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.

Almost all men’s clothing can be separated into two categories: things you want and things you need. Underwear, you need. Crew-neck T-shirts and cotton sweats, you need. But a burgundy mohair blazer by TOM FORD or a pair of pale suede boat shoes from LOEWE? Those you want. And that counts, too. The trick is to build a wardrobe of pieces that somehow sits in the middle of the two camps – clothes that cover the bases, but offer that little something extra. So, as summer arrives, here are 10 elite essentials to take things up a notch.

Getting dressed for the airport is an art, not a science. Contrary to the everyday – where practicality may not be your top priority – putting together an outfit to navigate busy terminals and partially disrobing at security requires some planning. Not to mention the actual flight and a variety of temperatures, time zones and weather conditions before reaching your destination.

Most dress codes tend to loosen up come summer. It’s a cause for celebration, however, it comes with its own predicaments. Chiefly: what on Earth do you wear when a plain T-shirt is too casual, but a button-up shirt too formal? Enter the polo shirt – a versatile, now-classic silhouette that has cemented itself as a bona fide smart-casual staple of men’s style since it was first popularised in the 1920s. Aside from instantly elevating any outfit without feeling too stuffy, the polo shirt is a subtle way to mix things up a bit and play with textures and depth. Here are some of our favourites, but there are plenty more good ones where these come from.

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.

Almost all men’s clothing can be separated into two categories: things you want and things you need. Underwear, you need. Crew-neck T-shirts and cotton sweats, you need. But a burgundy mohair blazer by TOM FORD or a pair of pale suede boat shoes from LOEWE? Those you want. And that counts, too. The trick is to build a wardrobe of pieces that somehow sits in the middle of the two camps – clothes that cover the bases, but offer that little something extra. So, as summer arrives, here are 10 elite essentials to take things up a notch.