SUMMER WARDROBE ESSENTIALS FOR MEN

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Five ways to make it through summer clothed (partially, at least)

Is it awfully overbearing of us to deliver pointers on what to wear during the most laid-back and, hopefully, easy time of the year? Yes, perhaps. So please don’t think of what follows as rules of any sort. The fact is that it is now, officially, summer, and you are well within your rights to take the rules and throw them out the window. This is your moment of opportunity, after all, for lurid Versace shirts, and Prada short shorts, and whichever pair of maximalist sneakers you currently happen to have sitting like a terrifying gargoyle at the bottom of your wardrobe. No one really cares, do they? And if they do, well… maybe it’s time they had a nice, cold beer?

So, what wisdom can we offer you? Helpful suggestions, that’s what. Because, however well you are prepared for the heat, the beach, and the ever-more-extreme ups and downs that are the reality of our overheated world these days, there are probably some a few items that you haven’t yet considered that will most definitely help you along the way. Here are five of them.

THE KNITTED POLO SHIRT

Yes, we know you know what a polo shirt is, but have you tried the kind that, on another day, you might, at a pinch, describe as a “short-sleeved sweater”? Lightweight knitwear is everywhere in the summer 2019 collections (not least in that of MR PORTER’s own brand, Mr P.), but within that is a micro-trend for knitted polos, as showcased in the outfit above. This particular piece, from Mr Simon Porte Jacquemus, is offered up in a very slim fit, bringing to mind a rave-y, 1990s aesthetic that you might file alongside this season’s floral prints and bucket hats. Similar fits can be found at Prada, where the knitted polos come with geometric patterns, but there are also some slightly more forgiving varieties, too: try Missoni for bright colours, Aimé Leon Dore for street cred and Mr P.’s knitted Johnny-collar rugby shirt for the ultimate in thrown-on-ability.

THE WIDE-LEG SHORTS

One of the worst hangovers from the (admittedly, still fairly strong) skinny jeans trend of the mid-2000s is how this particular garment became skin-tight cutoffs, and how those cutoffs were then translated into ultra-slim shorts. Was there ever such a glaring and pointless example of form over function? Luckily, this summer designers are clearly showing a preference for a wider-legged variety, which not only looks, but feels better. The shape in question is a Bermuda style, with a hem that finishes just above the knee and, if you so wish, a drawstring waistband for extra comfort. Look out for this particular fashion godsend from brands such as Loewe (which is doing a particularly fun, patchwork bandana-print variation) and, also J. Crew (which offers a variety of colours and styles in cotton, and sits at the more affordable end of the spectrum).

THE FLORAL SHIRT

Yes, there’s nothing much new here in terms of the aesthetic – the camp collar is still very much the thing; floral prints are, of course, perfect for long, sunny afternoons. But where designers are continuing to innovate in the summer shirt department is in the fabric. Prepare to become a more discerning client and memorise words like “voile” (a fine, sheer fabric woven from cotton and silk) or “gauze” (a similarly loose-woven fabric beloved of designers including Jacquemus, whose floral shirts are among the most fun and freshest of the season).

THE LINEN SUIT

Unfortunately, the likelihood is you won’t be able to leave every single one of your personal and professional responsibilities behind you this summer. After all, if there’s one thing that people like to do over the summer, besides reading Ms Jilly Cooper novels, it’s organising various meetings, workshops, festivals, fairs, weddings and other things like that. A bore, but a reality nonetheless. So, if you find yourself having to look smart, or, really, any smarter than the “surf shack” look, we would recommend you invest in a linen suit. Yes, they do crinkle (look for cotton-linen to offset this trait), but no, you won’t mind that at all when you’re standing for photos in the blazing sun. For a particularly accessible example look to our own brand, Mr P. and then, if you’re feeling daring, onwards and upwards, to the Italians: Boglioli, Lardini and Altea are all offering a wide range of colourful linen tailoring this summer from which you should be able to find just the thing you need.

THE BOAT SHOES

For anyone of the opinion that boat shoes are, like Porsche sunglasses, the kind of thing you wear to affect a lifestyle rather than live it: oh, stop being so damned cynical. Prada is doing boat shoes this summer. Yes, Prada! Which should be enough to convince you that this very easy, very Ivy League shoe (not just for those that own boats, or even those who imagine themselves owning them) has veered off into uncoolness for long enough that it is now very much back in the cool books again. Prada’s take on the shoe is wry and Warholian, with its bright, colour-blocked variations, but there are also some excellent examples on offer from Arpenteur x Paraboot, Mr P., Maine’s very own Quoddy and, of course there’s always the classic Sperry Top-Sider. Wear them with pastel chinos, lightweight needle-cord trousers, or, really, anything else that takes your fancy. It is summertime, after all, and the living is supposed to be easy.

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