The days are getting long and hot, but your desire to dress in nothing more than a swimsuit is struck down by the necessity of more structured garments. You still have to go to work after all, and even if you don’t need a full suit for your 9 to 5, chances are you’ll be attending at least one outdoor wedding this summer. Fortunately, designers are reinventing the summer suit to be something men might actually enjoy wearing.
The Evolution of the Suit
Chris Pine in a summer suit.
Traditional, structured suits are giving way to unconstructed and unlined suits that are amazingly lightweight and travel well. Not only that, but these suits come with a cooler price tag, too. Now you can buy an entire suit for the cost of a fancy dress shirt and a pair of high-end jeans, and it is just as versatile. The notion of selling suits as a single piece with one price tag doesn’t apply to the modern suit.
It used to be that the structuring of a suit made it so that you couldn’t wear a jacket without its matching pair of pants. Recently, more subtle styling and detailing allows pieces to be easily broken up and sold as separates. This keeps men from looking like the store mannequin by allowing them to exercise their own personal sense of style. This also diversifies your wardrobe so that pants can be traded out for jeans at the end of the day and worn with the same suit jacket.
Tips for Styling a Summer Suit
1. Just like with a car, it’s what’s inside your suit that matters most. Look for less structured suits that don’t have sweat-inducing padding or lining.
2. Look for lightweight and blended fabrics that are breathable. Consider cotton and linen over heavy wool, nylon or polyester blends. Or, be bold with a seersucker that wicks away moisture and helps increase circulation by keeping fabric away from the skin.
3. Choose a lighter shade of fabric that reflects light and minimizes heat. Not only will lighter-colored fabrics keep you cooler, but they look more appropriate this time of year.
4. Pick a simple shirt in a light color to wear under your suit and have fun with brightly colored accessories that aren’t too matchy matchy.
5. Footwear can be more casual and paired with lightweight trouser socks or even loafers that don’t require socks at all.Google+