportunity to lean into the season. That’s why (if we have full agency), we tend to skip out on a normal suit, plain shirt, and tie combo and instead, we wear a big coat with a roll neck or wear a knit tie, tweed jacket, and lambswool sweater vest all at once. We simply need to do the same thing when it gets warm.
And now, almost a decade after starting this little hobby of making fits, I think I’ve gotten to a point where I am actually excited about dressing summer. I’ve embraced my warm weather style!
-end of blog post-
You just gotta find your Florida Stanley.
Making summer outfits is also the subject of the latest podcast episode! I recap the philosophy I’ve shared here, as well as share fun stories where I was either dressed in defiance of the sun or with its full embrace. Spencer and MJ recount their own experiences with summer dressing and how they too invested in seasonal items that get them excited for increased solar attention. It’s a good conversation that I hope helps inspire you to stay fitted for summer…or whenever it gets hot where you live!
Podcast Outline
7:32 – Topic Intro
11:16 – What the Weather is like in SoCal
16:54 – Do You like Dressing for Summer?
22:33 – Stuff that We Like
48:15 – Going for Certain Looks
1:11:19 – Wrap-up
Summer dressing is more than just wearing shorts. Its about going for a look.
It’s also about bring out items that celebrate summer like rayon alohas, madras jackets, and fisherman sandals. Lean into it!
And when you have a bunch of inspo, its so easy to get excited about summer attire.
Summer looks from the 1920s-1940s are some of the best places I look to for ideas.
That look second from the left is one of the best summer fits of all time. That’s how I’m tryna be!
Illustrations have it all.
Do I go for full summer tailoring with a tie or try to go casual? Now do you see how fits get added to my never ending backlog?
It’s always best to use the warm weather as an opportunity to wear specific clothes— it just makes it that much more special.
And vintage menswear has such great ideas. Even the colors are nice!
The variety of summer wear is so inspiring. Its more than just a tee shirt and shorts!
The look on the left is such a classic one. The poncho on the right…might be tough to wear for a lot of reasons.
But also, there’s nothing wrong with simple summer attire! Shorts and knitwear!
Its just so much fun how these illustrations lean into the summer vibe. Its a time for fun shoes, chocolate browns, and plaid shirts.
I also love all the safari shirts.
Or safari suits?
I love the varieties of summer shirts here, especially those popovers!
So good!
Black shirts are great for summer, as well as tonal tailoring. Such much inspo to be had!
I always look at the Riviera editorials in Apparel Arts.
Summer is an invitation to have fun with color. I’m always surprised just how vibrant things were back then!
I also love how dramatic and loose vintage summer attire is. They also differ in design, which is great to know that there is plenty of personality that is achievable when its warm.
Love the drape on the left.
Big shorts!
They really had leisure wear on lock. I just love how it hints at the ideas found on tailoring but on a more casual and interesting way. I just love these “suits”.
I need to have a terry cloth jacket.
Especially if its in a DB style.
A shorts suit or a crazy popover with big pants? Both please!
I love this.
Summer beret!
These double breasted shirts are so cool. Also, love the sandals!
Leisure suits.
Of course, there was also summer tailoring (with a tie).
Like the leisure wear, vintage summer tailoring was a still a call for more fun with colors and patterns.
Summer essentials in the 1930s.
Give me all the straw hats.
I love that summer tailoring just exudes leisure and ease, even if it stil incorporates a tie.
Sometimes its cool to drink cocktails in the shade while wearing a fun suit in the summer.
The white suit was made to combine tailoring and leisure.
It’s good!
So many summer looks to choose from!
Its wild to suggest a coat and sweater when traveling in summer, but the illustration is still great!
How do you not get excited to dress for summer when you see this?
I love that beret look.
Suits and ties still good!
The blazer is perfect for summer due its sporty vibe.
Lots of great summer looks to be done with it!
Madras is also something that just needs to be worn when its summer!
Being bold in general is what summer is all about.
This is it right here.
This too.
And yes, rela people actually wore this stuff!
Its just as fun and inspiring as the illustrations.
I need it.
Sugar Guice, Hermes Pan & Peggy Carroll (1936)
Its cool to see the slouch IRL instead of just an illustration.
Walker Evans, People In Downtown Havana, 1933
A summer fashion show in the 1920s.
Paul Watson and his wife, Muriem, 1930s
Shorts and sandals? Hell yeah.
Summer vibes in a nut shell.
Merch shirts in summer!
Another summer fashion show!
This is it right here.
Gable looking at ease with a bucket hat, bandana, and tee.
Get your robe game up!
Summer is the time for fun polo shirts, pleated trousers, and spectator shoes.
Also very surprised that people IRL wore those “short suits”. Also note the fun shoes!
Its such a specific vibe but I love it.
And yes, they were just as vibrant as the illustrations!
This is so great! Seeing these makes me excited to wear my own similar clothes in my wardrobe.
I guess the poncho thing was real.
Darryl F. Zanuck and Orson Welles deep in conversation on the Lido promenade, Venice 1948. Leisure suiting at its finest.
Summer is just fun so why shouldn’t your garments be too?
A crazy outfit but one that makes sense in summer.
Ruth Orkin, Tourists in Florence, 1951
A little bit of western or workwear flair is fun in summer too!
Aloha shirts are a no brainer.
Checked shirts too!
How bout a bold westerner?
Bold patterns in general.
Also summer milsurp is fun! Another POV to lean to.
This is so good.
Again, I do love full tailoring in the warm weather. Its all about the subtle cues that make it appropriate and fun in the summer. Like white bucks and straw hats!
Lots of great 30s street style photos of guys in summer attire: including jackets!
It looks like the illustrations were accurate!
I really need that terry blazer.
I can’t decide which one I like!
Always love a good casual summer fit that still uses a sportcoat.
There’s nothing like going with a full suit for summer.
It doesn’t have to be white linen. Jimmy shows us that a beige gabardine is cool too!
White pants are a no brainer.
Did I mention alohas and sport shirts?
Of course, summer is also an excuse to go full prep. Big ups to Darren for sending these!
Speaking of tailoring, lets look at some IRL people who have great summer style— even with a suit. The secret? An open collar shirt.
These are old photos of Chad, but they’re still great.
Leaning into summer is always something to get excited about.
The use of color and patterns as well!
Tailoring in summer is meant to be fun, so wear it with sandals!
Love this photo of Matt and his white bucks.
Wear a seersucker suit and a summer beret!
Wear a blazer with shorts and get some white penny loafers!
Pair a linen popover with a military chinos! Summer is your oyster.
Its okay if you don’t want to wear a button up, since a tee is just fine to wear with a suit!
Its something that firmly works for summer.
Love Cody’s western take on the tee and suit look.
You can always go funky even if you’re wearing a plain tee shirt.
But of course, we just can’t deny the power of an open shirt. It plays up the louche-ness while still being casual! And it still gives an opportunity to play with color, just as the season necessities!
But plain shirts are good too! Arnold doing a different variation here with a frog closure shirt.
The plain sport shirt be it in cotton, linen, or rayon (the best one) is always great. Do it severely unbuttoned, put on a big straw hat, and have a good drink.
Andre looking great in a cream sportshirt.
Ethan Newton does it well too!
A rugged version here with an untucked sport shirt and fog camo pants! This is a great summer look.
The black sport shirt is also a move! Really easy to lean into an elegant vibe but the chic attitude with black shorts and mary janes is good too, just as Andre displays. Summer is about mixing ease with style!
ALD and other contemporary brands make good use of a vibrant sportshirt and an easy outfit, making it a bit of a mix of the 50s, 70s, and 80s. That’s just NYC for you!
Wearing a sportshirt with a sportcoat and a runaway collar is definitely a go-to summer look.
However, the printed sport shirt works really well with tailoring, allowing just a brief view of fun underneath a jacket.
I’ve always loved this look from Ethan. It’s the perfect warm weather going out look.
Ethan definitely has fun with his sport shirts. It’s all about an intentional look.
Fantastic use of sportshirts as well as overall color combos. It feels very Apparel Arts!
Color!
Wear them untucked if you feel like it.
Do it with white pants or shorts!
Love this fun sport shirt, as well as the straw fedora and the vibrant Grecians. Great moves from Jason.
Printed shirts in summer can also call the 70s to mind. Just a bit of different styling, like with a flared pant (instead of just a wide leg) and the use of white heeled boots instead of preppy bucks.
Its definitely a great look to send up when its hot.
Amazing look from the late Donald Sutherland.
We can’t forget Alohas! They’ve got a great pattern, they’re made of rayon, and they have an inherently retro vibe. While they can look great with tailoring, its also a fun move to wear them with military pants for a rugged-yet-easy going outfit. Jamie’s take is fantastic!
Chinos make for a slightly different vibe but I like it.
Of course we can’t forget the worn in workshirt. It’s also a great garment to wear unbuttoned when its warm.
Guyaberas too!
Or terry cloth shirts?
I prefer to wear mine next to the pool, but out and about is fun too!
Love a fun popover. It’s a bit preppy but also has roots in workwear.
But man, workshirts are great.
Arnold in a popover work shirt (note the throat latch detail) and some yellow-khaki linen pants that are cut to perfection.
A tonal summer look from Stoffa that uses a full cut workshirt, big pants, and suede sandals. Its perfect.
You can wear a jacket in summer if you want. Wearing a cream chore coat is cool!
Can’t forget western shirts (and overall stylings for summer). This black rayon western shirt-jacket is so great.
A denim western shirt with a summer suit (I’m assuming) is a great POV. A cowboy in the city in July.
Of course you can just lean into the western look when its summer (which in general is pretty 70s coded).
It doens’t always have to be overtly western styled. Sometimes its fine to just wear the westen shirt, as Tri Victor shows.
A western shirt with khaki shorts and boat shoes! Mixing and matching.
Spencer in a well worn pastel plaid western shirt and m-43 pants. What a combo!
There’s always just straight up wearing tees when its warm.. I love them with trousers!
But putting it with jeans and old converse is a move too (and a specific POV).
Tees and milsurp is another summer POV I like.
So is wearing vintage merch tees! I like when people do it without leaning into the 70s or 90s grunge and instead put them into a fun preppy context, like with chino shorts and a blazer. Remember that summer is all about fun!
Summer is also about leisure and looking relaxed. This is where big fits come in where the focus is on silhouette and airflow to exude an “at-ease” attitude. We saw this with a lot of 30s-40s sportswear (especially European stuff) but in terms of contemporary brands, Adret does it so well.
Their stuff mixes utility with leisure and I’m all for it. It’s like a less intense, vacation ready version of (some) EG or a more classic menswear-focused Evan Kinori (both of which are great brands).
Bring back big PJs!
I do this type of look a lot in the summer. In fact, I like it more than shorts since I prefer air flow rather than exposing my skin to the elements.
Like, come on, this is amazing.
Its not even too far off from the suits and pants we mainy love.
This is where I appreciate looks from other designers as well! A friend sent this to me and its right up my alley.
It may not be as “fun” as the other POVs, but this vibe is all about leisure. And that makes sense for summer!
Mad King George also made some big fits this season and I like that it leans more toward classic menswear.
Its basically a normal linen jacket with wide leg pants, which this cut is called the “Palawan” which is a province in the Philippines! I love this vibe.
But even after all of that, I can’t help but still love wearing a full jacket and tie in the summer. But when its warm, not only is important to think about materials but also the styling! There’s still fun here with the light suit and green striped shirt. I appreciate the dark tie to reel things in and add a touch of sobriety.
It can also be somber overall, but the materials can still be warm weather appropriate. I like that despite all that, Ethan is still having fun with his grey open weave beret, the green paisley scarf, and the cute flower in his lapel.
Summer is for light suits and fun ties.
Bringing Chad Park back because I love his summer style (even if all my photos are saved from like 2015-2017). A big white jacket is great but I also like the gold pocket square.
Having fun with color!
Summer is also an excuse to get even more preppy!
Drake’s is a great source of inspo for that POV.
Especially during the hey day.
Being able to lean into prep in general is one of the great features of summer.
Chase knows this all to well. Some of my favorite preppy fits come from him!
Nothing says a preppy summer like madras and white bucks.
But on the subject of maximalism, I also appreciate the warm weather as opportunity to do a light and vibrant variation of 30s styling through the use of checks, stripes, and patterned ties.
Arnold is great example of Apparel Arts ideas in the modern day.
But of course if all of that is too much, simply going somber in summer cloth is also an option.
But now that we’ve looked at other people, I think its time to look at how my friends and I dress when its warm.
Shorts Are A No Brainer
Now lets get into what I actually wear when its warm. Obviously, shorts (make em big) is the easiest way to stay cool and still have an intentional look.
Slim fit shorts always felt like a personal cop out to me since they lacked the interest of my trousers. Why not split the difference (literally) and have shorts that are basically the type of pants I wear…only shorter?
Jason does it quite well.
Adam is a comfort first guy and is typically in shorts, but he always looks great! I love the 80s preppish look here.
A ivy-milsurp variation! Easy!
I’m so glad I have shorts that get me excited to wear them. They don’t feel like I’m defaulting but that its still contributing to an intentional look.
I know its not smart, but I still wear “layers” even when I wear shorts! It just makes it more interesting. I’m fine with sweat.
I definitely love doing the “not a suit” look with shorts. It’s a great way to still feel like me when its warm.
I’ll do it with a chore coat…
…a sport coat…
…or even a military jacket!
The small layering is interesting, practical (it will hold things), and I just like it.
I honestly find that blocking the sun actually makes me sweat less. Maybe its a sensitive, skin-contact thing.
I do the sportcoat and shorts look a lot.
Its cute and fun! And it makes sense to wear when its warm rather than when its slightly cold.
Again its all about making a look that is decidedly summery. Shorts don’t have to be a defeatist choice!
Noted jeans and fatigue-wearer Spencer does wear shorts. I like that his are cut offs.
Like me, he does tuck his shirts in and do some layering.
But he also loves letting it all hang out. Hell yeah, that’s what summer is about!
Wear Your Tees!
I tend to use summer (and warm weather in general) as the push I need to wear my tee shirts. I have them for a reason!
They’re obviously practical and easy to wear when its warm, but I also take the opportunity to style them and make a fit I’m proud of.
Most of the time it goes 70s. The era is very summer coded after all.
But sometimes I like changing things up a little bit.
I’ll also do tees with a suit!
But 70s is usually where it is.
I have a lot of tees I love and so I look forward to when its warm so that way they can finally see the light of day. It’s almost like how menswear guys feel about flannel and tweed!
Plain tees are fun too.
I always make a specific (or at least interesting) look whenever I wear them. I never want it to feel like I’m defaulting.
Even if its an easy look, its something I intentionally picked and looked forward to wearing.
All white for summer? Yes!
The season also provides me with inspiration to wear my vibrant tees. They’re a lot of fun!
Of course we can’t forget about striped shirts!
A summer staple. I love wearing them with suits. Again, I just like wearing jackets (mainly to hold things but also it makes a fit dynamic).
I got this guy years ago and he only gets to play when its warm! I should indulge him!
Ethan summer uniform right here.
Quick shout out to my knit tees. Tis the season!
The Open Shirt
When I wear a button up when its warm, you just know my chest is going to be popping out.
All my friends know this! Its the summer menswear way.
Alohas are perfect for this not just because it breezy (especially in rayon) and allows itself to be unbuttoned severely, but its also just visually interesting.
Looks great with a suit! I love the suit + aloha look.
MJ already knows.
It can be a little 40s/50s
Or decidedly 70s!
It can also just be fun! I always get excited for spring/summer since it lets me figure out what ways I can wear my aloha.
If we’re talking about looks, then the off duty GI is one to lean into for summer.
I think you could call this a “uniform” of mine!
Spencer does it well too.
I guess this isn’t an aloha but its just has fun (maybe even more so).
Of course, warm weather calls for sport shirts of all kinds.
Patterned ones are great!
I tuck mine in a lot.
Love this black one!
I did it dandy too!
Having it solid is great. I really liked this tonal look from a few years ago.
Quick shout out to knit polos as an alternative.
But rayon gab is the way to go. I’ve collected a few over the years in different colors and I love when they come out when its warm.
Not all of them even have a loop collar! Here’s a brown rayon gab western shirt.
I like to make them the focal point of an outfit.
And you just know that you’ve gotta do the runaway collar. Its something that mostly makes sense in summer, so do it when you can!
I guess I’ve done this look a lot!
Summer is truly the season of the sport shirt. I just get so excited to wear them, whether its for a vaguely 80s-40s movie star way…
…getting preppy..
..or something super louche or artsy. Its all about having a summer POV that gets you excited.
This one is seersucker!
I also love my black rayon sportshirt. It’s a summer necessity for me and I wear it all the time.
Its one of the main ways to be more sleek and less “fun” when its warm.
Jack already knows what’s up.
The other fun summer shirt to leave unbuttoned is the western shirt (again it helps if its rayon). My green striped one is a lot of fun!
This pink sawtooth looks good too!
My black one is great. Worn here in late summer when it wasn’t as hot.
My brown rayon one is great too. Even though its from the 40s it helps contribute to the 70s vibe that I typically do throughout the summer.
Of course you can always go western (or maybe summer camp core?)
Jay likes wearing a workshirt unbuttoned when its warm.
I do it too, its what the chambray shirt was made for!
Go For Big & Breezy
When airflow is what I’m after, then I go for something big and billowy.
I got a lot of inspo for this over the years from Marco, who always looked great even when it was hot.
Adam does it well too!
It’s related to the open shirt look but instead of going for sexy, its about comfort and slouch. A perfectly fine goal for summer!
This uniform of a sport shirt and big pants is something I adore wearing in summer.
This look is made by the big gauchos and fisherman sandals. It’s all about having things that are specifically for summer that get you excited.
Wearing a big OCBD and big fatigues works too! I find these looks better and more comfortable than simply showing skin with shorts and a tee shirt. Maybe this really is as skin thing!
Summer is when I lean into the slouchy artist thing. Its a seasonal look for me, which is what keeps me excited and inspired to dress when its hot.
There’s also a bit of the summer resort look, but much more minimal and slouchy than what most people would do.
Its plenty comfortable.
I love this.
Maybe this is my real summer uniform.
Or Just Say Fuck It And Wear A Tie Anyway
I still honestly like wearing a tie when its warm. Why? Because the season inspires me to dress in service of it. I know that a jacket and tie is dumb for summer (I’m not going to argue that) but just love making these intentional looks!
That means as lot of white bucks and cream ties.
In fact, my summer uniform is a lot of browns, creams, and whites.
This type of look only tends to make sense in summer, so why not wear it when its appropriate?
I just have so many ideas that I sometimes get sad when summer is over— I need more time to wear my summer tailored outfits!
Like come on, isn’t this great?
I really love leaning into the tonal thing.
Of course regular attire is good too. Almost all my suits are summer appropriate (or at least breathable). The tie is a fall/winter palette but its made of a breezy mohair.
A love this summer look of the pinstripe suit and cream tie. Its very Ralph Lauren.
I mean, its not like I don’t do “normal” Ethan fits when its warm. Its just a bit more summer themed with creams and tonal browns.
White bucks also help!
I also take the opportunity to wear some funky ties when its summer. Its not that you can’t wear them when its colder, but that summer just feels like its the right time to wear something fun!
This 40s/50s swing look makes a lot of sense as summer attire.
On that note, summer is an invitation to get dandy!
And what says summer dandy more than a white suit? Boater optional, but encouraged!
Getting to wear my white suit is one of the major reasons I look forward to warm weather! Obviously, this white linen suit would be weird to wear in December.
Spencer also enjoyed his off-white Palm Beach suit when he had it. I loved the 30s styling of this one.
Funky tie!
Love the darker shirt and darker tie here.
Even my jacket on its own is fun! And again, you can see here that I’m leaning into the 30s summer styling with a pink shirt and deco stripe tie. It just feels like a summer combination.
Wearing a white odd jacket is something that makes sense for summer. The funky tie is good too!
Tonal separates is also a move. I also don’t think I wear reds and pinks outside of summer much, so that’s another reason I look forward to when its warm! Compartmentalization!
I’d even say that my use of color is due to how the warmer seasons exude a carefree and librated atmosphere!
My color-forward outfits tend to be very preppy.
In other words, I get to be the most preppy when its summer! And that’s a good thing! More compartmentalization.
A vibrant combo that would be slightly off in fall/winter.
I already wrote about white bucks, but they’ve been a big reason as to why I’ve enjoyed dressing even when its hot.
It’s all about color!
I mean spring/summer/warm weather in general is indeed the right time to wear madras.
Tis the season!
It just makes sense to lean into the fun!
I also like wearing checks.
Spring/summer is also time for bow ties!
But I also like a dark summer fit, where its about looking cool and louche while still being put together. The main reason I’m not dying is due to the breathable cloth.
Dark colors in summer is a pretty great move.
Just remember to keep it breezy!
It Helps To Actually Do Things In The Summer
Ultimately, the best way to get excited for summer dressing is to do things that get you excited to get dressed in the first place! I’d always have Dapper Day…
….or doing a pool party with friends. I think this is better.
Summer activities provide you with the theme and the reason to get dressed. I mean, where else would I wear some short swim trunks and a terry cloth shirt?
Being around friends helps inspire you to get dressed.
Okay this isn’t a fit but is still fun!
Spencer’s captain hat comes out when its time to jump in the pool.
That being said, most “Occassions” are just having cocktails with friends. But hey, that’s cool too! Sometimes I like being casual in a colorful tee…
…and other times I like wearing a tie. Like I said, its about being an old Italian man, sipping on a giant Aperol Spritz.
Friends are quite inspiring themslves! I love Jack’s summer wool suit and Michael’s chevron sportshirt. Two different ways to dress for summer and both equally great!
Love Michael’s fun tie here. Summer style!
Warm weather is for wine outdoors and deciding if you want to wear a tee shirt or a chorecoat and bandana. Just depends on your comfort level!
How about drinks at a friend’s house?
Summer two ways: tee and fatigues or a brown linen suit!
Summer cocktails al fresco just begs for a khaki suit.
It also calls for open shirts and bandanas!
Or just regular tailoring. But with fun summer drinks!
Its just nice to hang out.
I can’t believe it was still so hot last November, so I added this here. Still works!
Summer suit + chilled moscato and a charceuterie board. Hell yeah!
Aloha shirts with a Mai Tai! A match made in heaven.
Jay can’t resist a cool summer drink and aloha either.
When you’re a #menswear guy, a Negroni is something to dress for!
I’d also say that a little iced coffee is enough of an Occasion to dress for!
I’m actually not sure what I drink more: cocktails or vanilla lattes..
Either way, staying cool in a cafe and reading a good book is a great summer vibe.
We all do it!
Oh yeah, there’s also boba! Can’t forget that.
Ice cream is the ultimate treat though. And I love getting fitted for it. This whole thing is about making yourself happy after all!
Summer is filled with lots of ice cream.
My poops were so bad after this but it was worth it.
I love ice cream.
Summer pizza is fun too!
Or summer bbq!
Bowling is great!
How about a summer concert?
Or a musuem date?
Or cocktails on your birthday?
Whatever the activity, seeing friends will always make summer fun. And that’s a feeling to dress for!
We went to a tiki bar this day!
Loved the NYC crew.
Sweat be damned, go have some fun with clothes in the heat! It’ll make it more bearable (this is not a promise).
Of course, I can’t wait until it gets cold again…
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