Fabric decides which of these looks works for you: linen wrinkles and cotton mostly doesn’t, so ask whether you can live with creases, because a linen button-down with chinos only looks right if you let it hang a little rumpled.
The ideas run from a white linen suit to a knit polo with pleated trousers, and from a navy blazer with shorts to a lightweight sweater with shorts on a cooler evening.
1. Casual Chic
Tucking the polo in is what keeps it from reading as weekend wear.
I like the contrast of white against black here, and suede loafers soften it so it doesn’t feel stiff. Skip a belt that fights the shoes; a brown one that matches the loafers is enough.
2. Co-Ord Sets
Matching top and shorts do the styling for you, which is the whole appeal of a co-ord set. A textured knit polo with drawstring shorts in the same beige looks planned without any effort.
Keep the color neutral and the shoes simple, since the fabric already supplies the interest.
I’d also wear the polo on its own some days and the shorts with a simple tee in white on others, so the set earns its place twice.
3. Striped Shirt with White Trousers
Stripes on top and cream below work because only one half of the outfit is busy. A striped collared shirt with wide-leg cream trousers gives you pattern and calm in the same look.
Roll the sleeves a couple of turns, and leave the shirt half-tucked or fully tucked depending on how much room the trousers have.
Wide legs look best with a shirt that doesn’t billow, so choose a fit that stays close through the body.
4. Knit Polo with Pleated Trousers
A knit polo is the one polo I’d wear with pleats. Its softer fabric drapes where a piqué polo would sit stiff, and tucked into off-white or light grey pleated trousers it looks almost tailored.
Dark brown suede loafers finish it. Keep the polo fitted at the chest and shoulders, because the trousers already bring fullness at the hips and you want the top to balance them.
5. Linen Button-Down with Chinos
Untucked linen over olive trousers is the easiest of these looks to live in. A beige button-down hangs loose, and the olive gives the pale shirt something to stand against.
Retro sneakers keep it casual enough for errands, and a watch adds polish.
Expect wrinkles, because linen creases; I think they look better than a pressed shirt here. If that bothers you, pick another fabric.
6. Floral Shirt with Linen Trousers
Floral works on men when it stays quiet. A short-sleeved shirt with a vintage-style print in muted tones, like the beige one here, reads as relaxed rather than loud.
Pair it with light, neutral linen trousers and tuck it in so the proportions stay clean.
Let the shirt be the only pattern, and keep the shoes and belt plain. A bolder print would need even calmer trousers.
7. Linen Shirt with Tailored Shorts
Green linen with beige shorts is a two-color outfit, and that restraint is why it looks grown up. A short-sleeve shirt worn untucked, with shorts cut tailored rather than baggy, reads as a man on holiday who still cares.
Keep the shorts’ hem near the knee and the shirt long enough to cover the waistband. Linen wrinkles, and I’d let it.
8. White Linen Suit
A white linen suit is the boldest thing you can wear in summer, and a floral shirt underneath is what makes it wearable. Without it, the suit can look like a costume; with it, the whole thing loosens up.
Choose an off-white rather than a stark white, leave the shirt open at the collar, and add sunglasses. Keep the print muted so the suit stays the main statement.
9. Navy Blazer with Shorts
Shorts can handle a navy blazer if everything else is tidy. Pair it with a light blue button-down and tailored beige shorts, then finish with loafers, as here in blue suede.
I’d skip a tie and leave the collar open. Choose shorts that fit cleanly through the thigh, since a baggy pair next to a structured jacket looks like a mistake.
10. Short-Sleeve Polo with Shorts
All white works when texture does the talking. A cream knit polo with white shorts stays interesting because the knit breaks up what would otherwise be flat.
Dark brown loafers anchor the pale top half, and I prefer them to sneakers here. Wear it for a lake lunch or a dinner on a warm night.
11. Lightweight Sweater with Shorts
A fine-knit sweater over a collared shirt is the summer move for cooler evenings. Navy over white with cream shorts looks like old-school sailing wear, and I like it more than a jacket.
A thin shirt with a flat, lightly structured collar works best under a lightweight sweater, since it adds little bulk at the neckline.
Choose a thin knit so it doesn’t trap heat, and wear boat shoes or loafers, ideally without socks.
Choosing Fabrics
Cotton and linen are the 2 fabrics to look for, since both breathe and stay light in the heat. Cotton is the easier of the pair: it wrinkles less, takes color well, and suits shirts you’ll wear on repeat.
Check the weight before you buy. If you can see your hand through the fabric when you hold it up, it will feel cool on a hot afternoon.
Wear pale colors where you can, because they stay cooler in direct sun. Save heavier knits and synthetic blends for the cooler months, since they trap heat against the skin.
Accessorizing
Straw is the summer accessory worth owning: a hat with a modest brim shades your face and finishes a pale outfit. Keep the band plain, and skip anything that looks like a costume piece.
A woven bag in a natural tone works the same way and carries a laptop or a book without a fuss.
If you want color, give it one spot, a bag for example, and let the rest of the outfit stay quiet.
Keep any jewelry simple and small. One good watch or a thin chain does more than a stack of pieces.
Versatility
Buy pieces that work in at least 2 settings.
A navy knit, a pair of neutral chinos, and a simple white shirt can each go to an office, a dinner, or a weekend lunch with only the shoes or a layer changed.
Dress them up with loafers, a belt, and a jacket. Dress them down with clean sneakers and rolled sleeves.
Before you buy anything, name 3 outfits it would work in using pieces already hanging in your closet. If you can’t, leave it on the rack.
