THE JOURNAL
Where will this summer find you? At first glance, this feels like a question to approach at a leisurely pace, as befits the season itself. The vernal equinox was just here the other week and there is still blossom in the trees, after all. Yet time waits for no man. The hotter months will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to be caught short. At least not without swim shorts.
Indeed, when it comes to the summer wardrobe, shorts seem like a good place to start, since you’re likely to spend much of your time wearing them. Here, thankfully, attitudes have shifted, with hoary diktats relegating shorts to beachwear feeling increasingly out of step with how men now live. The shorts themselves have adapted in turn, thanks to tailored and quick-drying swimwear that wouldn’t look out of place in a bar or restaurant. And not just one on a promenade, either.
A man cannot wear shorts alone, though. Indeed, our vacation attire is often built of many layers, a selection of which we have below. Some of these will guide you towards the warm embrace of summer, others will come in handy when you get there. Our New Season edit features luxury pieces that are lighter and breezier, to reflect not just the weather – we hope – but also the outlook.
Summer is a destination, maybe even with a holiday destination in mind. But it is also a journey to get there. Then get back again. So, above all else, the clothes you take with you will have to be packed and unpacked. With this in mind, we thought long and hard about the season ahead and what to wear for it. (Yes, by a gently lapping body of water, as it happens.) Here are seven of the best items under the sun.
01. The Mr P. suede blouson jacket
“I don’t have too many true regrets at this stage of my life, but one past decision occasionally haunts me,” MR PORTER’s Head of Content Finlay Renwick recently wrote. “When I parted ways with a perfect suede jacket.” This piece by Mr P. might just be that. Made from a supple goat-leather suede in a winsome brown, it features a relaxed fit and flap pockets. A popped collar and shrugged shoulder are optional. Don’t let it pass you by.
02. The NN07 pleated linen and wool-blend trousers
Just because these Kay trousers by NN07 are part of a suit – with the Jordin double-breasted jacket – doesn’t mean that they have to be worn as one. This pair’s neutral tone, slubbed texture and breezy silhouette makes them the perfect foil for a spezzato look. But equally you don’t have to wear them with a suit at all. They’re versatile enough to be your go-to summer trousers.
03. The Hartford mid-length seersucker swim shorts
“Shorts” feels increasingly like a misnomer for an item of clothing that can be of varying hemlines. Will this summer be one of longer or minuscule lengths? Play it safe with a pleasingly striped pair that falls between the two extremes. The textured seersucker fabric means that it dries quicker, too.
04. The ZEGNA silk, cashmere and linen-blend sweater
While not quite “mithril”, the enchanted armour of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings, this refined blend of silk, cashmere and linen was surely sourced from a magical realm. (Well, Italy.) It boasts legendary softness and lightness and comes in a spellbinding shade of pink with contrasting flecks.
05. The TOM FORD Eyewear aviator sunglasses
Not every pair of sunglasses will suit every face (here’s our guide to the styles that will best flatter yours). However, D-frames and aviators are about as close to an ideal for most of us as you are going to get. This pair by TOM FORD feel like a cheat code, taking on the best of both these universal styles. Constructed from a tortoiseshell acetate with signature “T” hardware at the temples, they won’t just keep the sun out of your eyes, they’ll elevate your visage.
06. The Officine Creative woven leather weekend bag
If there’s one investment that your vacation wardrobe deserves this year, it’s a worthy weekend bag to carry it all in. Officine Creative’s Armour 019 holdall is handwoven in Italy from supple leather. It will get your gear from A to B to a resounding sì.
07. The Dries Van Noten suede sneakers
It’s not exactly a hot take, but we’re pitching the luxury low-profile sneaker as very much the silhouette of today. Dries Van Noten’s take on the trend is among the most striking examples. A simple shape that lends itself to a range of colourways – not to mention most outfits. We quite like this grey with blue leather overlays.