As spring and prom approach, now is the time to refresh your knowledge on the finer points of suiting and sartorial prowess. To allow those with little experience in fashion to appreciate this article, I will attempt to provide a general overview while lightly touching upon more detail.
Firstly, when in warm weather, one must wear appropriate fabrics. There is nothing I detest more than a man wearing a flannel jacket or a heavy wool tuxedo jacket in the summer or springtime (even if indoors and heavily air-conditioned). One must cultivate a wardrobe centered around cotton, linen, fine silks, and expertly woven wool blended with silk. Each fabric has its own merits and faults; for instance, linen folds and creases easily, yet is incredibly cool, while cotton creases less but retains far more warmth. Silks and blended wools will cost a fair penny more than any cotton or linen, but they have more variability and comfort. Additionally, they can take a great amount of stress and creasing, making them perfect for travel.
Suits and tailoring should match the occasion. For junior prom and similar outings, I suggest a black or dark blue formal suit, preferably with waistcoat and suitably dark tie. Tuxedos are, of course, more appropriate, but I have been told that most people find the whole process of dressing up ridiculous and that tuxedos should be saved for senior prom. Casual daily-wear suits should also fit the occasion. For warm weather, regular two-button suits with patch pockets and lighter shades are ideal. Feel free to be open with your color choices. Pastels of all shades are great choices for shirts as well as pants. Blues, greens, whites, and khakis are all fine shades for summer sport coats or suits. The true man, when properly attired, looks like a fruit basket in terms of shade and texture (I am serious).
Speaking of which, don’t be afraid of texture. Many summer fabrics already have extensive natural texture. For example, seersucker is an American staple that is woven in a manner that both allows for comfort and is naturally quite textured. The same goes for linen suits, but the latter are quite hard to clean. Should your linen shirt get wrinkled, accept it as a natural function of your outfit. As for ties, grenadine ties are a supreme choice for texture, although they are quite expensive. Shoes can be far more casual in the summer, and I find slip-ons and loafers to be excellent choices. Boat shoes are suitable, yet often underutilized in outfits today. Additionally, be aware of the fit of your suit. When leaning against a wall and wearing a jacket, your shoulder should touch the wall before the padding of your jacket shoulder does.
Overall, one must not fear expanding on fashion facets and attributes. It is key to explore—don’t be afraid to branch out and wear a bowtie. Hopefully, this article can galvanize more research of sartorialism and a stronger sense of fashion among its readers.
Below you will find some analysis and ponderings on several men’s summer outfits. Regrettably, it is hard to find the color scheme evoked by the roaring twenties or the memories of such a time, so attempt it at your own risk.
