10 pieces of summer clothing no gentleman should wear

Sometimes bad things happen to good people and never is this more relevant than when the summer months roll by. We get it, it’s hot, the tube is a sweat pit, the streets are awash with bare skin and red faces, but gentlemen please. This is no excuse for a sheer lack of care when it comes to your wardrobe and dress sense. Summer style should be chic, effortless and nonchalant, not half-dressed, baggy and frat-house inspired. Here, we bring you 10 pieces of summer clothing no gentleman should ever wear…

1. SHORT SLEEVED SHIRT & TIE, , Office attire shouldn’t be neglected come summer months. The short sleeved shirt is bad enough as an individual item, but combined with suit trousers and a tie will leave you looking more akin to the satirical school nerd than a man to be taken seriously in the board room. If it’s hot, then ditch the tie and roll your sleeves.

2. SANDALS & SOCKS, , We don’t care that it’s ‘trendy’ this summer, we don’t care that American Apparel and Urban Outfitters dictate that it is the look of the year – it’s awful and it must be stopped.

3. FOOTBALL SHIRTS, , If you’re at or going to a football match then fine, if you’re having a kick about with friends in the park then it’s still just about ok, but apart from that please no.

4. COMBAT SH0RTS, , Unless you’re a member of the armed forces, then sporting these shorts come summer will make you look more like a 90s inspired disaster of khaki colours, too many pockets and rough cotton material than any kind of macho G.I. Joe.

5. DEEP V-NECKS, , The worst part of summer has got to be the arrival of the man-cleavage, the Geordie Shore influenced, Jersey Shore approved piece of summer style that every woman the world over would happily burn.

6. TANK TOPS, , When an item of clothing is nicknamed after an act of domestic violence, it’s probably best avoided.

7. BOARD SHORTS, , Too long, too frat house-esq. Ditch the board shorts in favour of an above the knee style and save yourself the embarrassment.

8. NO SHIRT AT ALL, , On a beach? You take that top off. By a pool? Well of course. In the comfort of your own garden? Absolutely. In the city? No. Just no – imagine women walking around in their bras down Piccadilly every summer. Ok, it might not be the worst thing that ever happened, but it’s the same concept for men – keep your top on in town.

9. NEON SUNGLASSES, , Harking back to memories of 16 year olds with neon paint on their faces, taking legal highs and pretending to inhale cigarettes, the neon “rave” sunglasses are the cardinal sin of summer eyewear.

10. BEANIES, , It’s hot, you’re wearing shorts and a cool white t-shirt and espadrilles – the perfect summer weekend look – but then what’s that you decide, your head might get cold in the 28-degree heat? Unnecessary and far too Harry Styles to be a gentlemanly piece of summer-wear.