Summer Wardrobe Essentials
After an unusually cold May and start of June, it finally starts to feel like summer is just around the corner. This means brighter colours, less layers and lighter and more breathable fabrics. Linen, seersucker and lightweight wool should be your best friends during this part of the year.
As I always say, part of what we wear is personal and part is also professional as some people are limited with uniforms and dress codes. Some live in their shorts from May to October and some people never wear shorts. It is personal preference and both options can be reasonable if you wear the right fabrics. I always prefer long trousers over shorts when possible. But when it is almost 40 degrees celsius outside, it is almost impossible to not be in shorts. The same goes with shirts. Some prefer to wear log sleeves most of the time. That’s why on a summer day, we can see a guy in a tank top, shorts and flip flops walking next to a guy in a full-on suit. If done correctly the guy in a suit can survive without sweating to death. That’s why choosing the right fabrics is very important if you plan or need to wear layers on a hot day. If this is your personal preference then I assume you already know what you are doing, if not you will have to learn more about the best fabrics to wear in summer months. In this article, I will talk about what I believe are the essentials that everyone should have in their casual summer wardrobe.
Jackets
Starting with jackets. In summer you usually wear only a tee or a shirt during the day and when you stay out late, it can get chilly. In this situation, a light jacket comes in very handy. I would go with something linen. A nice olive jungle jacket works for many different outfits and with most neutral colours. Another option for simple looks is a denim jacket. If you want to have somethig a bit more elegant a double breasted sports jacket will do the job.
From left to right: Gloverall, The Anthology, Sugar Cane
Shirts
Most work garments in the summer are shirts, polos and t-shirts. Linen is probably the most common option for shirts here. When I wear shirts as my main element, I prefer a shirt with pockets, so it does’t look too plain and you have some extra room to store a wallet, phone, keys or sunglasses. My other preference for summer shirts is camp collar. Nothing says summer more than camp collar. You can get them with short or long sleeves, with or without pockets.You have many options for finding something you like. My must have colours for summer are white and light blue. And to complete the essentials set I would add cream or beige. Another must have is a nice t-shirt. I already made an article about best options. Another essential item for summer is a polo shirt. You have more casual options if you choose cotton or more elegant in wool. And the last must-have item, in my opinion, is a nice tank top. It is a perfect element to layer with a shirt so you can wear it open.
Top row from left to right: John Smedley, Rubato, Merz B. Schwanen
Bottom row from left to right: Sunspel, Fortela, The Real McCoy’s
Trousers
When it comes to trousers a white or ecru jeans is an essential item for me all year long. In the summer, I would add nice pair of linen trousers in dark navy or ecru and a simple pair of high waisted shorts. For shorts I would go with khaki or beige colour so it creates just enough contrast to perfectly match with white, light blue, olive and navy.
From left to right: Buck Mason, Drake’s, Buzz Rickson’s
Footwear
If I had to pick only three styles to wear all summer they would be suede loafers, canvas sneakers and a pair of espadrilles. In these styles you will always look put together; they work well with everything and also add that relaxed element to complete a summer look.
For summer essentials, I have selected basics in colours that complement each other and work perfectly together. So all items on this list can be mixed and matched to create effortless looks.
