As the weather hots up, we're forgoing colour in favour of black.

This is the time of year when talk of summer wardrobes proliferates and the pressure to dress like a children’s television presenter begins to mount. Blame it on climate change (it has been rather rainy of late), but that’s not about to happen here. Not entirely, anyway. A wave of sable-coloured clothing has just descended on MR PORTER and, call us summertime scrooges, but we’re rather taken with it. Don’t let the colour fool you. The items we’ve picked out below are as summer-ready as they would be in more variegated shades, but there’s something about wearing black in the summer that carries a little understated attitude with it. So, whether it’s a shirt, a sweater or a tracksuit, you can be sure black isn’t retreating into the shadows just because the sun’s coming out.

We’re calling it – a camp-collar aloha shirt is the shirt style of summer, and if you haven’t already nabbed one, we’d advise you to do so now. A reliable staple for warmer weather, it often comes in uninhibited jungle prints that, while arresting, can look a little touristy unless you know what you’re doing. It’s refreshing, then, that this shirt from Japanese brand visvim makes things easier with its pared-back, but still satisfyingly tropical monochrome fish print. Whether you wear it alone or leave it unbuttoned over a white T-shirt, it’ll go very well with these roomy pleated trousers from Monitaly, which complement the print and will keep your look relaxed.

It would be nice to fool yourself into thinking that all you’ll need this summer is an aloha shirt and a pair of linen trousers, but chances are, at some point, you’ll need a sweater. And why not a black one? Inspired by rave flyers from the 1990s, this sweater from McQ Alexander McQueen is the perfect thing to wear to a party this spring, considering it’s screen-printed with The True Acid House Experience line-up of DJs and MCs. Team it with some fresh white kicks to keep it clean. This chunky pair from Saint Laurent are subtly retro, so will match nicely.

Just because you’re wearing black, it doesn’t mean you need to forgo colour entirely. This velvet-trimmed jacket and matching trousers from Japanese brand KAPITAL are decorated with colourful emblems, including Mount Fuji, a red camellia and a palm tree – very summery indeed. They work as a complete look, but each piece will work well on its own, too. Try the top with a pair of jeans, or the trousers with a graphic T-shirt.