THE JOURNAL
From left: Harry Styles in London, June 2025. Jeremy Allen White in Los Angeles, 15 January 2025. Photograph by Backgrid. Lucien Laviscount in Rome, 13 March 2025. Photograph by Agostino Fabio/GC Images. Paul Mescal in New York City, March 2024. Photograph by Backgrid
Summer really is sport’s golden season. Longer days mean earlier runs, later tee times and the wholly unrealistic belief that you might finally utilise that outdoor gym in your local park. But to really get the most out of your seasonal sweat, your kit needs to work harder than ever – it should keep you cool, dry, supported and looking nothing like the kid at school who forgot his PE kit.
You also need specialised gear for the activity in which you are participating. And sportswear today lives at the intersection of utility and aesthetics – one foot in the gym, the other in the mirror. The best summer gear works as hard as you do, keeps you looking razor-sharp and quietly suggests that, yes, you do know what you’re doing out there. In short, this is kit for the discerning man who knows his threshold pace and the power of a well-cut polo.
01. Padel and tennis
There’s a particular kind of theatre to racquet sports – the sharp stop-start movement, the full-body rotation, the self-congratulatory fist-pump after a perfect volley. Whether you’re smashing serves on a clay court in Marbella or battling your neighbour over padel bragging rights, your outfit should let you move like Federer and feel like you belong in the members’ lounge after.
This summer’s best tennis and padel gear is built around ultra-light fabrics that wick sweat and dry in record time, so you’re not carrying around a shirt’s worth of perspiration by the second set. Stretch is non-negotiable – your serve shouldn’t be limited by your seams.
And while classic whites will always have their place (check out this classic piqué T-shirt from Mr P.), there’s something quietly luxurious about a deep navy or forest green with piped detailing. It’s athleticism with a whisper of aristocracy – especially if it’s Brunello Cucinelli.
02. Gym training
Gymwear has transcended its environment. Yes, it should support your performance during weighted chin-ups and rower sprints. But today, it also needs to hold up when you’re stretching on a mat beside someone filming content. Or grabbing lunch without looking like you’re in a Rocky Balboa montage. Enter a new breed of kit that’s slick, sculpted and quietly engineered to make you look like you lift more than you talk about lifting.
This season’s best pieces come in cool monochromes and slate greys with subtle tonal branding – think stealth mode, but shredded. Ventilated panels are strategically placed to release heat and avoid, ahem, awkward dark patches, while the best shorts offer just the right amount of structure to look smart without restricting movement. Fabrics are light, dry fast, and – crucially – won’t leave you smelling like last week’s spin class after a single set.
03. Running
The runners emerge with the spring and multiply in the summer – a Lycra-clad migration of men chasing both endorphins and pace goals. And while running may be the most democratic of sports (lace up, step outside), it’s also the one where good gear pays dividends fast. Less sweat, less friction, fewer mid-run regrets.
Look for featherlight tops with micro-mesh ventilation that let air flow without flapping like a flag in the wind. Shorts, meanwhile, should be trim, but not tight. If there’s one rule, it’s that nobody wants to see a liner straining under pressure. Compression elements are no longer just for the elite – they help with muscle recovery, alignment and, let’s be honest, showing off your quad progress. And, well, if your outfit happens to feature a highlighter-bright hue or a print that could outpace traffic, well, why not be a blur in both form and fashion?
04. Fishing
By now, we’re all aligned on the appeal of a long, sunny afternoon spent with a mate on a riverbank. And, sure, Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer have reminded us that, as men, it’s good to have an excuse to talk. But also, there’s something else stirring up the water. Can it be that fishing is on the verge of being cool?
As Burberry’s film with Chelsea footballer Cole Palmer last year highlighted, it’s about time the fashion world took the pastime seriously. From the rise of TikTok’s anglercore trend to street fishing – aka urban fishing – IRL, it has been a cult leisure pursuit for the past few summers.
Fancy dipping a toe in? You’ll want outdoor gear that will keep you comfortable while casting your line – and, more importantly, enjoying a flask of tea. A hat to keep the sun off and shorts with plenty of pockets for floats and sinkers. Here, any erstwhile enthusiasm for Gorpcore kit will really fly.
05. Golf
Golf is one of the few sports where you could feasibly win a round and an impromptu style award in the same afternoon. It’s a game of control, yes, but also presentation — your swing, your stance, your shirt collar. And the modern fairway uniform reflects that balance beautifully. Take this sleek waffle-knit cotton golf polo shirt from Mr P., for instance. The latest technical polos manage a rare feat: they stretch, breathe and wick moisture without looking like activewear. Pair them with tailored golf shorts or trousers, ideally in a performance-cotton blend that moves with you on the backswing and still holds a crease worthy of a club lunch.
Colours remain muted and elegant – sand, navy, olive – but with enough pattern play in the details to keep things interesting. And let’s be clear: no matter how casual the clubhouse, socks should never feature cartoon flamingos. Let your game speak, not your ankles.
The people featured in this story are not associated with and do not endorse MR PORTER or the products shown