Summer Suit Guide with Adam Walker

After months of grey skies, it’s always heartening to see the first signs of summer; chirping birds, the advent of Wimbledon and sweating through your suit on your morning commute. Here at Hawes & Curtis, we believe summer office style shouldn’t be a hot-button issue. That’s why we invited one of our favourite bloggers, Adam Walker from themalestylist.com to walk you through everything you need to know on dressing the best during the warmest months of the year.

Adam wears our Grey Twill Slim Fit 120s Suit. Visit the Suit Shop now.

Lighten Up

While your wardrobe may be populated with darker suits, you should consider suits in a lighter colour. Dark fabrics absorb more heat from the sun whereas a lighter shade can help reflect those summer rays and prevent you feeling like your suit is your own personal and portable sauna. We prefer a light grey tone – an office-friendly shade that’s very likely to fit with your existing wardrobe of shirts and accessories.

"The benefit of a grey suit like this is that it's versatile and will work especially well with a variety of shirt or tie colours. It won't be overbearing but instead will complement your accessories to create a seamless, sharp look."

– Adam

To Be or Knot to Be? 

Unfortunately, boardroom meetings don’t stop for the summer. While a tie-required dress code at work can feel restrictive in the summer, there are plenty of options available to make it less stuffy. The first place to start is the material. Thankfully, all of our ties are made from silk. Silk is one of the most breathable and lightweight fabrics available, making it ideal as the neckwear fabric of choice. Summer is also a great time to play around with colours, textures and patterns. Whether it is an open-weave knit or something with a vivid yellow pattern, it’s worth experimenting with. It’s also worth suggesting leaving the tie until last and putting it on once you reach the office - it’ll make the tube journey much easier. 

Of course, if you work in a more relaxed workplace, ditching the tie completely is your best bet. Consider injecting some extra colour with a pocket square, instead.

"The key to great tailoring is paying attention to the details. Pocket squares, ties, belts, and cufflinks all help elevate an outfit from being a standard suit to a sartorial masterpiece."

- Adam

Cotton-On 

There’s a reason why shirts are made from cotton; it’s lightweight and ultra breathable - both properties that will help you stay cool in the sun. If you look at your poplin shirt very closely, you’ll be able to see the fine dimpled texture of the surface. Those dimples create tiny air pockets that aid in circulation around your skin and prevent perspiration from accumulating. 

Step into the Sun

 If there’s one place that’s feeling the heat, it’s your feet. Shoes with brown tones will add that necessary punch to an outfit and a low cut will prevent your ankles from getting too stuffy. We’ll leave the option of sock/no-sock up to you, but for those who work in a conservative office, a fine cotton sock will do fine.

"The no sock choice here is very contemporary but is commonly found in Italian tailoring outfits. It adds a dapper, Mediterranean feel to the ensemble and won't cost you a penny. It will also help you keep a little cooler in the Summer climates."

- Adam

The weather may be warm but hopefully these tools will keep you cool in your tailored suit. For even more insider style tips, be sure to head over to themalestylist.com to see Adam Walker’s take on summer dressing.