Summer Style Trends for Him, 2022

SUMMER PREP 

The sun’s out and it’s time to store the heavy coat and sweater and switch up to something lighter. The thing about summer is that when the mercury goes up, most guys want to dress down to stay cool. That often means we look more “beach bum” than boardwalk baller. So we decided to talk about what’s hot this summer. 

This summer the trend is toward a “preppy look”.  Think knits, polos, tailored blazers and lighter colors - something of a California feel. Then for the footwear we’re keeping it light with loafers. This summer is also the time that many of us are returning to work and as such the “work leisure aesthetic” is in high demand. That basically means maintaining the comfort of being at home without sacrificing your look. 

So here’s a look at some of the trends and how we’re handling them in the shop.

KNIT KNOWLEDGE 

First off we’ll start with the tops. Guys you’ve got to ditch the white v-neck or scoop neck that’s seen its day. The hobo vibe is quickly fading in favor of the effortlessly sleek gentleman vibe. So instead of that whole “pre-washed” look, we can offer you a variety of knits and polos much more worthy of being called “shirt”. 

Knits are typically some combination of cotton and an additional woven fabric or fabrics. They tend to offer a bit of natural stretch and boast a sort of lightweight sweater look. They are versatile, breathable, and don’t cling. Knits and knit polos can be worn casually or dressed up with a suit or dress pants. You can start with neutral colors or explore some light blocking patterns. 

Beyond the knit,  we also have some luxury cotton polos at the store that will likely make you the talk of the office. If you’re just building out your wardrobe, we’ve got solids that make for a cleaner, more classic look, plus a few other pieces ranging from “just a touch of flare” to outright “standout”.  

Every piece, adventurous or not, can be easily paired with jeans, slacks, chinos or shorts, opening up your wardrobe for every day of the week. 

The Block Knit

The Ringer Knit

The Trim Knit Polo

WELL- SUITED 

So we know you read the header and thought,  “What are they talking about? I wouldn’t be caught dead in a suit in 90-degree weather.”  We’re here to tell you that the summer suit is a thing. We swear! 

The thing about summer suits is that they are always in style. What’s becoming more prevalent is summer short suits. We’re not sure how many of you remember Lebron James from a few years ago wearing that crisp gray short suit. It can work. But if you’re not daring enough for all that, a nice light-colored suit in gray, khaki or stone blue, think a shade deeper than sky blue, will get you all the “oohs” and “aahs” you need.

Typically these suits are made with light materials such as linen, cotton or seersucker. The puckered fabric, seersucker, originates from the south, so it’s perfectly ”suited” for the heat. Sorry, we couldn’t help the pun. 

Other than the material and color the other trend in summer suits is that they are slim fit and unstructured.  Unstructured means they have no lining or shoulder pads, it doesn't mean baggy. We never mean baggy. You may have seen some guys going for the baggy suit look. That’s a no-no. The look is more fitted these days, think Italian. These suits work for summer weddings or even heading to work. 

If you’re not interested in a full suit, we’ve got the always cool summer blazer that will keep you dry and help with your sprezzatura or “effortless style”. The Italians have made a living creating quality clothing that has kept them looking and feeling good in the Mediterranean heat. The Italian blazers we have can do the same for you and pair nicely with a tee, open collared shirt or a knit polo with a simple pair of loafers.  

Plaid silk & linen sport coat sold in-store only.
Melange sport shirt available online.

Laser Cut Blazer & Ringer Tee available online. Woven belt available in-store only.

LOAFING ABOUT 

That brings us to the next trend. As we move away from all sneakers all the time, loafers are growing in popularity as the comfortably cool look.  They go very nicely with shorts and linens, the open collar look and so much more. And don’t forget your no-show socks, fellas. No one likes a wet foot in a leather shoe. 

Stick with the basics with these - light brown is summer-chic. An all white look is certainly more adventurous, and you can even throw in a black pair if you’re looking for something a bit more classic yet stark against the softer palette of summer. If you’re not into loafing about you can also spring for a driver, which combines the sleekness of a dress shoe on top with the comfort of a sneaker at the sole. And if you simply can’t abandon your sneakers, make sure they’re clean and look sharp. A nice pair of shoes can take an outfit to the next level and a ratty pair can do the reverse.

WORKLEISURE 

Those shoes are a big part of the last trend that we’ll talk about, the work-leisure aesthetic. Otherwise known as “business comfort” this trend is characterized by clothes that offer the comfort of leisure wear but are workplace appropriate. We’re talking structured joggers, thick t-shirts and the aforementioned polished sneaker. Our take on this look would include our always in style khaki chinos paired with a knit shirt or polo. That outfit can be easily dressed up with a fitted blazer (see, it all comes together) for a night out or a more upscale meeting. 

As we wrap up, we’d like to leave you with this. The forever-trend of summer is to keep cool while easily transitioning between classy and casual. We can help you do that without losing that luxury appeal. Our knit polos, chinos, summer suits and breakwater shorts are some of the highlights this season that we think will help you continue to stand out on the boardwalk and in the boardroom. 

And as we’ve said before - this isn’t shopping, it’s character development.

So who do you want to be this summer? 😉