Summer has a way of exposing a man’s threshold for surrender. The first hint of heat and standards collapse: synthetics appear, tailoring disappears, and otherwise sensible adults begin dressing like disoriented tourists. It needn’t be this way...
What fabrics actually work when it’s hot?
Linen, of course, remains the perennial favourite. It breathes, it dries quickly, and it wrinkles with a kind of insouciance that suggests you have better things to worry about. More interesting is tropical wool: breathable, resilient, and possessed of the quiet dignity that linen occasionally misplaces by lunchtime. Then there are the dry cottons, messrs poplin, seersucker, twill, which manage to be both practical and presentable. The guiding principle is simple: if it clings, shines, or squeaks, it has no place on your back.
Does silhouette really matter in the heat?
Immensely. Slim cuts may look sharp in theory, but in practice they tend to trap heat and restrict airflow. A slightly looser silhouette - nothing dramatic, just a bit of room through the body and leg - allows air to circulate. Think relaxed tailoring, easy trousers (especially wide-leg styles) and shirts and tees that skim rather than grip. Boxy shapes are great too so look out for Cuban-style shirts which have a hint of extra room in them, perfect for the tropics, or as they're now known, South East England.
