It’s easy to look good in the fall – you have an unlimited options of clothes to throw and layer together.
But when it comes to style when the temps are up, it can be a huge challenge, especially if you have an office dress code.
When it comes to your clothes, your body gets hot in two ways:
- Air getting trapped – Fabrics like wool and cashmere are great in the winter because their fibers create little pockets that trap air. Those little air molecules are trapped, getting heated by your body to keep you warm.
- Direct exposure to the sun – This one is fairly simple. Sun hits directly onto your skin, your skin gets hot.
That means in the warmer months, we want the exact opposite of these two things to happen. We want to move air away from our body and get some shade our skin to keep it cool!
TIP #1: SWITCH OVER TO SPRING FABRICS
There’s a good chance you’ve stocked your closet with shirts in fabrics better suited for cold months, like wool. Even if you’re more of a cotton shirt guy, your fall/winter gear is generally going to be on the thicker side. They’re designed to trap in heat, which means you’ll be a swampy mess by the end of the day.
We want fabrics that let the air flow, not trap it.
Make the switch and get a set of shirts made in more spring/summer appropriate fabrics.
Linen is a hot weather staple, and you’ll find a lot of men’s clothing for the warmer seasons in linen. Linen can be naturally stiff, so you’ll also find it blended with fabrics like cotton or silk to soften it up.
Other options include: Lighter cotton, ramie and my personal favorite, cupro. Cupro is a silk-like fabric made from the throwaway parts of the cotton plant. It’s extremely breathable and stays relatively cool to the touch.
TIP #2: STOCK UP ON SUMMER APPROPRIATE STYLES
16oz raw denim in the middle of summer? It ain’t happening
When it comes to wardrobes, it makes sense to follow the concepts of an essential wardrobe, but adjust the pieces to suit hotter and humid weather.
This means getting clothes with the right details – whether that’s fabric weight, details like lining, even a little help from technology.
TIP #3: LOOSEN UP YOUR FIT A BIT
The tighter your clothes are, the hotter you’re going to get and feel. This goes back to airflow.
Summer is one of the few times where it’s ok to loosen up a bit and relax about getting the “perfect” fit.
Go for roomier cuts, or even size up. Give your skin some room to breathe – get a looser t-shirt, dress shirt, pants and shorts.
Think about how men in hot Middle Eastern countries dress: It’s usually loose, flowing clothes and robes in breathable, light fabrics.
TIP #4: DON’T BE AFRAID TO ADD SOME COLOR AND PATTERN TO YOUR LOOK
Summer is one of the few times where you can get a pass for wearing bright colors and wild patterns, especially if you aren’t the type of guy that normally wears that stuff.
For the most day-to-day versatility, I still recommend sticking to neutral colors like navy, white, khaki, olive. These color combinations mix easily with one another.
Take this advice and adapt to it to a work environment. Wear lighter fabrics and looser fitting clothes in the office for a cooler stress free work day!
By swapping out just one item in your look – like your usual white button-up -for something like a floral print can give your look some much needed personality.
