Style

Men's Summer Clothing Essentials: 25 Infallible Ways to Win the Season

Every wardrobe upgrade you need for your hottest season yet.
Men's Summer Clothing Essentials 25 Infallible Ways to Win Summer Style
Photo Courtesy of Getty; Collage by Emily Agjmurati

Men’s summer clothing essentials is a real mouthful, but they're worth getting right. Sure, summer—with its promise of long, sun-filled days, and chill, barbecue-packed nights—is arguably the most fun season of the year. But no amount of rooftop kickbacks or PTO can save you from its punishing swelter; summer, dear reader, is also the toughest season to dress for. Layering, the greatest joy of the cooler months, is mostly nonexistent. Shorts? Verboten in your corporate-ass office. Jeans are off the table entirely (not even the lightest denim will save you in 95-degree weather). And you have how many summer weddings?!

The Summer Style Hit List

Before you start to spiral, though, pause for just a second and breathe. Because your stylish confidants here at GQ Recommends have the solutions you need to beat the heat and look hot-as-hell doing it. These are 25 lab-tested (not really) methods to get massive fits off all season long, a.k.a. the only men’s summer clothing essentials you’ll ever really need.

All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

  • 1/25

    The Sultry Sheer Shirt

    Summer is a time to show off some skin, but there are more ways to reveal your sexy self than wearing short shorts or leaving your shirt unbuttoned. A tantalizingly translucent shirt made from a lightweight sheer fabric or mesh or a polo shirt with a knit that's loose enough to let your skin peak through are great options for turning up the heat while staying cool.

    Knickerbocker cotton Yuma polo

    $195 at Knickerbocker
  • 2/25

    Jorts (Not a Joke!)

    Maybe we'll be cringing a few years from now, but jorts are legit cool now. Buy 'em big and baggy or simply chop off an old pair of jeans and rock them super short, frays and all.

    Wallace & Barnes 6" drawstring denim shorts

    $118 at J.Crew
  • 3/25

    The Woven Sandals

    Just like mesh shirts, a breezy pair of woven leather sandals are the move this summer whether that means a pair of Chris Pine-approved huaraches or a nifty pair of fogey-beloved fisherman sandals.

    Nisolo huarache sandals

    $150 at Nisolo
  • 4/25

    The Star-Making Sunglasses

    No disrespect to wayfarers or aviator sunglasses, it's time to break away from the staid classics. You're wearing a lot less during the scorching months and sunglasses are one of the few ways you can have a little fun. 

    Retrosuperfuture rectangular sunglasses

    $230 at SSENSE
  • 5/25

    The Ritzy Sunscreen Upgrade

    Practical, necessary, vital—sunscreen is all those things. Remember: health is wealth!

    Supergoop! Unseen sunscreen SPF 40

    $38 at Amazon
  • 6/25

    The Double-Duty Swim Trunks

    You know how orange juice will be 2 for $5 at the grocery store, but you techinically don't have to buy 2 just to get in on the deal? Firstly, now you do, and secondly, the same goes for a good pair of swim trunks. That is, you don't need to go swimming just to wear 'em. In fact, swim trunks *should* serve dual functions since you probably won't find yourself near a body of water all that often.

    Bather swim trunks

    $90 at Bather
  • 7/25

    The OOO Slides

    When the temperature reaches above 80, a pair of airy sandals are a must. No socks, no reservations, and all the relaxed energy of a well-deserved vacation (whether or not your boss actually approved your PTO).

    Birkenstock EVA Arizona sandal

    $50 at Huckberry
Most Popular
  • 8/25

    The Face-Saving Exfoliator

    That summer glow-up can't really happen without soft skin.

    Mario Badescu botanical exfoliating scrub

    $26 at Amazon
  • 9/25

    The Freshened-Up Fragrance

    A new season means a new fragrance and summertime is all about lighter, refreshing scents that'll help ease the heavy heat. Think citrus, verdant and aquatic notes—the kind of scents that evoke a cool breeze or a refreshing lake. Even in the most blazing of days, far from any oasis, the right summer cologne can keep you cool and fresh.

    Aesop Tacit eau de parfum

    $140 at Nordstrom
  • 10/25

    The Splashy Camp Shirt

    Aloha shirts aren't the only summer shirt with some real juice. The camp collar shirt has been the official shirt of Summer for a few summers now and for good reason—they're breathable, they're a good fram for your clavicles/necklaces, and they add a whole lot of character to any outfit.

    Kardo Chintan short sleeve shirt

    $160 at Huckberry
Most Popular
  • 11/25

    The Frosty Necklace (or Two)

    Bedeck your bare clavicles with a classic curb chain necklace, some colorful summer camp-type beads, a pearl-laden choker or, if you're really showing out, everything all at once.

    Miabella solid .925 sterling silver diamond-cut braided rope chain

    $35 at Amazon
  • 12/25

    Anything, Everything Linen

    Linen's supercooling properties make it an essential fabric for summertime dressing and you can get the stuff in any kind of garment, from button-ups to shorts and bucket hats to polos. And thanks to its famous wrinkling characteristic, it's also one of the few ways you can add some texture to your outfit during the hot months.

    Sasquatchfabrix Roots linen wide-leg trousers

    $271 at Matches
  • 13/25

    The Go-Anywhere Loafers

    Nothing beats the comfort of a sneaker, but if its versatility you want, a pair of loafers can transition from dressy to casual faster than you can click your heels. In summer, they're best worn sockless with a pair of short shorts.

    Gucci 1953 loafers

    $920 at Gucci
Most Popular
  • 14/25

    The Well-Rounded Sun Protection

    Bucket hats can do wonders for your outfit, a secret that stylish old folks have known for a long time. And, in summer, their 360-degree sun protection is vital, especially if you're long overdue for a haircut.

    AGR crochet bucket hat

    $235 $150 at SSENSE
  • 15/25

    The Campless Collared Shirt

    Listen, we're a little camped out. That's not to say camp collar shirts are completely beat, but it's hard to stand out when you see a splayed collar on every other dude.

    Alex Mill short sleeve Mill shirt

    $125 at Alex Mill
  • 16/25

    The Beach-Day Texturizing Spray

    You may not live anywhere near a beach, but a few spritzes of Verb's texturizing hair spray will instantly make you look like a hot surfer.

    Verb sea spray

    $20 at Sephora
Most Popular
  • 17/25

    The Tee That Punches Above Its Weight

    You need all the airflow you can get in the summer. So even if you're rocking a basic T-shirt and shorts look, loosening up the silhouette will do a whole lot with very little.

    Uniqlo Supima cotton crew neck short-sleeve T-shirt

    $25 at Uniqlo
  • 18/25

    The Pants With First-Class Leg Room

    Flowy pants can make you feel like you're on a Mediterranean vacation, or at least look like you are (that's half the battle, anyway).

    Todd Snyder Japanese relaxed fit selvedge chino

    $248 at Todd Snyder
  • 19/25

    The Summer Project Sneakers

    You may never actually get to finishing those summer projects (be real with yourself about recaning that old Cesca chair). Cooking a pair of canvas kicks is one you should be able to do with stellar results.

    Vans Vault UA Authentic 44DX Anaheim Factory sneaker

    $75 at Huckberry
Most Popular
  • 20/25

    An Anklet!

    Because why should your neck get all the love?

    Ancient Greek Sandals silver fine chains pearls anklet

    $80 $39 at SSENSE
  • 21/25

    The Anti-Billboard Hat

    The sun is great. Squinting is not. So get yourself a solid hat you can throw on with any outfit. We're plenty fond of cheeky, slogan-laden version, but there's something low-key cool about a plain hat that won't turn you into a billboard.

    Gelante 100% cotton baseball hat

    $8 at Amazon
  • 22/25

    The Attitude-Packed Earring

    Despite their size, earrings offer a highly concentrated amount of style, adding a ton of attitude to otherwise basic fits.

    Homer hoop with gems

    $615 at Homer
Most Popular
  • 23/25

    The Upper Body-Positive Tank

    Take it from the admirals of the A-shirt, Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber—a clean white tank is the easiest way to look hot this summer. Pair it with a purposely unbuttoned shirt and you've mastered summer layering.

    Gildan A-shirts (6-pack)

    $16 at Amazon
  • 24/25

    The '90s Legend Cargo Pants

    Cargo pants are hot again, which means it's time to channel the unmatched couple style of late-'90s phenomenon, Brennifer.

    Entire Studios Hard cargo pants

    $320 at SSENSE
  • 25/25

    The Surprise Slip-On Shoe

    Birkenstock Bostons will be our forever shoe. But right now, we're really messing with a fat, chunky, capital-C Clog.

    Sandgrens Swedish handmade wooden clog

    $214 at Amazon
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