Let’s Talk Men’s Summer Clothes

By Dapperfied | September 3, 2015

Comparatively, men’s fashion is not something that gets a ton of recognition – especially seeing as it is in competition with the wide net that the women’s fashion world casts. Now, summer. One of our favourite times of the year. When you take a closer look, there’s actually a ton of options out there for men. The question often is – where to begin??? No sweat, we’ve got you covered. This week Dapperfied.com is taking a look at men’s summer clothes.

Men’s Summer Clothes: 10 Things To Keep In Mind When Dressing For Summer

1. Less is more: Yes, this may sound eerily similar to the rules that you learned in just about every situation, but the saying can play a role here too depending on the situation. Generally, when putting an outfit together, stick with understated and quiet patterns and colours. The trick is to make yourself noticed because you are so well-dressed and no one can quite figure out how you do it. There’s a word for it – Sprezzatura. If you wear overtly loud prints with bright vibrant colors, this sort of defeats the purpose. Food for thought!
2. Accessorise: Men can have accessories too, just make sure that they are working to complement your outfit. Some great options are chunky watches in various dark colors, like brown and black. Also accessorise with masculine bracelets, such as leather cords or woven types that complement your style and comfort level. Additionally, different kinds of fashion hats can be fantastic to complete a look. Try out different kinds and see what kinds work with what outfits.
3. Try something new: Summer time can be intimidating for men because they can feel they have no room to experiment, they have to conform to what everyone else is wearing. While staying in style is important, you can try out different fabrics and colors, even patterns. You shouldn’t feel restricted in what you wear, after all, style is personal and it is about expressing yourself to the world around you in a comfortable and easy, fun way.
4. Flip-flops are not always the right answer: Though some men would rather die than wear flip-flops, there are many casual situations where men have taken a liking to their easy comfort and style. While you can certainly rock a pair of these at the beach or around at a beach party, they tend to be over-worn. Sometimes you need to try a pair of dock shoes or trendy sneakers instead. Flip-flops are extremely casual, and in places such as a work environment, a huge no-no.
5. Keep an eye on the trends: Though it is important to maintain your personal style, as mentioned above, you should keep an eye on what everyone else is wearing to work new angles into your own look. There’s nothing worse than following the last season’s trends and looking out of date and/or tacky. You won’t have to wear anything you hate, but keep an eye on colour trends and what short lengths are in style.
6. Make sure you get the right short length: On that same note, make sure you pick a short length that makes you look slim and tall. It only takes a hemline that is too long to make you look shrimpy and totally tactless in your style. Additionally, wearing a pair of shorts that are too short gives the impression of being overweight and totally fashion-backward. Any tailor will be able to help you pick the best length for you and your body type.
7. A fitted tee is always a good idea: These should be a staple in your wardrobe, as they can be dressed up or down and are extremely comfortable. Make sure that it fits you well, (but not too tight). With men’s summer wear like a tee, you can dress it up so that it looks great, but it is still low maintenance enough and an easy style. Feel free to explore various muted colours, too.
8. Resist the urge to layer: Layering is how many keep their style together in the fall and winter, but in summer, layering can be a huge faux-pas. The truth is that there are many men’s summer clothes out there that will have you looking fantastic without the need for layering. After all, it summer, and it’s hot, so the less you are wearing the better.
9. Be confident in your colour choice: Though the general rule is to stay away from loud and crazy colours that will only have people staring at you (for the wrong reasons), you can explore the colour wheel a bit and find a good batch of colours that you feel you are comfortable in and that look fantastic on you. Pick ones that match your complexion and don’t be afraid to mingle some colour into your patterned tops, too.
10. There’s nothing wrong with adventure: All things in moderation. Explore different styles. Try wearing linen pants instead of chinos, give flip-flops a try. Have some fun with panama hats. Whatever, just try something fun and exciting without going overboard. There’s no harm in having a little fun, and since it’s your personal style, you have to love it.

Men’s Summer Clothes: 10 Summer Clothing Essentials And Why They Are Ideal For Summer

1. Fitted tee: As mentioned, fitted tees are a fantastic thing to have in your wardrobe. Summer clothes for men do not have to be all quiet colours like navy and blue and black, but can be warm hues such as maroon, charcoal, deep green, etc. All of these colours can be found in various styles of tees. Maybe try a V-neck tee, but depending on the look you’re going for you may want to avoid the ones with a really deep neck. V necks can add quite a modern, masculine flair to your wardrobe.

2. Tasteful jeans shorts: Though you may have heard otherwise, jeans shorts can be a great casual look for going out with the guys or somewhere that is totally relaxed. You can either choose to buy the shorts from a shop, or if you are good with creating your own styles, you can make a pair yourself from an old pair of jeans. Consider the wash and make sure you pick a pair that look great with your shape. These are a great casual option. You can find some great jeans options here.

3. Stylish sneakers: As mentioned, sneakers can dress you up easily and can be found in a variety of colours and prints. You can have fun with choosing the colour of the shoelaces and exploring the variety of prints that are subtle enough not to distract from the rest of your outfit. These are a great “accessory” that are fun and easy to get.

4. Casual flip-flops: Perfect for the beach or a pool party, these are comfortable options that have a casual style of their own. For a totally dressed down look, you can look at pairing these with jeans shorts and a V neck tee. Those will make a great hit together.

5. Chinos: When the jeans shorts just aren’t going to cut it, chinos in various colours and styles will enable you to maintain your fantastic style. As with the fitted tee, you can get these in a variety of subtle colours to add some spice to your wardrobe. Make sure they are the right length and tailored to your leg to give you a put together and comfortable style.

6. Panama hats: Not only are these great for protection from the sun, they are great for style, too. Make sure you get a light weave so that you are not over-heated, and don’t be afraid to go to for a style that has more colour in the band. Make the hat work for you.

7. Handkerchiefs: These are a must for keeping sweat at bay. They can effectively blot and will help you in those heat emergencies where you just need some “drying” reinforcements. Tucked properly into a pocket, they can be a great fashion accessory too, and can be found in a variety of prints.

8. Polo shirts: These are great in situations where you need to dress up a bit but still maintain a casual look. When paired with chino shorts, these are a fantastic semi-dressy, but still “kinda casual” look for you. They can come in solids or patterns, so enjoy both options cautiously.

9. Dress shirts: Though many don’t like the idea of long sleeves in the summer, dress shirts are required for many formal places, including work places. Depending on where you work, if you show up without a dress shirt, it might be considered informal and, in many places, inappropriate. Just ensure you get a light cotton fabric and the heat will be manageable.

10. Linen pants: Fantastic for formal occasions, linen pants will keep you comfortable and cool in the warm weather that leads many people to wear chinos. While chinos are great, you need to make sure you have a pair or two of linen pants for those times where you need to have formal attire in the summer weather.

5 Things To Avoid Style-Wise During Summer

1. Do not layer: Yes, it’s hard, and yes layers are awesome, but summer time is perhaps not the best time for it. You need to dress lightly and comfortably in clothing such as the options listed above, and find the best fashion style for you.

2. Embrace the bright colours: Do not dress entirely in brown, black, grey, and navy. Bring in some bright whites, maroons, chocolate browns, electric greens, etc. Color is your friend – especially in the summer – and you can find chinos and tees that will keep the colors muted enough so that you look good for all the right reasons. If you’re uncertain how to find the right color and pattern for you, ask a tailor or even some well-dressed friends for advice. Notice we say “bright” and not “loud”. There’s a difference. 🙂

3. No loud patterns: Men’s summer wear is hard to find with appropriate patterns for everyone, but there are many options out there that will do the trick, especially online. Do some hunting around at smaller shops that stay up to date on style trends, and odds are you’ll find several steals there that will give you some originality to your style.

4. No loud colours: This includes your beachwear. Avoid highlighter hues and other cheap fabric that will distort colours. Cheap clothing is not the way to go in any case, and it is certainly not going to retain any colour that you are looking at. The thing with loud colours, too, is that they wash you out and make you stand out in a crowd for all of the wrong reasons, again, we’ve “highlighted” this before (get it? :)).

5. Polo shirt vs tee shirt: Tees are not appropriate in every venue, so if you are going somewhere where a polo shirt would be more appropriate, make sure you wear it. Having the collar adds much more style to your outfit and makes a great first impression on those that you will pass on the street. You need to look your best at all times, and sometimes a fitted tee simply won’t do the trick.

Picking the perfect outfit is not easy, there’s no question, but there are many stores and websites out there that will help you on your journey. Check out our recommended summer clothing spot for some options. Alternatively, if you’re looking for ideas on what to wear, be sure to check out our Style Inspiration section. Take a look around to see what patterns and colours you like, and then apply them to chinos and fitted tees as a start. It’ll get easier as you get used to picking the right clothing for you. Make sure you don’t always focus on buying cheaper clothes – yes you may pay a little more for a higher quality piece of clothing, but it will turn out to serve you well years and years later. Though it is an investment in the beginning, quality should always be considered before making a purchase, no matter how good the colour or style is.

So, after reading about all of the options out there available for you to purchase, we have only one question for you: which item do you feel you absolutely need to have in your wardrobe? 🙂