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Five style moves to make before the next heatwave
From breezy shirts to statement sunglasses, lightweight knits to versatile shoes, MR PORTER's Summer Shop has warm weather dressing covered…
- Words: Jonathan Wells
It’s high summer — and that means it’s high time to refine your warm weather wardrobe. Dressing for summer may sound straightforward, but striking the balance between comfort, practicality and style is rarely as easy as simply throwing on a pair of shorts. Fortunately, MR PORTER has spent the past few months showing us exactly how it should be done, from navigating city dressing in the heat to refining our approach to beachside attire.
Now, with the arrival of its aptly named Summer Shop, the luxury retailer has curated a collection designed to cover every eventuality every heatwave will throw your way. Heading off on holiday? There’s plenty to pack. Facing another sweltering day in the office? Consider it handled. Looking to inject a little sunshine-ready style into your everyday wardrobe? Start here. Read on for our essential rules of summer dressing, and we guarantee you'll keep your cool all season long…
Start with a versatile, well-ventilated short-sleeved shirt
Short-sleeved shirts have long suffered from an image problem. For some, they conjure visions of mid-century officewear; for others, they veer too readily into loud, Hawaiian-shirt territory. But to dismiss them entirely would be to overlook one of menswear's most practical warm-weather allies. The key is choosing wisely. Our advice? Keep things blue. From washed-out powder tones to rich navy hues, shades of blue lend short sleeves a certain sophistication that brighter colours often struggle to achieve.
Take Loewe's cotton-twill shirt, for instance. Cut in a deep navy and finished with restrained, embroidered detailing, it strikes exactly the right balance between relaxed and refined. Altea's honeycomb-knit piqué polo offers something similarly understated — breathable, elegant and built for summer’s most sweltering days. And for those looking to lighten and brighten things up, NN07's pale-blue shirt introduces a touch of Riviera-inflected chambray style into the mix.
A pair of statement sunglasses will be your summer signature
Summer style is usually an exercise in subtraction. Jackets shrugged off, knitwear packed away and fabrics made lighter, looser and more breathable. But there’s one place where adding a little heft can pay dividends. This season, your sunglasses should be getting chunkier. Because, with a stronger silhouette and more substantial frames, they offer an easy way to make an impact without piling on unnecessary layers.
Loewe's round-frame sunglasses are a case in point. Crafted from acetate and given extra heft with dark-tinted lenses, they manage to feel both refined and distinctive. Elsewhere, Auralee's collaboration with Eyevan delivers its widest, most wild-looking D-frames yet. And Tom Ford, always putting his twist on traditional looks, has reimagined the traditionally delicate aviator by wrapping its wire-frame foundations in rich tortoiseshell acetate.
Don’t dismiss knits — even in the warmer weather
Knits are not for summer — discuss. We’d land on the side of hard, hot-weather-defying disagree. Because, while there are plenty of sweaters, roll-necks and cardigans that you shouldn’t be wearing during the warmer months, there are plenty that you should be reaching for. But, like those blue shirts above, we’ve got a colour caveat: go solely for pale, neutral shades.
That way, you won’t go wrong. From Our Legacy, this alpaca and wool-blend cardigan may be soft, but thanks to its shirt-like construction and fluid finish, it’s perfect for holiday evenings when the sun sets. Dries Van Noten has a similar idea — a wool sweater with a deliberately relaxed cut to increase breathability. Or, if you’re looking for a patterned option, Aimé Leon Dore has you covered (but not too heavily, of course) with this open-knit sweater.
Invest in a pair of statement shorts this summer
Here’s a less-divisive one, because shorts most certainly are for summer. But maybe it’s time to strike out beyond your usual linen duds and swimshort hybrids. MR PORTER has plenty of pairs that tick this more adventurous, out-there box, starting with a pair of denim shorts from Loewe which feature casual tone-on-tone embroidery rising up their unhemmed, wide-cut legs.
Paul Smith has gone for a slightly lighter approach — in both pattern and fabric. Cut from shell and patterned with a simple stripe, they're set on a stretchy drawstring waistband for both a light and head-turning touch. Or, from contemporary Scandinavian label mfpen, these straight-leg grey shorts are crafted from cotton-corduroy. Sound too heavy for summer? Their soft, textured handle says otherwise.
Pick up a pair of versatile, breathable shoes
The final step of your summer wardrobe overhaul is a literal one; investing in a fresh pair of shoes. And fresh is the word — as the sole aim of your new sandals or sneakers should be breathability. So kick off your existing low-tops or old flip-flops and seek out a more stylish alternative, something that’ll walk you from the beach to the bar without breaking a sweat.
Loewe, once more, is on hand (or should that be foot?) to help, thanks to this criss-crossed collaboration with Paula's Ibiza — complete with a rubber-injected outsole for comfort and hand-stitched logo. Bottega Veneta, naturally, have a suitably chic suede pair — loafers, with a flexible, unstructured feel. Or, if you’re sticking with sneakers, Visvim’s suede-trimmed trainers are set on classic foxed rubber soles for a vacation-ready vintage feel.
Want more from MR PORTER? Check out the full Summer Shop here…
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