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In the 21st century, men are fashion’s fastest-growing shoppers. As opposed to days of old, when to care about one’s look was considered “unmasculine”, men have combined the class of masculinity with the sophistication of fashion to truly great results.
Except there’s a problem — men’s summer outfits.
While women have their pick of summer outfits: dresses, skirts, belly shirts, wraps, rompers, etc, men are left with not much. So much of men’s fashion revolves around the layering of clothes (just look at a traditional men’s suit). How can men be expected to put together casual summer outfits?
Keep reading for summer outfit ideas that are sure to impress.
Go For the Patterns
Bright patterns, centered on whites and light blues are central to men’s summer outfits. They call to mind the seersucker suits of the days of yore and add a level of class to the summer.
Look for a simple striped shirt that focuses on white, yellows, blues or oranges. Pair one of these shirts with paints of blue, red, or yellows, and you’re sure to turn some heads during the summer.
Many men also choose to go with more intricate patterns, like a checkered or flannel look. These are good to go with, as long as they center on brighter shades of blue and red.
One of the most common summer patterns men go with are Hawaiin shirts. Hawaiin shirts are tricky: if you wear them right, you can look like Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; if you wear them wrong, you can look like a lazy slob out on a cruise ship.
For a Hawaiin shirt, choose a shirt that focuses on deep, vibrant colors. Pick a Hawaiian shirt with flowers on it, not anything cheesy or novelty, such as ukuleles, drinks, or birds. Make sure the Hawaiin shirt fits you snugly, so it doesn’t wind up making you look bigger than they are; it’s a good idea to leave a couple of buttons unbuttoned, wear it over a t-shirt, or tuck it into some pants with a nice belt, to class up the Hawaiin look.
The key to wearing bright patterns is to contrast them with whites, creams, or off-whites. If you wear a great pair of madras shorts, balance it out with a white t-shirt, or white button-down with the sleeves rolled up. If you wear a nice Hawaiin shirt, balance it out with some white pants.
Don’t Skip the Button Downs
In the summer, it’s tempting to just through on a t-shirt or tank top and call it a day. This is a shame since most men’s best shirts are button-downs. But just because it’s hot outside doesn’t mean you can’t wear this type of shirt.
Look for a button-down made of a soft material that can breathe. These shirts are practically designed for the summer, and when worn on their own make great additions to anyone’s warm-weather wardrobe.
If you go with a long-sleeved button-down, simply roll them up to your elbows. A watch will help keep your wrists from feeling too exposed.
You can also invest in a short-sleeved button-down. However, make sure this short-sleeved button-down fits you. If not, you’re better off wearing a well-fitting t-shirt.
Invest In a Necklace
Sometimes T-shirts are inevitable. There might come a day when it’s just too hot and sticky to whip out your favorite button-down. You can whip out a t-shirt then, but how do you keep it in style?
We recommend buying a necklace that you’re proud of. A necklace will hang down just below your neck and will catch the eye of anyone looking at you. This will enhance the look of your t-shirt and make it look more classy.
For this to work, you need to make sure that any t-shirts you own are well-fitting. Large, baggy t-shirts are a no-go. We also recommend shirts that are solid one-color, so that people can better focus on the necklace.
Necklaces go great with other accessories. If you have a nice belt, wear it in tandem with your t-shirt. A t-shirt tucked into some nice pants, with a good pair of shoes and a necklace is a great look; make sure that the shirt and pants are one color, however, so you’re not overwhelming the world.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses have already seen their day in the sun as the benchmarks for style and taste. We’re far from the days when stars like Miles Davis wore sunglasses with a cool level of removal. However, they’re still extremely effective at blocking out the sun.
Because of this, you’re going to need to invest in a good pair of sunglasses. Just like Hawaiian shirts, the type of sunglasses you wear is extremely important in making them look good or bad.
Unfortunately, while they’re good for sports, athletic sunglasses wind up making your face look too angular. You wind up looking like you’re auditioning for the part of a robot in a science fiction movie.
Go with a pair of aviator sunglasses or more rectangular sunglasses, and you’re sure to shine. Wear this with one of your great button-downs, and you’ll rival your autumn wardrobe for the best looks of the year.
Wear the Best Men’s Summer Outfits
While men don’t have quite as many options as women, they can make use of their creativity to craft the best men’s summer outfits. If they stick to the best patterns, watch out for bad Hawaiian shirts, invest in a necklace, and go for the best types of sunglasses, they’re sure to rival women for the best summer outfits.
For more articles like this, check out our “fashion” section.
