Summer Outfits for Men: Stay and Look Cool

Who says you can’t dress up in summer?

While the fall, winter, and spring let you have fun with layers and be fashionable, it doesn’t mean that you should forget about looking good and sharp as the summer approaches.

Here’s the thing, you can look great wearing just a single layer.

In fact, there are plenty of ways to look cool this season without sacrificing your comfort.

Whether you’re looking for some casual summer outfits for your wardrobe or a few helpful style tips, you’re on the right page. On this post, we will talk about the coolest casual wear ideas for men. By the time you finish reading this article, you will get acquainted with the different types of summer fabrics that will keep you from overheating, men’s summer style essentials, outfit ideas, as well as the best colors, to wear this season.

Ready to be in style?

Keep going.

Summer Fabrics that Keep You from Overheating

One of the major men’s fashion tips that you will hear from experts is this – it’s all about the fabrics.

Before looking at the style, cut, or design of summer outfits, you want to make sure that these clothing items are made of light and loose fabrics that will keep you cool all day long.

Now is the time to keep clothes made of wool or cashmere in the farthest part of your closet. These fabrics are meant to trap the air inside to keep you warm as air molecules get heated up your body. Basically, you want fabrics that keep the air flowing.

So, what are the summer-appropriate fabrics?

Cotton

Cool and comfy as it sounds – cotton is your body’s best friend during the summer season. Clothes made from 100% cotton are breathable, soft, and absorbs sweat really good. Again, make sure you’re choosing pure cotton fabrics.

If you see polyester, rayon, and other materials on the label, skip them. Clothes made with 100% are highly breathable that you can literally breathe through it if you put the fabric over your mouth. And if you hold the garment at least one foot away from the light source, you still can see through it. Stock on plenty of cotton shirts. You will absolutely need them. Rest assured you won’t run out of men's outfit ideas with cotton clothes.

Linen

Another fabric that is highly suitable for the summer season is linen. Linen clothing is simply irreplaceable in summer or when you’re traveling to a humid country.

Thanks to the weave and linen fiber – the fabric stays away from your skin and provides as much airflow to keep you feeling cool and comfortable. Like cotton, it is super lightweight, breathable, and absorbs moisture really well. This means it quickly dries perspiration from the skin. In fact, it can absorb moisture as much as 1/5 of its weight before giving you a feeling of being wet or damp.

Another interesting quality of the linen is its good heat conductivity. Linen fabrics allow heat to quickly escape, making you feel extra cool. The only downside of linen clothes is that they are quick to wrinkle. But who would mind? They look just so refreshing this summer and the wrinkling adds to that.

Lightweight Wool

Alright, we just said you should not use wool clothes this summer. But lightweight wool (also called tropical weight wool) is another thing. This one is breathable and comfortable enough for the sunny season. Lightweight wool has amazing properties that make it a great choice for summer. When you sweat, the fabric pulls the moisture from your skin and dries it out. Wool is also naturally odor resistant, wrinkle-resistant, and easy to clean. You will find many summer styles for guys made of wool fabrics as they are really posh-looking and comfortable.

Men’s Summer Style Essentials

The best summer outfits for men are those that look really good and fashionable without sacrificing comfort. To be in style for summer, make sure you have the following items in your wardrobe:

Shorts

Whether you are taking a short trip to the grocery or going out of town with friends, a good pair of shorts should keep you cool and comfortable during the summer season. Have at least three pairs in your wardrobe that are made of either linen or cotton.

T-Shirts, Henleys and Polos

Have 2-4 short sleeves or polos, along with 2-3 Henleys. T-shirts are certainly a must-have. Button-down shirts are great for the work week. But for low-key occasions like catching up with friends over a few beers, you will certainly do well with a casual t-shirt that projects a laid-back vibe.

Pants

Some men won’t just wear shorts. Or even if you do, there are still occasions that call for a good pair of summer pants. Again, pants made from linen or cotton fabrics are great for everyday, outdoor situations.

Sunglasses

To complement your summer outfit, don’t forget your sunglasses. They are not only meant to keep you in style. Sunglasses are a summer must-have and you know why.

Footwear

You will benefit from lightweight casual sneakers for walking around, flip flops, sandals & other stylish summer shoes for days at the beach, and a pair of classic boat shoes to wear at work.

Webbed Belt

The webbed belt takes its inspiration from the standard-issue military belts. You know the features – a brass sliding buckle. This belt comes in many colors to match your summer outfits.

Hats

There are many styles of hat suitable for the summer season, ranging from the traditional baseball cap to trucker cap, bucket hat, and the Panama hat. Choose the type that fits your style.

Top Colors to Wear this Summer

Surviving the hot weather in style greatly involves picking the right colors that don’t simply have an effect on your overall look but also on your comfort. Summer is a great time to wear bright colors and bold patterns. Still, to add versatility, you want to make sure that your casual summer wear includes neutral colors too, such as white, navy, khaki, and olive.

One of the popular dressing tips for guys is to swap one item in your look, such as your usual white button-up with something like a floral-printed polo.

Among the top colors for men’s summer apparel are red, yellow, burnt orange, and blue. Don’t be afraid to go out with bold and vibrant colors. They’re the trend this summer!

Conclusion

The best men's outfits are those that spell comfort and style. Always consider the type of fabric when choosing casual summer clothes for men. Cotton, line, and lightweight wool are the most appropriate for the season. Next, make sure that your wardrobe contains all the summer casual essentials, such as shorts, pants, shirts and polos, sunglasses, belts, and hats. Also, don’t forget the colors. It is absolutely okay to go bolder this summer with your choice of colors. But you shouldn’t overdo it. Just one item (say your top or bottom) in your look that has a loud pattern or design and vibrant color is enough to make a statement.

Summer gives us multiple reasons to stay outdoors. Make sure that your summer casual outfit is comfortable and stylish by following the pointers above.

Mariam Simmons

Mariam Simmons is a fashion enthusiast and Content Manager at Alpine Swiss. She loves traveling to the world’s top stylish destinations and gets inspired to create helpful fashion and lifestyle guides. With over a decade of writing experience, her main goal in creating content is to ensure readers learn something useful and provide value instead of noise.