Even the most seasoned of fashionistas will tell you that summer is a generally awkward time to dress well. Between the constant threat of thunderstorms that never seem to actually happen, the accompanying humidity that turns any activity into an exercise in hyperhidrosis (read: Robin Williams-level sweat stains), and the kind of UV that has everybody looking like the spawn of Tan Mom, figuring out what to wear in the morning becomes more a matter of practicality than being sartorially savvy.
For men, this daily task is especially taxing. Whether it is reconciling how short you are willing your shorts to be (remember: the higher the hemline, the closer to Jesus), figuring out how to layer a blazer and button-up for the office, or knowing how to rock t-shirts without looking too #normcore to function, getting dressed is fraught with peril. To help keep things easy and breezy for you boys this summer, we’ve thrown together some menswear trends that will have you looking more panache than puddle.
Mesh
Whether it’s a mesh tank top, shirt, or shorts, this sportswear-inspired trend makes those sweltering summer days just a little more breathable. Rock a black mesh t-shirt with a pair of black mesh basketball shorts, white calf-high socks, and a good pair of sneakers for a mesh-on-mesh look that is effortlessly street-style chic.
High End: Saint Laurent
High Street: Topman
Leather Shorts
Okay, so wearing leather in the summer may sound counter-intuitive to staying cool, but hear this out. Paired with some simple black sneakers, a white t-shirt, and baseball cap, this is a simple look that screams edgy. Most people would not or could not rock leather shorts, and you should embrace this. If leather isn’t your thing, vegan leather (AKA the artist formerly known as pleather) options abound.
High End: Alexander Wang
High Street: American Apparel
Double-Buttoned Blazers
Since most men can’t “werk” sports mesh and pleather shorts in the workplace, check out double-breasted blazers for fashion when you need to be a bit more formal. A longtime Milan fashion week staple, you can rock the double-breasted blazer in any of summer 2014’s hottest colours including red, blue, and orange (orange is totally the new black). Better yet, rock red-on-red, blue-on-blue, or orange-on-orange for some eye-catching monochrome menswear madness.
High End: Dolce and Gabbana
High Street: ASOS
¾ Length Sleeve Sweaters
Wearing a sweater during a Toronto summer may sound like an act of masochism on par with hara-kiri, and that’s why we recommend lobbing some of the sleeve off. Be ahead of the trend with a ¾ length, wide-sleeved, structured sweatshirt like the ones on the catwalks of Juun.j SS14 and Dolce and Gabbana’s SS15. Paired with a pair of über-tiny micro shorts, the boxy top gives your silhouette a masculine swimmer’s body shape. Very chic, very high fashion, very easy.
High End: Juun.j
High Street: Topman
Dark Florals
As Miranda Priestly once said in The Devil Wears Prada, “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” Quite frankly, she’s correct in that it’s not the most exciting trend on the market. However, if you’re like most urbanites and own an ocean of neutrals, a couple of floral pieces can really pack a punch. For the confident man, floral is totally the new pink.
High End: 3.1 Phillip Lim
High Street: Zara
What are some trends you’ll be donning this summer? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.