In menswear, whether or not you can wear shorts past a certain age is a hotly debated topic. The late fashion designer Sir Hardy Amies said that a man should “never wear shorts except actually on the beach or on a walking tour”. Some are still in this camp, believing that shorts should be left in the school playground and exist in a grown-man’s wardrobe exclusively for gym sessions or running marathons. Others – thankfully, most – are of the opinion that shorts can be worn at any age. And at any length. Here at MR PORTER, we firmly fly the flag for the latter. Just look at stylish guys such as Pedro Pascal, who wore Valentino Garavani shorts to the Met Gala, or Jacob Elordi, Donald Glover and Harry Styles who have been papped running errands and revelling at Glastonbury in their very-short shorts. For Londoners, it’s more surprising to spot Paul Mescal in anything else off-duty.

Weddings have a way of forcing men to reckon with their wardrobes. In a world where dress codes have steadily relaxed, formalwear has become the exception rather than the rule. And yet, certain occasions still demand it: weddings, funerals and, God forbid, court appearances. The problem is, as suits have receded from daily life, so has the knowledge of how to wear one. In my years writing about menswear, I’ve seen a recurring drama unfold: men who delay, who misjudge, who seek out tailors too late. The suit is too tight or too loose. It doesn’t look terrible, exactly, but it doesn’t look great either. And he’s paid dearly for it. To avoid that fate, it helps to know what you’re up against. Buying a good suit means accounting for dress codes, tailoring lead times should you need one and the subtle signals clothing can communicate, especially for an event as photographed and emotionally freighted as a wedding. Whether you’re standing at the altar or sitting in the third row, here are a few key considerations that can sharpen the results and lower the stress levels.

Toes are out and opinions are split. In a trend nobody saw coming – except, apparently, all fashion designers – sandals and flip-flops dominated the runway at the menswear shows in June, where they were worn with suits at Auralee, AMIRI, Officine Générale and more. Earlier in the month, in a move that proved controversial, actor Jonathan Bailey wore a pair of flip-flops on the red carpet. They were from The Row, so naturally were as sophisticated as flip-flops get, but still, the comments raged. Whichever way you slice it, people will protest if you parade your piggies in public. A controversial proposal for those of us whose feet can’t be contained: put some socks on. Yes, we know, somewhere along the line, society decided that socks and sandals was somehow a risky pairing, akin to going sockless in loafers or wearing sneakers with a suit. At worst, it can be seen as a nadir of sartorial slovenliness, ie, the kind of thing you slip on to shuffle to the shops to buy toilet paper at 8.00am. But good style is all about pushing against the boundaries of old ideas and figuring out a new way to do it. And when it comes to socks and sandals, a smarter, suaver reality is possible.

As any menswear fan worth his salt knows, summer in the city is tough to dress for. It’s hot, it’s sweaty and the options for clothes that serve form and function drastically decrease. So, what to do? According to the model and menswear expert Richard Biedul, buying menswear in summer is a minefield. “[The sudden change in weather] results in men, who are notoriously loyal shoppers, making spontaneous purchases they instantly regret, because it was something ‘fun for summer’,” he says. To build a seasonal wardrobe you’ll actually keep wearing, then, here are a few pretty effortless suggestions.

In menswear, whether or not you can wear shorts past a certain age is a hotly debated topic. The late fashion designer Sir Hardy Amies said that a man should “never wear shorts except actually on the beach or on a walking tour”. Some are still in this camp, believing that shorts should be left in the school playground and exist in a grown-man’s wardrobe exclusively for gym sessions or running marathons. Others – thankfully, most – are of the opinion that shorts can be worn at any age. And at any length. Here at MR PORTER, we firmly fly the flag for the latter. Just look at stylish guys such as Pedro Pascal, who wore Valentino Garavani shorts to the Met Gala, or Jacob Elordi, Donald Glover and Harry Styles who have been papped running errands and revelling at Glastonbury in their very-short shorts. For Londoners, it’s more surprising to spot Paul Mescal in anything else off-duty.

Weddings have a way of forcing men to reckon with their wardrobes. In a world where dress codes have steadily relaxed, formalwear has become the exception rather than the rule. And yet, certain occasions still demand it: weddings, funerals and, God forbid, court appearances. The problem is, as suits have receded from daily life, so has the knowledge of how to wear one. In my years writing about menswear, I’ve seen a recurring drama unfold: men who delay, who misjudge, who seek out tailors too late. The suit is too tight or too loose. It doesn’t look terrible, exactly, but it doesn’t look great either. And he’s paid dearly for it. To avoid that fate, it helps to know what you’re up against. Buying a good suit means accounting for dress codes, tailoring lead times should you need one and the subtle signals clothing can communicate, especially for an event as photographed and emotionally freighted as a wedding. Whether you’re standing at the altar or sitting in the third row, here are a few key considerations that can sharpen the results and lower the stress levels.