The mercury climbs into the thirties, surfers begin their annual pilgrimage to Manly, and the aroma of afternoon barbecues hangs in the air — summer is on its way, but what to wear? A guide to men's summer fashion will usually include trademark looks comprised of shorts, toe thongs and tees.
There’s a lot less to play with than in the winter, which makes the selection of key pieces even more important. Here are some men’s fashion ideas for Australia:
A plain tee
Its breezy lightness and effortless style have earned the tee a reputation as an essential piece of summer fashion for men, but how to claw the tee look back from painful pastiche? As with so much menswear, the secret is all in the tailoring. Take sports-chic style icons like David Beckham as your inspiration and use the tee as a leaping-off point for your summer look. Beckham’s tees are fitted, but stop short of skin-tight exercise wear. Look to labels like Issey Miyake, long celebrated as masters of the shirt, who bring their tailoring expertise to the tee.
On its own, the tee can carry a strong activewear connotation. Depending on how you want to wear it, the activewear look can be easily tempered by accessorising with surfer-inspired jewellery. A great men’s summer style idea is to accessorise your tee like an off-duty surfer with Alexander McQueen bracelets featuring playful yet slightly macabre details.
The Hawaiian shirt
A stylistic pariah, the Hawaiian shirt’s been in fashion limbo since the Beach Boys imploded in the 1960s. Thanks to the concerted efforts of Gucci-toating beachgoers, it has been welcomed back and now sits comfortably in a guide to men’s summer fashion. The secret to rescuing this exile from the neon-lit slot-halls of Las Vegas casinos once again lies in tailoring and style.
Contemporary Hawaiian shirts are fitted and to be worn buttoned up, James Dean style. Mollify the aloha shirt’s Vegas connotations by pairing it with some pleated pants from Paul Smith for a 1950s California look. The tapered tailoring of these trousers — which finish just above the ankle, thus making for a cool piece of summer fashion for men in Australia’s often sweltering days — brings the rambunctious style of the Hawaiian shirt under control.
Dressy shorts
Shorts, a classic summer staple, have become dressier, continuing their seemingly unstoppable march from beach and barbecue into the city and office. For a dressier short, look to the easy formality of seersucker stripes from labels like Moncler. This lightweight material, once used for entire suits, is a great formal reference point for a Tennessee Williams-style, Deep South-inspired outfit.
Complete the look by accessorising with formal shoes, like Santoni monk straps. Pairing formal shorts with formal shoes confidently updates the classic, preppy look. This men's summer style idea is often featured on Scott Schuman’s The Sartorialist blog.
A light jacket
Including a light, unstructured blazer in a guide to men’s summer fashion ensures you have formalwear covered. A linen jacket captures a Talented Mr. Ripley aesthetic: sun-filled days on the Italian Riviera. The lightness of linen, particularly in jackets, works well in Australian summer fashion for men. The fabric’s gentle folds and creases perfectly accentuate and counterpoint languid tailoring. Summer jackets by Z Zegna, in both check and houndstooth, offer that Italian Riviera chic. Pair with cropped trousers or plain, light-coloured shorts for a sophisticated summer look. Or, for an athletic statament look, choose Givenchy tracksuit tops in bold prints.
Smart sandals
Summer fashion in Australian will invariably include men's sandals and so it makes sense to find a pair that work hard. There’s no sandal quite as versatile as the Roman sandal. Called a caligae by the Ancient Romans, this incredible piece of footwear was used by legionary soldiers to march the whole length of the empire. This durable and supportive design makes it perfect for urban environments. Look to Roman sandals from veteran shoemaker Giuseppe Zanotti for traditional Italian craftsmanship.
Labels like Les Hommes and Etro have taken the sandal out of the Ancient Roman barracks and brought it firmly into the 21st-century city. Les Hommes has restyled the sandal in jet black with a profusion of Blade Runner-inspired, cyberpunk buckles and an abundance of leather straps; an edgy inclusion in summer fashion for the urban sophisticate.