Put This On

Nii Ayikwei, pictured above, lives in Atlanta, where it’s hot as Hades this time of year.  He deals with it by wearing tropical-weight wool, which wears quite cool.  Speaking of cool - I like the cool tones in the palette of this outfit.  Makes you feel like summer is somehow manageable.

Another wonderfully put-together hot weather look, this time from Andrew in Atlanta.  The palette here is very simple - khaki and blue.  Looks like a linen jacket (and a lovely one at that).  I think the cool tones in the upper half of the body are a nice, calming summer look.  They also calm down the bow tie, which is nice.

Greg from Arizona is one of my favorite hot weather dressers.  Here he’s wearing tropical-weight patterned wool trousers, which he’s balancing with a dark blue sport coat and plain white shirt.  I’m presuming that that coat doesn’t have a full lining.  Unless you’ll be outside for a long stretch of time, a lightweight coat will often keep you cooler than short sleeves, by keeping your flesh out of the sun.  Tropical-weight wool also wears surprisingly cool.  Of course, since most of us spend most hot days in a climate-controlled environment, covering your arms and legs serves the secondary purpose of keeping the AC chill off the skin.

A few of the gentlemen at a recent StyleForum meetup in San Francisco… anchored by our pal Will from A Suitable Wardrobe.  Class acts, folks.

Jeffrey from San Francisco in an outfit that’s both carefully put together and pleasantly relaxed.  Summer style doesn’t have to be slovenly.

Another real man dressed well today.  This time it’s Alan, from “the heart of America,” wearing a summer hat by Vintage Silhouettes. 

People often write asking how to wear a hat without looking like a goofus.  Alan’s demonstrating it here.  You have to start by wearing a high-quality hat (tough to find these days).  It should suit your head.  Most importantly: it should be functional.

Here, Alan’s keeping the hot summer sun off of his head, something anyone can relate to.  In winter, he might wear a felt hat to keep the rain and wind away.  Wearing a hat when it’s functional is the easiest way I know to wear a hat without looking like a cosplayer.

Rob from Brooklyn in a charming casual summer outfit.  Nothing wrong with taking your coat off and rolling up your sleeves when it’s hot.  Nice to have a coat on hand, though, so that when you step back inside you can finish your look.

How lovely does Simon Crompton, from Permanent Style, look in his wedding suit?

This is relatively informal wedding attire for a man executed perfectly.  It’s also a near perfectly-fitting suit.

The elements: blue suit, white shirt, white square, wedding tie, black shoes.  All spectacular.

Here’s an Italian gentleman looking sharp, courtesy of The Sartorialist.

It’s becoming summer in Italy - why does this guy look so at home in this suit?

First of all, it’s linen.  Linen, even in heavier weights, stays cool in the heat.  It can rumple, which in some cases make it inappropriate for business, but that also gives it a lived-in quality which can be quite wonderful.  I think that quality is part of why he looks so at-home in this outfit.

Brown is an unusual color choice for a guy with silver hair, but this particular brown compliments his olive complexion quite nicely.  If he had less color in his skin, it wouldn’t look nearly as nice.

In terms of seasonality, I’d guess that his shoes are a lighter brown, not unlike the briefcase in his hand.  As Will pointed out today, lighter browns are more suitable to the warmer months.  In this case, the case (and the shirt & tie) brighten things up a bit.

This is a gentleman I would be happy to meet, and would certainly be happy to do business with.

tredicielupo:

webuomo.

This is the simplest men’s clothing you can wear - blue blazer, white shirt, gray pants.  Fit and accessories transform it.  Remember that men’s style isn’t about wearing something wild, it’s about execution.  If this gentleman had gotten even one thing wrong, he might have ended up looking like a security guard.  Instead, he looks ready to take on the world.

(One note: his buttons are black, or perhaps navy.  That would usually suggest a suit coat.  If you’re in this situation, feel free to dump brass buttons, but go with something contrasting, like white mother-of-pearl or brown horn.)