THE JOURNAL

Mr Tom Cruise as Brian Flanagan in Cocktail, 1988. Photograph by Alamy
The clothes you need to see out this heatwave in style (and without a bead of sweat).
We can scarcely believe it, but it’s happening. After a thoroughly weird April and May – full not just of the obligatory showers of rain, but hailstorms and snow – it finally seems like the summer is kicking into gear. And, given the weather's ridiculous unpredictability up until now, it feels like we should really be grabbing summer by the horns. Before it's all over. Which is why we at MR PORTER are recommending jumping into the Caribbean beach club look (as modelled spectacularly by Mr Tom Cruise, above, in the 1988 film Cocktail) with reckless abandon from now onward. No hat is too big. No shirt is too Hawaiian. In short, nothing less than complete commitment to the cause will do. Below, we highlight the three best ways to do it, via choice picks from items currently available on MR PORTER. Slip on a few of these, and then switch on our Exotica playlist for the appropriate soundtrack to accompany. A cocktail with some kind of large fruit and a mini umbrella in it is not really optional.

THE HEADGEAR
Sunglasses are of course, obligatory in this kind of weather – we barely need to say more. The only thing to add, really, is that this newly arrived pair from L.G.R come in a shade of golden beige that seems particularly appropriate for sun-kissed environs (the explanation: they were made in Italy, of course). A less obvious, but no less useful addition is a straw hat, which in combination with a good SPF moisturiser, will prevent you from ruining all your friends’ photographs with a ruddy face or crispy ears. This completely superlative example from 300-plus-year-old British hatter Lock & Co is just the ticket.

the clothing
In the UK, we tend to get so excited about a bit of vitamin D that we need to calm our nerves with cocktails. It therefore follows that this weekend – the scorcher that it’s set to be – London will see the most hedonism it has all year. So it’s thoroughly appropriate to dress like one of history’s finest hedonists, Mr Hunter S Thompson, via a brightly coloured camp-collar shirt, which happens to be available in abundance this season. Pair with some ripstop shorts from Japanese brand Neighborhood and you have an outfit that is not only fun, but rather sturdy, which will help facilitate whatever awful things you happen to get up to.

the footwear
We’ve already noted that espadrilles are a key shoe for this summer. But if you’re a little cautious about wearing them outside of beach environments, we can recommend the above pair of lace-up, raffia-soled shoes from Burberry. Rendered in a breathable canvas-linen fabric, they will retain their light, summery look and feel even as temperatures climb. Of course, this effect would be completely counteracted by a pair of chunky socks, so consider instead this invisible pair from the master of this category, Falke. Not only will they keep your shoes fresh while giving your ankles some breathing room, they’ll also help you tell your left from right – if you’re in any doubt after a few daiquiris.