Men’s Guide to a Minimalist Summer Wardrobe
The most successful minimalist wardrobe is one based on easy-going, relaxed pieces that compliment casual and business casual settings.
What’s great about this type of approach is that it’s rooted in practicality — so you can wear this type of look for years and years to come and always look timeless and put-together (with the proper care and attention, of course).
Reference the following ideas for a completed "minimalist summer stylish" look …
Select neutral-toned shirts and bottoms
Tops to Wear
Every minimalist wardrobe needs a baseline of solid colored crewneck t-shirts in either grey and / or navy. These are classic every day staple pieces that you can literally dress up or down depending on the look you’re going for. The one I’ve selected in the photo above is super soft, well-constructed and the fit is supreme. Definitely a go-to I pull religiously for my clients.
Consider these to be the sophisticated big brother to your everyday t-shirt. Polos are the perfect compliment for a dressier occasion — and what’s best about these is how timeless they are in nature. Treat these as a mainstay, not just for summertime, but as tops you can easily go-to for year round wear. Swap out your crewneck tee for fresh elevated polo to add a bit more polish to your look — dress it up with loafers and a blazer for meetings or down with a bomber and sneakers for a more relaxed after hours look.
You’ll want to have a few long sleeve linen shirts in white and light blue. These are highly versatile, lightweight options that you can wear anywhere. The best part is the versatility factor— wear it to protect your arms against the sun, or roll up the sleeves to mid-to-upper forearm for a beachside, shorter sleeve look. If you live in a humid climate, or anywhere that gets really hot, you’ll definitely want to be equipped with a few of these for maximum ventilation.
A lightweight blazer in a medium to dark blue will work with any type of dressy or dressier-casual look you’re going for. This jacket adds the perfect sophisticated touch to your outfit and will compliment everything mentioned in this article.
Side note: stay away from one’s that are lighter colored, the goal is to have everything tie in seamlessly with one another and a lighter color will be harder to play into the rest of your minimalist / capsule wardrobe.
Bottoms to Wear
Chinos are one of the most versatile pair pants you’ll ever own and are the perfect compliment to your t-shits, linen shirt and blazers. Not only are they easy to dress up or down, but the cotton twill fabric allows for more breathability and airflow making it a great alternative to your everyday jean. Be sure to always have a tan and a navy color stored away as these will be sure to cover you for all occasions.
Shoes to Wear
For shoes, go for a sleek white or blue sneaker in leather or canvas. These are going to be your go-to casual shoe and will compliment all the casual and semi-casual attire you’ll be wearing this season.
Now, if you want to kick things up a notch you can finish off your look with either a suede driving moccasin or leather penny loafer for a bit more formality.
Socks to Wear
Navy will literally be the only color you’ll need to own. These will blend-in for the most part with the rest of your wardrobe due to their dark nature—plus, you’ll never have to worry about them getting dingy. A no show sock like in the image above is perfect because it allows you to expose a little bit of ankle if you want to cuff your chinos or if you’re wearing shorts.
Accessories to Wear
To inject visual interest, accessories are an absolute must. I highly recommend having at least one brown belt on hand. You can go for a leather braided or fabric one, or both, it’s totally up to you. It’s one of those accessories that adds a really stylish touch to your summer outfit so grab yourself a few to keep in rotation.
Last but not least, no summer wardrobe would be complete without a pair of tortoise shell sunglasses with a green or blue lens like the one’s above. You might think that these are a very specific sunglass to wear, but they actually work easier than you think. Consider these your new main squeeze as they’ll pair effortlessly with all you’ll be wearing during the warmer months. Not to mention how universally flattering and stylish they can be for every man out there — so go and grab yourself a pair — you’ll be thankful you did.
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Brandi is a wardrobe consultant and stylist helping leading men feel more confident in their style. She provides carefully-curated style offerings, dedicated to relieving all your style struggles, so you stay looking and feeling your absolute best.
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