END OF SUMMER EDIT
What to Wear When Summer Is Over But the Weather is Still Hot
Sadly, summer and the lovely hot weather that comes with it is over. However, that only means that if it is still hot where you live, there is a short time to wear some nice looks, especially if you are in places like Los Angeles or Miami, where the nice weather continues.
Consider trousers made from cotton or a cotton and Tencel blend; linen trousers can also work. Pair these with a long-sleeve linen t-shirt, a seersucker shirt, or a cotton shirt. You may or may not need a layer like a light jacket or cardigan, but depending on where you are, this could be a nice piece to finish the look. Style these looks with sneakers, loafers, or Birkenstock clogs.
What about in places that experience what is called an Indian summer, where very hot weather continues into October? Having lived in LA for many years, the days are hot, but the evenings can turn cool. It makes sense to wear clothing with a light fabrication so you are comfortable, but keep layers handy that allow you to maintain your look as the temperatures change throughout the day.
Consider trousers made from cotton or a cotton and Tencel blend; linen trousers can also work. Pair these with a long-sleeve linen t-shirt, a seersucker shirt, or a cotton shirt. You may or may not need a layer like a light jacket or cardigan, but depending on where you are, this could be a nice piece to finish the look. Style these looks with sneakers, loafers, or Birkenstock clogs.
What about in places that experience what is called an Indian summer, where very hot weather continues into October? Having lived in LA for many years, the days are hot, but the evenings can turn cool. It makes sense to wear clothing with a light fabrication so you are comfortable, but keep layers handy that allow you to maintain your look as the temperatures change throughout the day.
FALL TRANSITION
Styles to Consider As We Transition to Fall
As fall begins, you want to focus on transitional styles. That means paying attention not only to fabrics, but also to colors. Bright or pastel colors in linen, cotton, or fresco wool, which were elegant and bespoke in the summer, don't transition well to fall. At the same time, once the season changes, it doesn't mean curating dark-hued looks with cords, denim, and knits either.
When considering your fall style, you want to ease into the season with medium tones and fabrics for trousers, and pair them with shirts or jumpers in lighter contrasting or complementary colors. Layer these styles with medium-weight jackets or overshirts that balance the colors and materials. Many styles of shoes easily transition into fall, even Chelsea boots or loafers with a wool twill or wool and linen blend suit, long-sleeve polo, or cotton shirt.
Curating your fall bespoke style is often influenced by the weather and whether you are intending an elevated casual look or something more formal. For that refined and modern formal style, as the temperature changes during fall, I prefer suits made with virgin wool or a wool and cashmere blend, paired with a cotton shirt and oxfords or loafers (especially in suede). For a less formal yet still elevated look, I also like cotton-corduroy for suits or pants paired with a jacket, complemented by a mock-neck fine merino jumper and loafers for a refined, bespoke style. The fall season provides an excellent opportunity to curate different fabrics in different hues to create an elegant and sophisticated style.
And don't forget denim pieces as part of your fall style. When I wear denim, I prefer interesting pieces that create texture through their design and contrast with other denim pieces in the same look. I may not always go to a boot, be it a cap-toe or brogue, Chelsea or Chukka as fall begins. For a more sophisticate modern aesthetic, I may pair my denim with luxury leather and suede hi-top sneakers or suede loafers with a wool fedora.
Transitioning into the fall season is an excellent opportunity to curate style that is timeless, elegant, modern, and refined.
When considering your fall style, you want to ease into the season with medium tones and fabrics for trousers, and pair them with shirts or jumpers in lighter contrasting or complementary colors. Layer these styles with medium-weight jackets or overshirts that balance the colors and materials. Many styles of shoes easily transition into fall, even Chelsea boots or loafers with a wool twill or wool and linen blend suit, long-sleeve polo, or cotton shirt.
Curating your fall bespoke style is often influenced by the weather and whether you are intending an elevated casual look or something more formal. For that refined and modern formal style, as the temperature changes during fall, I prefer suits made with virgin wool or a wool and cashmere blend, paired with a cotton shirt and oxfords or loafers (especially in suede). For a less formal yet still elevated look, I also like cotton-corduroy for suits or pants paired with a jacket, complemented by a mock-neck fine merino jumper and loafers for a refined, bespoke style. The fall season provides an excellent opportunity to curate different fabrics in different hues to create an elegant and sophisticated style.
And don't forget denim pieces as part of your fall style. When I wear denim, I prefer interesting pieces that create texture through their design and contrast with other denim pieces in the same look. I may not always go to a boot, be it a cap-toe or brogue, Chelsea or Chukka as fall begins. For a more sophisticate modern aesthetic, I may pair my denim with luxury leather and suede hi-top sneakers or suede loafers with a wool fedora.
Transitioning into the fall season is an excellent opportunity to curate style that is timeless, elegant, modern, and refined.
STYLE VS. STYLE
Polos vs. T-Shirts
For a more sophisticated style, where you are wearing a suit or trousers and jacket, a polo (sans any logo) in cotton or fine merino wool works well. Pair this look with a pair of loafers and a fedora for an elegant bespoke style. The same look, paired with a cotton, linen, or cotton and Tencel t-shirt, works really well too, but I would pair this with luxury leather sneakers. The fedora could probably still work.
When pairing a polo with a suit, I would select a polo that is darker than the suit, like a black polo with a grey suit, or a mocha colored polo with a taupe suit. For a t-shirt, I would wear a lighter color, such as white, sky blue, or a light grey, with the grey suit, and off-white with the taupe or brown suit. .
Polos and t-shirts are not easily interchangeable, but the choice is not complex either. An elevated look or sophisticated bespoke look with a polo or t-shirt also depends on what pieces you curate for the style you seek to evoke. The same suit, for example, will project a different look and feel if worn with a polo versus a t-shirt, but again, the shoes and accessories (i.e., a hat) can make the style bespoke, elevated, or downdressed. .
Like loafers sit between oxfords and sneakers, a Henley does the same for polos and t-shirts. Henleys are essentially t-shirts, short-sleeve or long, with a 2-to-3 button placket. Henleys, especially long-sleeve henleys in a cotton waffle knit, often serve as a layer under a chambray or denim shirt, for example. A Henley in a cotton-jersey, cotton and modal blend, cotton and linen blend, or virgin wool paired with a wool or linen suit is a very modern bespoke look. I love polos, but I also really like Henleys paired with a nice suit, oxfords, sneakers, or loafers, and one of my favorite hats for a refined look.
When pairing a polo with a suit, I would select a polo that is darker than the suit, like a black polo with a grey suit, or a mocha colored polo with a taupe suit. For a t-shirt, I would wear a lighter color, such as white, sky blue, or a light grey, with the grey suit, and off-white with the taupe or brown suit. .
Polos and t-shirts are not easily interchangeable, but the choice is not complex either. An elevated look or sophisticated bespoke look with a polo or t-shirt also depends on what pieces you curate for the style you seek to evoke. The same suit, for example, will project a different look and feel if worn with a polo versus a t-shirt, but again, the shoes and accessories (i.e., a hat) can make the style bespoke, elevated, or downdressed. .
Like loafers sit between oxfords and sneakers, a Henley does the same for polos and t-shirts. Henleys are essentially t-shirts, short-sleeve or long, with a 2-to-3 button placket. Henleys, especially long-sleeve henleys in a cotton waffle knit, often serve as a layer under a chambray or denim shirt, for example. A Henley in a cotton-jersey, cotton and modal blend, cotton and linen blend, or virgin wool paired with a wool or linen suit is a very modern bespoke look. I love polos, but I also really like Henleys paired with a nice suit, oxfords, sneakers, or loafers, and one of my favorite hats for a refined look.
Luxury leather sneakers have become more and more refined and stylish over the years, with many men opting for sneakers versus dress shoes. In fact, most men wear white sneakers more than any other color with their suits or elevated casual looks. White sneakers work with so many colors and fabrics, and seamlessly work for a lot of occasions. There are some looks, in my view, where colored luxury leather sneakers might work better, depending on the style you are curating—black with a white outsole, all-navy, or leather sneakers with mixed materials like leather and suede in the same color.
For many of the same looks you are styling, you could also wear very nice oxford or double-monk strap dress shoes with or without socks. A beautiful crisp linen or fresco wool suit in taupe would look great with a mocha luxury retro runner in leather and suede, just as it would with a brown cap toe oxford or double-monk strap. With that same suit, paired with a lovely white linen shirt, no tie and linen pocket square, I might prefer wearing smooth wholecut oxfords and no socks instead of sneakers. The choice comes down to the style you want to present. I like sophisticated, bespoke suits styled with dress shoes over sneakers, but I may also wear sneakers with a dressed-down look, such as a pair of trousers, a cotton dress shirt or polo, and a sport coat or jacket.
Another option is loafers, which can provide a sophisticated but effortless look that is bespoke and comfortable. Whether loafers with a horse-bit (think of the ubiquitous moc toe Gucci loafers), or a minimalist strap versus a penny cut out (like Ferragamo Tramezza pennys), in a contemporary silhouette, leather or suede loafers can be a great alternative to sneakers which work with or without socks.
For many of the same looks you are styling, you could also wear very nice oxford or double-monk strap dress shoes with or without socks. A beautiful crisp linen or fresco wool suit in taupe would look great with a mocha luxury retro runner in leather and suede, just as it would with a brown cap toe oxford or double-monk strap. With that same suit, paired with a lovely white linen shirt, no tie and linen pocket square, I might prefer wearing smooth wholecut oxfords and no socks instead of sneakers. The choice comes down to the style you want to present. I like sophisticated, bespoke suits styled with dress shoes over sneakers, but I may also wear sneakers with a dressed-down look, such as a pair of trousers, a cotton dress shirt or polo, and a sport coat or jacket.
Another option is loafers, which can provide a sophisticated but effortless look that is bespoke and comfortable. Whether loafers with a horse-bit (think of the ubiquitous moc toe Gucci loafers), or a minimalist strap versus a penny cut out (like Ferragamo Tramezza pennys), in a contemporary silhouette, leather or suede loafers can be a great alternative to sneakers which work with or without socks.
