A boat deck, a desk, and lunch in town each call for a different one.
These start with a white tee and beige shorts that needs no thought, move through checkered shirts and casual shorts, and land on a linen blazer over jeans that can pass for work.
The detail that holds across all of it is color, since each look keeps to one or two families and lets a single piece, like a pink shirt or a green polo, do the talking.
1. Long Sleeve Shirt and Seaside Shorts
A striped long sleeve shirt worn open at the cuff and pushed up the forearm does more than a tee, and it takes no extra effort.
Pair it with khaki shorts and beige loafers, and everything stays in one warm, light range with the blue stripe as the only color.
Shorts will never pass for formal, but this combination reads tidy enough for lunch or a walk through town.
Carhartt WIP’s Long Sleeve Dillion Shirt and Aurelien’s Navy Cotton Seaside Shorts are 2 named options if you want a navy version.
I’d choose loafers over sneakers here.
2. Boat Days
Pink and white is the right answer for a day on the water.
Roll the sleeves to the elbow and leave the top button open. White trousers show every smudge, so on a boat I’d keep them for the dock and the deck, and skip anything greasy at lunch.
Boat shoes or bare feet suit the setting better than anything stiff.
3. Didcot Shirt Multi Ornate Squares
Summer is the one season where a loud print makes sense, and a short-sleeve shirt covered in small squares is an easy way in. Wax London’s Didcot Shirt in Multi Ornate Squares is a named example of the style.
Keep everything else quiet. White shorts let the pattern carry the outfit, and sunglasses finish it without adding noise.
I’d wear the shirt untucked and let it hang loose. Patterns are the reason to own a few short-sleeve shirts at all, since a plain tee can’t do what they do.
4. Summer Staples
Summer staples like these mix in any order, which is what makes them staples.
The jacket is the piece I’d spend on, because it turns a tee into something that works for dinner.
Wear it open and unbuttoned. Navy trousers are darker than the jacket and tee, so the outfit has a clear low point and doesn’t wash out in bright light.
Skip the jacket when it’s hot and you still have a clean outfit.
5. Summer Work Outfits
The pale palette is what keeps it professional in heat.
Choose an unstructured blazer in a lightweight fabric, since a heavy one defeats the purpose. Keep the shirt crisp and white so the pink is the only statement.
If pink feels like too much for your workplace, the same formula works in a softer neutral. I’d still try the pink first, because it’s the version people remember.
6. White T-Shirt and Beige Shorts
White crewneck tee, beige shorts, white sneakers, baseball cap: nothing here needs thought, and that’s its strength.
Fit decides everything. The tee should sit at the shoulder seam and end around the hip, and the shorts should land near the knee rather than past it.
Keep the sneakers clean, because on an all-white-and-beige outfit scuffs show immediately.
7. Striped Polo and Off-White Shorts
Vertical stripes in green and white make a polo look longer and neater than a plain one, which helps in heat when you want the least effort possible.
Off-white shorts soften the contrast better than pure white, and beige loafers hold everything in one warm range. Green is the only strong color, so let it stay that way.
I’d tuck the polo only if the shorts have a clean waistband. Otherwise, leave it out and let the hem sit at the hip.
8. Dark Green Button-Down and Cream Trousers
Dark green is a better partner for cream than the usual navy, and it feels less expected on a summer afternoon.
Choose trousers cut close to the leg but not tight, with a hem that just touches the shoe. A long-sleeve button-down in a light cotton keeps you covered from the sun without trapping heat, and I’d roll the cuffs twice.
Cream shows dirt quickly, so this is a better outfit for walking around town than for a messy lunch.
9. Linen Blazer with Jeans
An olive linen blazer over a white shirt and light-wash jeans is the easiest way I know to dress up denim in summer.
Linen wrinkles, and that’s part of its look, so don’t fight it with a steamer before every wear.
Pick an unlined or lightly lined jacket so it stays cool, and add a woven belt in brown to tie the casual and sharp halves together.
Keep the jeans a shade lighter than the blazer. Dark denim fights with linen.
10. Checkered Shirt and Casual Shorts
A checkered shirt worn open works as a light jacket over a bright tee, and a yellow one next to blue check is a strong pairing.
Grey shorts and a cap keep it relaxed, so nothing competes with the 2 main colors.
I’d go for a thin cotton shirt here. A heavy flannel check would run too warm for summer, and it would drag this look down with it.
Choosing the Right Colors
Orange, yellow and pink read as summer because heat and strong light can carry them. The same shades look loud in dim winter light, and that is why they belong to this season.
One bright piece is enough for an outfit; the shirt, shorts and shoes around it work best in white, tan, navy or gray.
A coral tee with stone shorts looks deliberate; a coral tee with yellow shorts looks like a costume.
If bright shades worry you, start with the piece nearest your face, since a shirt or polo is easy to swap out.
Check it in daylight before you commit, because pink and orange can shift on skin depending on your tone.
Pale versions of each color are the safer entry point, and the strong versions are worth trying once you know what you like.
Footwear Options
Loafers, sandals and light sneakers each have a job, so match them to the day.
Low-top sneakers in light-colored leather are the best casual choice. They look cleaner than canvas and hold up better.
For a dock party or anywhere near water, boat shoes are worth owning. The leather is soft and crushable, and they look a little more relaxed than penny loafers.
In summer heat, bare ankles or low-cut no-show socks are the only choices I’d make, since anything taller looks heavy with shorts.
No-show socks keep the shoe in view and still protect your feet from rubbing. Invisasox is one brand of them.
Sandals suit the beach and the pool. For anything beyond that, I’d pick a closed shoe.
The nautical kicks are a little more interesting than a pair penny loafers, and the soft, supple, crushable leather gives your outfits a more relaxed, lounging feel that’s befitting of lazy summer energy.
— GQ
Mixing and Matching
Buy pieces that work with at least 3 other things you own. A white tee, a pair of neutral shorts, an overshirt and one patterned shirt can produce a dozen outfits.
Stay inside one or two color families, such as warm neutrals with a single accent. Anything new you add then fits without a second thought.
Before you buy something, put together 3 outfits with it in your head. If you can’t manage 3, leave it on the rack.
Rotate the layers instead of the base. Swapping an open shirt for a light jacket changes the whole look, and you haven’t added to the laundry pile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some cool summer outfits for guys?
A striped long sleeve shirt with the cuffs pushed up, khaki shorts and beige loafers is a tidy one that stays in a single warm color range.
A white tee, beige shorts and white sneakers is the baseline summer outfit, and it takes zero decisions.
What should men wear in summer?
Stick to light, breathable pieces: thin cotton shirts, linen blazers, shorts, and a few short-sleeve shirts in patterns. Choose unstructured or unlined jackets so they stay cool, and keep colors to white, tan, navy or gray with one bright piece.
Closed shoes like loafers or light leather sneakers suit most days, and sandals are best left for the beach and pool.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for men?
I don’t call it that, but I do say new pieces should work with at least 3 things already in your closet. That keeps a small wardrobe mixing well.
What shoes go with summer shorts?
Light-colored leather sneakers are the better choice, cleaner than canvas and longer-wearing.
Loafers suit a tidier look, and boat shoes are worth owning for docks and water. Skip the socks entirely or wear no-shows that sit below the ankle line.
How can I dress for work in summer heat?
An unstructured blazer in linen or cotton breathes, while a lined wool one turns into a sauna.
Keep the shirt crisp and white, and use a pale palette so the outfit stays professional. A single pink piece works as the one statement; if that’s too much for your office, a softer neutral follows the same formula.
