It’s a truism that it’s easier to dress for winter than it is for summer. And that’s particularly true if, like me, you live in Britain. Given our climate, it’s no surprise that our year-round go-tos tend to lean into the safety of British heritage – think blazers, brogues and a swishy coat. Summer? Less tradition, more confusion. At no time is that confusion more keenly felt than when it comes to dressing for the office in summer. Assuming your workplace doesn’t call for business suits and ties every day – and, if it does, you have our condolences – then summer wardrobing in front of colleagues can be a minefield. Suddenly people start to confuse “smart casual” with “barbeque dad” and introduce T-shirts that they last wore clubbing in 2004. I once worked in an office where being “the first guy in shorts” when the clocks went back was a badge of honour. Don’t be that guy. Instead, follow MR PORTER’S indispensable guide. Behold: the dos and don’ts of summer officewear.

Have we seen the last of what’s known among fashion insiders as the “trans-seasonal months”? The dog days of summer might still feel a long while away, but we trust you’ve got some exciting sunny getaways on the cards. This is your time to truly be stress-free, so let us think about the essentials, leaving you to dream up the itinerary. Some shorts and sandals, for instance, some sportswear for the hotel gym, a trusty pair of sunglasses – tick off your packing list below. It’ll be here sooner than you think.

You’ll have noticed that MR PORTER’s Summer Shop is open for business, and our homepage is awash with stylish men wearing swim shorts, short-sleeved shirts and sandals. Which is all well and good, but a quick glance at the calendar reveals that we’re only just in – what? – May, a month that sits firmly in the orbital quadrant designated – in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, at least – as spring. And in the interest of being fully engaged in the moment, it pays to dress for the moment, too. But how? Handily, this spring, a bunch of the best-dressed guys out there have made an effort, appearing at film premieres, the Met Gala, even just nipping to the shops. And, for our part, we’ve amassed the photographic evidence, below.

Double denim is one of menswear’s great dividers. The sartorial soulmate of pineapple on pizza or – shudder – no-show socks. And maybe that’s part of the fun. “I both condone double denim and also quite enjoy the scathing attitude it sometimes evokes,” says Amy Leverton, author of <Denim Dudes>, her comprehensive account of denim obsessives. “Double denim works in the same way that denim does in general: through its versatility and universal appeal,” she says.

It’s a truism that it’s easier to dress for winter than it is for summer. And that’s particularly true if, like me, you live in Britain. Given our climate, it’s no surprise that our year-round go-tos tend to lean into the safety of British heritage – think blazers, brogues and a swishy coat. Summer? Less tradition, more confusion. At no time is that confusion more keenly felt than when it comes to dressing for the office in summer. Assuming your workplace doesn’t call for business suits and ties every day – and, if it does, you have our condolences – then summer wardrobing in front of colleagues can be a minefield. Suddenly people start to confuse “smart casual” with “barbeque dad” and introduce T-shirts that they last wore clubbing in 2004. I once worked in an office where being “the first guy in shorts” when the clocks went back was a badge of honour. Don’t be that guy. Instead, follow MR PORTER’S indispensable guide. Behold: the dos and don’ts of summer officewear.

Have we seen the last of what’s known among fashion insiders as the “trans-seasonal months”? The dog days of summer might still feel a long while away, but we trust you’ve got some exciting sunny getaways on the cards. This is your time to truly be stress-free, so let us think about the essentials, leaving you to dream up the itinerary. Some shorts and sandals, for instance, some sportswear for the hotel gym, a trusty pair of sunglasses – tick off your packing list below. It’ll be here sooner than you think.