The Summer Style Edit: Men ☀️

Looking Put Together Without Looking Like You Tried Too Hard

Men’s summer fashion has a slight problem.

There seems to be a mysterious point every year when perfectly stylish men collectively decide that an old T-shirt, whatever shorts happen to be clean and a pair of flip-flops constitute an outfit.

Gentlemen.

We can do better.

And the good news is that doing better doesn’t mean spending your summer dressed like you’re attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

For the men’s chapter of the Hayls Beauty Tales Summer Style Edit, we’re keeping things relaxed, wearable and — most importantly — easy.

Start With the T-Shirt

A good T-shirt is probably going to do more work in your summer wardrobe than anything else.

But there’s a difference between a T-shirt and the right T-shirt.

Fit matters.

You want something that sits properly across the shoulders, isn’t drowning you in fabric and isn’t clinging on for dear life either.

Start with a few easy colours — white, navy, grey, cream or black — and then add something with personality.

I’m particularly fond of sage green, dusty blue and soft pastels for summer.

They’re interesting without screaming LOOK AT MY FASHION CHOICE.

The Polo Shirt Has Grown Up

Forget the slightly awkward polo shirts you may remember being forced into for family occasions.

The modern polo can be really rather good.

Knitted polos in particular are an easy way to make a simple outfit look expensive.

Pair one with tailored shorts, chinos or lightweight trousers and you’ve got something that works for dinner, drinks, dates and those mysterious occasions where someone says “smart casual” and everybody panics.

Please Meet the Linen Shirt

If there’s one piece I’d persuade a man to add to his summer wardrobe, this might be it.

A linen shirt does almost everything.

Wear it buttoned with chinos.

Wear it open over a T-shirt.

Roll the sleeves.

Throw it over swim shorts on holiday.

Pair it with tailored shorts for dinner.

White is classic, but cream, pale blue, sage and soft pink can look fantastic too.

And yes, linen creases.

We’ve already established in the women’s edit that we’re accepting this and moving on with our lives.

Shorts Need a Little Attention

Shorts are where things can go terribly wrong.

You don’t need anything complicated. You just need them to fit properly.

A clean pair of chino or tailored shorts instantly makes an outfit look more considered than something extremely baggy with seventeen pockets hanging off it.

Neutral colours make life easier: navy, stone, khaki, beige and grey will work with practically everything.

Then your shirts and T-shirts can provide the colour.

Easy.

Don’t Abandon Your Trousers

Warm weather does not automatically require exposed knees.

Lightweight chinos, drawstring trousers and linen-blend trousers are brilliant for summer, particularly when you need something slightly smarter.

Try a pair of stone trousers with a navy polo.

Or navy trousers with a crisp white shirt.

Or linen trousers with a relaxed T-shirt and trainers.

None of these combinations are revolutionary.

That’s rather the point.

Good style doesn’t always need to be complicated.

The Overshirt Is Your British Summer Insurance Policy

Because this is Britain.

We know what’s going to happen.

You’ll leave the house at lunchtime wearing shorts because it’s gloriously sunny.

At 7pm you’ll be wondering why you didn’t bring a coat.

A lightweight overshirt solves quite a lot of this nonsense.

Throw one over a T-shirt and you’ve got an extra layer without making the outfit feel heavy.

It’s also useful for transitioning into autumn, which earns it extra points from me.

Trainers: Keep Them Clean

I’m not asking you to own a giant shoe collection.

A clean pair of simple trainers can carry an enormous portion of a man’s summer wardrobe.

The operative word there was clean.

If your once-white trainers are now an intriguing shade of pavement grey, we may need to have a conversation.

A minimalist white or neutral trainer works with shorts, chinos and casual trousers and can even make a slightly smarter outfit feel more relaxed.

Add a Smarter Shoe

For evenings, weddings, dinners and occasions when trainers aren’t quite enough, add one smarter option.

A loafer is particularly useful in summer.

You could also go for a suede shoe or something similarly lightweight.

That’s really all you need.

I’m resisting the temptation to turn this into a 14-shoe capsule wardrobe because I’m trying to behave myself.

Accessories Are Not Just for Women

This is where men’s outfits often stop one step too early.

You’ve got the shirt.

You’ve got the trousers.

You’ve got the shoes.

Now finish it.

A good watch, sunglasses, a belt, a simple chain or bracelet can make an incredibly basic outfit suddenly look intentional.

And if you’re carrying everything in your pockets until your trousers resemble a storage facility, perhaps it’s time to investigate a proper bag.

There are some very good crossbody, canvas and leather options around now.

Your phone does not need to create its own silhouette.

Grooming Counts as Part of the Look

And here is where men’s fashion fits beautifully into Hayls Beauty Tales.

Style doesn’t end with clothes.

If you’ve put together a fantastic outfit but your hair looks like you’ve recently escaped from a hedge, we’re not quite finished.

Summer is a good time to simplify grooming.

A decent haircut, SPF, moisturiser, deodorant, a fragrance you love and whatever hair product actually works for you.

That’s enough.

And yes, gentlemen, you need SPF too.

The sun is not checking gender before handing out UV damage.

The Men’s Summer Capsule

If I were building a straightforward men’s summer wardrobe, I’d go for three good T-shirts, one polo, two shirts including a linen option, tailored shorts, casual shorts, lightweight trousers or chinos, an overshirt, clean trainers, one smarter shoe, sunglasses and a couple of accessories.

From there, almost everything should mix together.

That’s the secret.

Instead of owning lots of clothes that only work in one outfit, create a small collection where practically every top works with practically every bottom.

Suddenly getting dressed requires significantly less thought.

Summer Style Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated

That’s what I want the men’s section of our Summer Style Edit to prove.

You don’t have to follow every trend.

You don’t have to become obsessed with fashion.

And you certainly don’t need an entirely new wardrobe every June.

A few great basics.

Better fit.

Some interesting texture.

A little colour.

Clean shoes.

Good grooming.

And one or two accessories that make the outfit feel like you.

That’s it.

Although I reserve the right to confiscate any truly terrible cargo shorts.

Next up in the Summer Style Edit: we’re heading into the children’s wardrobe — where practicality, personality and the ability to survive an ice cream are all equally important.

Love,
Hayls x