Beat the Heat in Style! Summer & Hot Weather Outfits for Men

Though many want to embrace classic menswear, a common concern is the climate they live in might be too hot for this to be practical.

The good news is that you can stay cool and look cool in classic menswear regardless of how hot your surroundings might be!

Today, we’ll be sharing six categories of essentials for crafting outfits that beat the heat, as well as 20 specific tips on dressing well in hot weather. Of course, we have discussed warm weather outfits before in previous posts, but today, we’re really turning up the heat.

The standards of classic dress were developed in regions that are generally cooler than some other parts of the world, after all. And an ensemble that evolved for the weather realities of London, England wouldn’t necessarily be as at home in Lyford, Texas, or Lucknow, India.

This does mean that some aspects we commonly associate with classic style might not be ideal for excessively high temperatures. But, even a cursory glance through period fashion magazines and classic films shows that well-dressed gentlemen have always been able to beat the heat without compromising their style.

So, while classic dress may present several challenges in hot weather, we’re all about overcoming challenges.

6 Categories of Essentials for Crafting Outfits: 1. Breathable Basics

One of the most important principles we’ll cover today involves opting for outfits that cooperate with the way that your body naturally regulates heat. 

When it’s hot, your body produces sweat. Excess heat from your body turns this sweat into water vapor, which then evaporates off of your skin. This process of evaporative cooling draws heat out of your body, thus cooling you off.

Effectively though, sweat happens. In other words, it’s an essential process that helps humans to continue functioning when the temperature rises. The best way to feel the benefit of this process, then, is to wear loose, breathable garments that allow your sweat to evaporate well and also allow you to feel every beloved breeze.

When it comes to breathability, few fabrics have natural cotton beaten and, indeed, we have previously produced an entire guide dedicated to cotton. But, since we want to encourage airflow directly to the skin, we have to make sure that everything is breathable and we mean “everything.” So, avoid stuffy synthetic materials that suffocate your skin, wear breathable cotton undergarments and leave the spandex to the Batman.

Regarding undershirts, some gentlemen prefer them in hot climates because they can help to keep a layer of cool air next to your skin while also wicking away moisture. But, for other men, damp undershirts can sometimes trap moisture and prevent vaporization. The former of these cases are usually associated with dry heat and the latter with high humidity.

Raphael discusses the pros and cons of undershirts in greater depth in a separate post. And speaking from my own experience, I’ve got hyperhidrosis. So, I perspire regardless of temperature and I would prefer that the majority of that sweat be on my undershirt than on my outer layers. But, it will probably be best for you to do some experimentation on your own to see if an undershirt is right for you or not.

Don’t forget about your socks as sweaty feet are going to make your entire body feel warmer. Again, you should avoid excessive synthetic materials, which claim to help keep your socks up, but can really just cut off your circulation. Instead, you can opt for fresh-feeling feet with 100% cotton socks.

Also, as Raphael explained previously in our guide, a quality pair of over-the-calf socks will stay up successfully without synthetic materials. So, cotton is usually going to be the best choice for your undergarments in hot weather, but you can also consider cotton for your shirts, as well as other fabrics like linen.

For shirts, weave can often be just as important as fabric as a shirt with an open weave will allow unrestricted airflow. You’ll find more detail on this in our Shirt Basics Guide, but as a general rule of thumb, the more sheer a fabric is, the more breathable it’s going to be.

Of course, this may also make the fabric more prone to wrinkling or tearing, so find a balance that works well for you. Longer fiber cotton in particular will allow for more open weaves that don’t compromise on strength.

2. Al Fresco Fabrics

If you’ve already gone to all the trouble of keeping the fabrics of your undergarments and shirts breathable, don’t then sabotage yourself by putting on a non-breathable fabric in your suit. We’ve already highlighted many great choices in our Summer Suits post, but, as a brief refresher, we go over the most common choices.

Linen

Linen is one of the most popular summer suit materials. It has generally longer fibers on average that can be woven loosely without sacrificing strength. Because of this open weave, the potential for breathability and moisture wicking is also increased. The fiber strength also causes linen to crease in a distinct and crisp way, which doesn’t appear frumpy or unkempt.

Cotton

We’ve already discussed how cotton is superlative for shirts and undergarments, but only certain varieties of cotton make for exceptional suits. Common weaves for cotton garments like twill or gabardine tend to be tightly woven and, thus, aren’t very breathable as well as wrinkle easily.

Seersucker

Seersucker is a fantastic summer fabric; as even though the yarns are tightly twisted together, the yarns themselves are finer, and thus, the seersucker fabric is still breathable. Also, the high twist of the yarns produces a unique puckered texture that hides wrinkles.

Wool

You might be surprised to see wool listed as a summer fabric. However, wool is a conductor that’s excellent at transferring heat and a high-twist wool functions much the same way as linen does, being both durable and breathable. Again, the key here is an open weave. 

As an example, Solaro is a wool weave that was developed in the 19th century for British military uniforms, and it’s still a popular choice for suits today, particularly in the Mediterranean region. Red yarns on the underside of the fabric allegedly deflected the sun’s rays, but this doesn’t really stand up to scientific scrutiny. 

Thanks to its breathable weave, though, Solaro remains a viable summer suit fabric. Similarly, Raphael is a big fan of Fresco, which is a proprietary wool weave originally developed by Martin Sons & Co. in 1907, but now belongs to J&J Minnis of Great Britain. The open weave ensures airflow while the high-twist disguises wrinkles and improves appearance.

Mohair

Finally, we’ll mention mohair, which is a particular type of wool made from the hair of Angora goats. The unique properties of the hairs offer a crisp feel and a glorious luster that is both lightweight and highly wrinkle-resistant.

But, because mohair is so coarse. It’s almost always blended with wool. The wool component also aids with the process of heat transference. And, by the way, you can learn more about different ratios of mohair-to-wool in garments by taking a look at our Mohair Guide.

3. Summer Structure: Suit Configuration 

In general, a single-breasted, two-piece suit is going to be best suited to warm weather. The lower button stance will encourage freer movement of air around your chest while, in contrast, the layering effects of a double-breasted or three-piece suit are going to be more likely to hold heat against your body.

This doesn’t mean that you should never wear these styles in warm weather of course. But, it’s an important consideration to keep in mind.

Jacket Vents

Double-venting in the back of your jacket will open up the suit more, ensuring that hot air doesn’t get trapped under your jacket. After all, it’s never a good idea to be full of hot air. And if you’re confident enough to bend style rules, feel free to leave your jacket unbuttoned as it can make a big difference on a hot summer day.

Jacket Lining

Finally here, to ensure maximum breathability, consider a half-lined, quarter-lined, or unlined jacket. Unlined jackets are going to offer the best possible air transference, of course, but they can also lack structure. which can negatively affect the drape of the jacket.

Totally unstructured garments are also more likely to become sodden and stick to your skin, which is not only unsightly, but also again prevents vaporization. Therefore, a jacket that is half or quarter-lined, usually across the upper half of the body and sides, can be a good compromise.

Again, personal preference and your local combination of heat and humidity should be deciding factors here. And, of course, if you prefer a fully-lined jacket, just make sure that the lining is natural and breathable and not a stuffy synthetic.

4. Lightweight Knitwear

Knits may seem like an odd choice for us to be discussing here, but hear us out. Oftentimes, especially in a dry heat, keeping the sun off of your skin is one of the best ways to stay cool.

Consider here the example of the thawb, the traditional robe worn around the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf. Another example would be the thick robes favored by traditional Bedouins. These heavier-weight fabrics keep the sun from heating up the skin and also create cool air pockets near the skin, aiding in vaporization.

Again, breathable fabrics are a must here, so consider knitwear in light breathable wool, like an ultra-soft merino, cotton, linen, or blends of these.

And speaking of structure, select pieces that minimize layering to avoid trapping heat. For instance, a sleek cardigan without a collar, heavy cuffs, or pockets that increase bulk. In general, we would suggest thinner, lighter, and looser knit garments.

Jude Law wears an excellent example of a knitted summer shirt in the film The Talented Mr. Ripley, and if you’d like a complete style breakdown of this film, we’ve got you covered with our menswear review.

5. Heat-Beating Headwear

Knits in summer essentially work by shading your skin as does a hat, which brings us to our fifth main category today: heat-beating headwear. A quality summer hat is going to have a wide brim to keep the sunlight out of your eyes and off of your face. Of course, you could just place an order with J. Peterman for an urban sombrero and keep the sunlight off of your whole body. 

Also, the tall crowns of felt hats were intended to keep a pocket of cool air directly above your head with the heavy felt insulating this cool air while also being hard-wearing. Unless you’re working as a ranch hand though, you’ll probably get more use out of a woven summer hat.

Woven hats, of course, allow for the wind to pass right through, providing a burst of cool freshness with every breeze. Just make sure that you select a hand-woven hat with an open weave as lower-quality hats are often going to be coated in a stiffening agent, which decreases breathability and, therefore, turns up the heat.

The Panama hat is probably the most iconic summer woven style. But, did you know that Panama hats don’t originally come from Panama? You can learn more about them in our comprehensive guide to Panama hats.

And, of course, there are other great summer hat styles as well, such as the coconut straw pork pie that I’m wearing today. Again, we would encourage you to experiment for yourself.

6. Stylish Summer Shoes

As we mentioned earlier with socks, your feet play a considerable role in keeping your body cool. So, lightweight breathable shoes are going to help immensely here. More breathability can be achieved by reducing bulk in the sole with techniques such as Blake stitching or soft-soled shoes. Also, the more of your foot that is exposed directly to the open air, the more breathable your shoes will be.

You can check both of the boxes of a thinner sole and more foot exposure by wearing loafers for a more formal casual look or by wearing canvas shoes or moccasin-type styles, like boat shoes or driving mocs, for more casual occasions.

If you prefer a bit more structure, consider more traditional dress shoe styles in hot weather materials like woven leather that is obviously more open and breathable or suede, which is soft and breathable as well. For more information on shoes though, we already covered this topic in great depth in our guide on summer shoes.

20 Specific Tips for Classic Style in Hot Weather

Let’s finish off today with more tips for classic style in hot weather in no particular order.

1. Hail Hydrate

Drinking plenty of water is good for you in general and especially good for you in hot weather. After all, the more water you drink, the more you’ll be able to aid your body in its natural process of sweating to get rid of excess heat.

2. Crack The (Dress) Code

Having a thorough understanding of dress codes will allow you to craft outfits that satisfy the occasion while also satisfying your need to keep cool. Take it from us, you don’t need to wear a three-piece suit every day. For more on this topic, you can consult our guide on the formality scale.

3. Lose The Layers

Superfluous fabric, like a waistcoat, wide lapels, heavy cuffs, or a thick tie, can trap heat and warm you up as we discussed previously.

4. Live Life Loosely

Drapier, more billowy cuts and fits will encourage air circulation and will also definitely look classic.

5. Beautiful Bowties

Because they rest against less of your skin, bow ties can be an excellent choice if you still want to wear neckwear when it’s warm.

6. The Psychology of Scent

A fresh summer scent isn’t actually going to physically cool you down of course, but it will probably feel more pleasant than a heavier cold weather scent that might make you feel hotter overall. By the way, Kyle can give you a rundown on our 10 Favorite Summer Fragrances.

7. Banish Bulk

Whittle down what you carry in your pockets to a minimum to avoid excess bulk that can press against your skin and make you feel hotter.

8. Watch That Sundial

What we mean is to avoid the hottest times of day. There’s a reason that many hot climate countries encourage staying indoors while the sun is blazing down. Take it from them and Noël Coward, ‘Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.’

9. Relish Respites

Plan your day to take advantage of as many opportunities to cool off as you can. These opportunities could include everything from an alfresco lunch on a shady terrace to simply spending time in an air-conditioned building.

10. Skip Socks

To maximize airflow, wear no-show socks or no socks entirely. It’s not to everyone’s taste, of course, but it must be said that encouraging a breeze at the base of your legs can have a wonderfully cooling effect on a hot day.

11. Moisturize!

As nothing feels worse on a hot day than cracked lips or dry, itchy skin. So, keep some lip balm handy and maintain a good skincare regimen, especially in the hottest of climates.

12. Wear Lighter Colors

In simplest terms, light colors reflect sunlight while dark colors absorb it. So, take advantage of hot weather to experiment with fun new colors like whites, brights, and pastels. And yes, while there are certain groups who have traditionally worn black in the hot sun, this technique really only works with robes.

Because of the heat differential between the thick black fabric, which absorbs a considerable amount of heat, and the human body, which is also quite hot, an artificial layer of cool air circulates underneath via physical processes adjacent to the phenomenon known as the “stack effect.”

13. Nix Neckwear

Constriction at the neck is going to bottle up heat inside of your shirt. So, if it’s at all possible, consider going for an open collar to better enjoy breezes. And you can also add an ascot as an alternative form of neckwear that looks and feels wonderfully cool.

14. No Non-Iron

Non-iron garments like shirts are, in simplest terms, lacquered with chemicals to resist wrinkles. This though creates a constricting stuffy seal that negates any of the naturally breathable properties of even great summer fabrics like cotton. So, stick with unadulterated, natural fibers whenever you can, and, ironing shirts and other garments isn’t really that bad. We promise.

15. Remove Jacket As Necessary

Don’t be afraid to take off your jacket every now and again if you need to air out or to execute a well-timed costume change. Just remember, of course, to put your jacket back on when you need to.

16. Handy Handkerchiefs

Sweat may help to keep you cool, but it can also be unsightly. So, be sure to carry a handkerchief to dab away excess moisture. But, remember, a handkerchief is not a pocket square. I made a whole list of reminders in another guide. For example, one is a fashion sensation and the other is for perspiration, and so on.

17. Supply a Spare Shirt

To handle excessive sweat, consider keeping a spare white shirt handy in your car or office like Don Draper does in Mad Men. White shirts go with almost everything, they reflect the sunlight, and the feeling of a crisp, new white shirt on a hot day is pretty magical.

18. Be Sensible With Shorts

Short-sleeved shirts and short trousers can be tempting. But, recall that, as we mentioned earlier, keeping the sun off of your skin can be vitally important. So, consider going with protective, full-length clothing that, again, has a loose fit to encourage airflow.

19. A Break From Trouser Breaks

Consider trousers with no break at the bottom to encourage greater ventilation around your ankles.

20. Don’t Confuse “Light Weight” and “Breathable”

Light weight and breathable are not synonymous. A medium-weight, open-weave, fabric is going to feel much more breathable than a lightweight, densely-woven fabric. Silk, for instance, is very lightweight, but it’s also very insulating, which is why we didn’t mention it in our earlier roundup of great summer fabrics.

Conclusion

And that brings us to the end of our list for today. We hope that now that you’re armed with these tips and tricks, you’ll never let the heat prevent you from dressing up again.

Did we miss any of your favorite tips and tricks? Share them in the comments below! In particular, we’d love to hear from you if you live in a tropical climate and have first-hand experience mixing classic style with extreme heat.

Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing an ensemble that is attempting to follow many of the guidelines we put forward.

My lightweight beige jacket features a herringbone pattern and it’s in a breathable, cotton-linen weave. My French cuffed shirt features a microgrid pattern in tones of light blue and green on a white ground. And, of course, I’m wearing it with an open collar today and I’ve skipped the neckwear.

Into the cuffs, I’ve inserted our Fort Belvedere platinum-plated sterling silver eagle claw cufflinks featuring green malachite as the stone to harmonize with the green in my shirt. My plain trousers are in a slate blue color and my shoes are tobacco brown suede loafers from Scarosso.

My pocket square is also in linen. It’s plain white in color and features a light green edge stitch. My other accessories today are also from Fort Belvedere and these would include my two-tone shadow-striped socks in gray and Prussian blue and my blue delphinium boutonniere.

And, of course, I’ve capped off my outfit today with a summer straw hat. As previously mentioned, it’s a pork pie made from coconut straw and it features a brightly colored plaid band. 

And for all of the Fort Belvedere accessories I’m wearing, as well as a wide variety of others, feel free to check out the Fort Belvedere shop.