The Perfect Summer Menswear Uniform

Summer is hard for menswear.

In the fall and winter, getting dressed is easy! Cold temperatures mean layering, which gives us endless options for fun pieces like tweed sport coats, Aran sweaters, and leather jackets.

The fabrics are thick and drape beautifully. Accessories, like hats, are necessities rather than affectations. Wearing more clothing means being able to hide perceived physical imperfections, especially when the eggnog starts flowing around the holidays.

Summer, on the other hand, is a little more difficult. The high temperatures mean we all have to figure out how to look good without sweating to death.

Unfortunately, many men throw their hands up and resort to t-shirts and shorts, since they think that they can’t possibly be comfortable in classic menswear in the summer.

That’s where they are wrong!

In the summer, I only ever really wear a jacket and tie in the evening (when it’s cooler) if my wife and I are either going out to dinner or having an at-home dinner date, as celebratory occasions are fewer compared to the fall and winter (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). Of course, if the event calls for it, I will obviously dress accordingly, but the summer definitely sees less of my normal rotation of ties and other more formal attire.

So, how do you look like you put in an effort in the summer without getting all swampy AND without eliciting the dreaded “Woah, why are you dressed up?” comments?

Here is the perfect summer menswear uniform.

Linen Shirt

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Especially since it’s one of the things women want to see you wearing!

Linen is light and breezy and perfect for warm weather. It’s also a little stiffer than cotton which gives it some nice drape. Yes, it wrinkles, but the wrinkles help make it look cool. You should know how to iron a shirt quickly so it shouldn’t be an issue. Iron it when it comes out of the dryer and then hang it up. You can even hang it up and wear it multiple times, provided you don’t sweat too much in it. Doing that will make it so you don’t have to iron it every time you wear it.

There are two specific points to consider when choosing a good linen shirt for summer. The first is hem style and the second is sleeve length.

For the shirt’s hem, you can either get a straight hem (meaning the bottom of the shirt is flat all the way around) or a rounded, or “shirt-tail”, hem (meaning the bottom of the shirt is curved to better allow it to be tucked into your pants, like on most dress shirts).

In this instance, the straight hem is your better bet.

Straight hems are meant to be left untucked, unlike a rounded hem which usually looks sloppy if not tucked in. Not only do most men feel uncomfortable tucking in their shirts anyway, but an untucked shirt allows more air-flow, which is a benefit when it’s hot.

Now, those of you who have been here for a while know that I prefer to tuck in my shirt (for reasons I have noted here), but when it’s really hot out, I want maximum air circulation so an untucked shirt is the smarter move.

Straight hems allow to leave your shirt untucked while still looking good.

For sleeve length, you’re probably going to want to go with a short sleeve. Look, it’s summer and despite what some people on the internet say, short sleeves are definitely more comfortable than long sleeves in hot weather.

Do long sleeves look more put-together? Yes. Do they protect you from the sun? Yes. Are they more comfortable to layer under a jacket. Yes.

But, in the summer, short sleeves make more sense most of the time, in part because you’ll probably need to roll up your sleeves and rolled sleeves look best with a tucked-in shirt… and as we just covered, your shirt is going to be left untucked.

So, just go with a short-sleeve shirt. I also like to have pockets with flaps, as they’re a bit more secure for keeping track of the kids’ toys, if needed.

Unbutton a few of the front buttons. Turn up the collar to protect against the sun. Even roll up the short sleeves a little to get rid of that farmer’s tan. As far as colors go, white is the most classic and will keep you the coolest, but any light shade will do.

Khaki Chinos

I included regular cotton chinos instead of linen pants because chinos fly under the radar a little bit more. The average guy in the summer just wants to look like he made an effort. He doesn’t want to look like he owns an amusement park full of dinosaurs.

I am always stunned as to how many guys love wearing jeans but won’t wear chinos. Chinos are just a more versatile, nicer-looking, MORE comfortable alternative to jeans.

Some men will bristle at the thought of wearing actual long pants in the summer, but wearing pants in the summer is what separates the men from the boys. Wearing shorts all the time is a slippery slope to graphic t-shirts and Crocs.

Sure, I have seen plenty of guys looking very nice in shorts. But for maximum versatility, proper pants are the way to go. You wouldn’t take your wife out in shorts, would you? I didn’t think so.

Boat Shoes

Despite what you read on the internet, boat shoes never go “out” of style. They are always a fool-proof look.

Whenever I recommend boat shoes, I always remind everyone that I live in the northeast of the United States. Boat shoes are very common in this region. I understand that other areas of the country/world might view them as a bit foreign.

But regardless of how you feel about them, they are an excellent summer shoe. They cover the foot adequately. They offer stellar slip-resistance. You can wear them sockless. You can get them wet. They come in about any color you want.

I went with boat shoes over loafers, because, in most men’s minds, loafers are “dress shoes”. Boat shoes are just casual enough to not scare guys away. Also, you can still run, play ball, and hike (and even swim!) in boat shoes, which makes them excellent for dads.

What about sneakers? Well, as I talk about here, sneakers are never the best option, unless you’re actually working out.

Accessories

As far as additions to your shirt, pants, and shoes, you’re going to want a watch, a good hat, and a pair of sunglasses.

By “watch” I mean a proper wristwatch. I know they’re popular, but a smartwatch diminishes an outfit.

If you’re not encountering water, a watch on a leather strap (either brown or black) will provide a nice visual contrast with the rest of your light-colored ensemble.

If you plan on going swimming or if you think your watch will encounter a lot of sweat, sunblock, or bug spray, then opt for a watch with a stainless steel bracelet.

As a hat guy, I understand that my taste in hats might not jive with most men’s. That being said, an inexpensive Panama hat is just about the best hot-weather hat you can get. It will block out the sun and can be worn with everything from the outfit I describe in this article to a jacket-and-tie.

For those who feel a Panama is a bridge too far, I recommend a linen flat cap. It can be worn in all the same instances as a baseball cap but looks about ten times better.

For sunglasses, I have made my stance on expensive sunglasses quite clear, so definitely go with an inexpensive pair.

The outfit I describe will be appropriate 99% of the time. Sure, there will be times when you’ll need to wear a suit, or you’ll need jeans and a t-shirt. But for most of us, a linen shirt, khaki pants, and closed-toe summer shoes (that aren’t sneakers) will take you pretty much anywhere.

This outfit will cut the mustard at almost all modern offices with frustratingly wishy-washy dress codes. You’ll also be able to go out to dinner and not look like a slob. But, crucially, it won’t look like you got “dressed up” for the day, if you still want to look casual if you’re running errands around town.

This outfit will ensure you look nice no matter where life takes you this summer!