Knitwear is about as intrinsically attached to the winter as jam is to toast, but to only think of it as a cold weather menswear category would be missing out on some of the best and most stylish pieces of summer kit you can own. Lightweight, open-weave knits have become summer essentials for discerning dressers, providing a tonne of texture and an antidote to cotton tees and short-sleeve shirts.
This season at Oliver Spencer, we've introduced a number of different knitted silhouettes, all of which have been carefully crafted using premium organic cotton, providing a very soft handle and a great natural drape. From short-sleeve shirts to cardigans via polo shirts and crewnecks, this collection of summer knitwear references preppy classics but in a thoroughly modern way, making them all really easy to assimilate into your wardrobe. Here's the breakdown...
The Penhale Polo
We love a summer waffle-knit here at Oliver Spencer, precisely because it adds so much depth to your fits thanks to the unique textural pattern. Woven in organic cotton, the Penhale polo is lightweight, breezy, and a really great smart-casual silhouette that you can pair with relaxed tailoring, as well as off-duty looks with shorts and sneakers or loafers. We've created it in three tones: a chocolate brown, navy, and pistachio green, plus there's also two multi-tone versions with contrast collar, sleeve and hem details.
The Mawes Short-Sleeve Shirt
Similarly, we have used the same beautifully soft organic cotton fabric to create three short-sleeve shirts. Featuring a single chest pocket, the Mawes shirt makes for a great dance partner with chinos or shorts and can also be worn open, layered over a simple white tee.
The Long-Sleeve Knits
Perfect for spring and cooler summer days, our long-sleeve knits have also been crafted from a lightweight open-weave organic cotton cloth. We've created two silhouettes, one being our perennial Blenheim crew neck sweater, while the other is a button-through cardigan with a soft-roll polo collar. Both of them are really versatile to style with your off-duty fits, especially if you lean towards a modern preppy style.