What to pack for your vacation.

Apart from obsessively trying to find the cheapest flights possible (would changing three times really be that bad?), a big part of going on a summer holiday, before you actually arrive at your sun-soaked destination, is the ceremonial buying of new things to take with you. You may not need these new things. We’re sure the things you bought last year would do just fine (apart from sunglasses. You’ve definitely lost your sunglasses). But if requirement was a concept we adhered to when purchasing stuff, well, we wouldn’t have much stuff.

But let us not digress. Arguing the pros and cons of capitalism this early in the morning is not something we feel qualified, nor obliged, to do. So, back to our summer holidays, then. Which are fast approaching (well, they’re four months away, but still). To get us properly in the mood, we made this Tuesday’s editor’s picks about the things we’d like to pack when we embark. You might like to, as well. So try these fresh new items on for size.

Shorts are somewhat of a contentious issue – unless they’re being used for sports or the gym, many men seem to fear them. Or worry about exposing their legs, at least. And then there is the question of what to wear with them. We have written extensively on the topic here and here. Thankfully, however, a holiday abroad makes things easier. Firstly, if you’ve been skipping leg day for, well, ever and are concerned about bearing them, the people you know who will have to endure them are likely to be your partner or family. More forgiving than, say, your work colleagues at home. Secondly, with guaranteed sun, you have fewer sartorial dilemmas. If you still need guidance, our picks below are a good place to start.

Another thing that sun and relative isolation affords us is the opportunity to wear footwear we would never get to slip on under grey skies. Welcome to your new espadrilles, then: the mature, cork and rope-made answer to the sandal – which some men passionately dislike wearing (again, something to do with exposing parts of the body that are usually covered, we expect). It’s worth noting that espadrilles are usually more hardwearing than your average sandals, and can work with a number of different looks. All you require is a breezy shirt, and a proper straw hat. This one, from Borsalino, is not the kind to stuff into your luggage, so you’ll probably have to wear it on the plane. Given how good it looks, this shouldn’t be a problem.

It might seem strange to inject your vacation with some Italian sprezzatura using an independent British brand like Albam, but these white, wide-leg cropped trousers are just the job. Firstly, the colour and cut are made for sun and heat and will allow you to add a bit of sophistication to your abroadrobe. They are pleated, which means they’re “on trend”, if that sort of thing bothers you, and will look suitably refined when paired with an unstructured blazer and a Breton top such as this one from Ami.