As George Harrison once famously sang “Here comes the sun” and boy oh boy has it arrived.
And us Brits, as with most weather extremes, aren’t all that prepared for when the sun shows it face, especially with the ferocity of the recent days, which creates a dilemma for those of us who are wanting to keep their stylish looks going rather than reach for the t shirts, gym shorts and flip flops.
So, what do you do if you want to keep things sartorial? Surely jackets are a no go? And can you even think about reaching for that wool suit? Well, let’s dig into that a little more.
When people think hot weather and tailoring, most tend to go straight for the linens and why not, they are cool to wear, in more ways than one, and they make up nicely but they can come with that more relaxed and dare we say slightly crumpled look, for the most part at least. However, the world of cloth has come a long way since the days of heavy wools and minimal choice.
Linen has come a long way too, there are some amazing linen blends out there which retain the cooling, high wicking aspects of the cloth whilst maintaining a crisper look. There are also some amazing looser weave lighter cloths out there, such as the Fresco ranges from Huddersfield Fine Worsteds and Airesco from Holland and Sherry, which offer the same advantages of linen without compromising the cleaner look. Why not pop in the shop and check them out.
Mohair too can be a great option in the warmer climates, Standeven, have some great examples on offer, and of course there is a whole wealth of light weight 7 and 8oz cloths out there which will perform excellently on sunny days, such as the Silver Shadow bunch from Scabal which has a lovely natural stretch to ensure maximum comfort.
So the cloth is covered but what about the styling? For starters, keep the jacket, don’t let the heat put you off, with the right cloth and linings chosen, you just have to pick the right style to keep the heat at bay. Go for a slightly looser fit, make it more relaxed to allow the air to move around the body, half line the jacket to allow the natural qualities of the cloth to do its job. Lighter lining in the sleeves will help too.
For me, I would choose a two button, single breasted jacket to keep the look relaxed and the air flow at its peak. What about the bottom half? Definitely bring in those tailored shorts, with a nice double reverse pleat in the front and then throw in a turn up on the hem to round things off with aplomb.
You don’t have to shun long trousers of course, as with the jacket, keep it light and in a cloth that breathes well, without the creasing and go for the wider leg, as we have already established, got to keep that air moving.
Finish the look with a nice light weight shirt, linen works well here too or a nice poplin cotton for something more formal. Ever thought about wearing a cravat? Well now’s the time. It’s also a good time to invest in a nice pair of loafers to complete your summer style. It’s such a flexible piece of footwear and will see you all through the year.
The hotter weather doesn’t mean you have to throw your style out, you just need to adapt it and be a little bit prepared for when the weather hits and of course, speak with your friendly neighbourhood Tailor for that little bit of summer guidance.
However, you will need to supply your own sunscreen!