Working out what to wear to a summer BBQ is a question of both practicality and polish. A skill best honed with respect to your surrounds, dressing for a summer barbeque is also about relinquishing the rules in favour of personal intuition. It’s an art that, once mastered, makes champagne by the harbour all the more enjoyable — and leaves plenty of time for perfecting those prawns as well.
Building your reliable rotation of fashion for a BBQ is all about clothing that affords you the comfort and fluidity to move about and mingle. By opting for a few easy pieces, you can build upon these separates with interesting combinations. Overall, the look needn’t feel fussy, but can incorporate interest by pushing boundaries just the right amount. The result is less Varsity Blues and more rooftop barbeque chic in the style of Sex and the City.
Consider your BBQ locale
The easiest place to start when deciding what to wear to a summer barbeque is contemplating dress code. A beachside BBQ in Bondi, for example, calls for a touch of sophistication but also the potential to break out your swimmers. Meanwhile a rooftop gathering might benefit from monochromatic tones, paired with eye-catching accessories inspired by the Saint Laurent SS16 collection.
Byron Bay invites a modern twist on timeless prints when dressing for a summer barbeque, but then a stylish take on double denim might just offer the perfect balance for grilled seafood at Shelly Beach. Whichever summer BBQ you’ve got on your mind, the ideal style will be that which reflects your setting but also allows you to spice things up a little.
Monochromatic tones befit a rooftop grill
Monochromatic tones in all white are an excellent way to get into the summer spirit when it comes to fashion for a BBQ — just so long as you’re not the one manning the grill. This could take the form of oversized shirt dresses teamed with bold jewellery and heeled sandals reminiscent of Leandra Medine’s penchant for Marni styles.
Or channel Liam Hemsworth instead with lightly coloured chinos and a white Givenchy T-shirt and men's sandals. When it comes to accessorising, mix things up with unexpected details. Make like a modern Brigitte Bardot, for instance, and pair your crisp whites with a range of straw accessories. After all, nothing feels more summer-appropriate than a pair of lace-up shoes and a straw basket.
Undone sophistication lends a sense of intrigue
A BBQ down at Bondi Beach calls for champagne and oysters, so a touch of sophistication will go a long way, but undone elegance can offer a more intriguing approach overall. Light linen layers or silk separates offer the ideal balance here. So, opt for a linen button-down with tailored shorts, for example, to beat the heat in style. Plus, it always pays to pack a pair of swim shorts for last minute dips at the beach.
Alternatively, channel the opulent pyjama dressing seen on Burberry's runway. Rendering the ease of silk trousers in a range of rich hues, designer Christopher Bailey offered an androgynous yet sophisticated take on fashion for a BBQ. Casual enough for grilled tapas at Tamarama, but with a stylish edge suitable for drinks by the water afterwards as well. These aren't your average flannel PJs, but a sleek approach in the vein of Bianca Jagger.
A stylish take on the Canadian tuxedo
Miranda Kerr makes a compelling case for the Canadian tuxedo done right. When contemplating what to wear to a BBQ, take a cue from the model and consider light denim shirts tucked into jeans or a pair of denim cut-offs, then accessorise the style with a streamlined leather belt. Think less early 2000s patchwork denim excess and more conceptual in the style of Marques’Almeida. Forego your thongs, however, in favour of flats that won't sink into the ground.
Prints aren’t just for picnic tables
Perfecting style ideas for a summer barbeque is also about reflecting your everyday wardrobe. So omit Australian flag tattoos or green-and-gold colour palettes this Australia Day in favour of tailored shorts and printed shirts instead. If you are feeling patriotic, then why not sneak in some stylish stripes by way of a timeless Breton? Guys interested in a timeless, effortlessly cool approach should look to T-shirts by Amiri.
This checked print has now shed its Dorothy associations and re-emerged as a chic option for balmy summer barbeques. To avoid appearing like a picnic table, though, waive the head-to-toe gingham look for a single statement piece instead, aiming to keep the rest of the outfit relatively pared back. A gingham shirt with denim skirt, for example, or a printed dress teamed with leather loafers for a touch of masculinity. Consider adding a pop of colour, too, via your jewellery or handbag choices.
Ultimately, mastering what to wear to a summer BBQ is about understanding what feels comfortable for you, but also using the rising mercury reading as an excuse to indulge is a little playful experimentation. The summertime is ripe for fashion that is fun, after all.