On Style: Warm Weather Dressing

Last week, the NY Times published a piece about men in white jeans. A few days later, Emily Sundberg of Feed Me put the issue to her readers, and the results were surprising - a lot of people think white jeans on men are no good.

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This chorus of feedback surprised me. I love white jeans and never considered them a bold fashion move. I’ve worn them for years in all seasons. Like any clothing, their success depends on the execution. They should fit correctly and be made of the right materials (I’m anti-stretch or anything synthetic). And when you’re a guy wearing white jeans, you can’t be precious about them. Embrace the evidence of wear, of life.

I like them dressed up or down, as seen below from Esquire’s Five Fits series:

This got me thinking about men’s style. A trip through the airports, grocery stores, or streets of America reveals that most people, especially men, are unsure of what to wear when they leave the house.

Online, there are plenty of resources, but something is missing. Men’s style coverage online fits into a few camps. It’s either heavy fashion, reporting on the international designer scene (which is great but not the best place to start for most men), or it’s too streetwear (beanie, puffer vest, Adidas sneakers), or it’s too niche (I love Blackbird Spyplane and the brands they highlight but it’s for an advanced consumer), or it’s all about high-end tailoring and bespoke suiting (again, huge fan, but not relevant for most guys). There is stuff to pull from all these resources, but most guys need a few simple ideas on how to get dressed and look cool, confident, and put-together.

In clothing/fashion, there is a lot of navel-gazing. I keep up with what’s happening at Lemaire, where to find the best bespoke glasses in Paris, what Japanese designer is doing the best work (Auralee and A.Presse come to mind), or where to find the rare Alden modified last (Moulded Shoe in NYC!), but most guys don’t have the time or interest. They just want to look put together, cool, and modern. And without the right resources, they end up in synthetic polos and Lululemon joggers. (I’m not here to shame, but this is not the answer!)

Man and baby.

Where to turn for straightforward, classic, reliable advice?

A few people in my life have suggested I write more about clothing in this newsletter. I’m extremely online, and I love clothes. I always have, so I will be sharing some resources from time to time. As always, this newsletter remains a chronicle of my interests (“one man’s magazine,” as I bill it) - and I thank you for being here.

With that in mind, let me tell you where you should be looking as you start thinking about warm-weather dressing. First up, swim trunks and shorts:

Swim Trunks

Avoid a zany pattern and just stick with a great solid trunk that is versatile, well made, and looks good with an untucked poplin shirt while you dine seaside.

Bather - most guys will do no better than Bather, out of Canada. Start here with lots of great solid color options - I have red and navy. The only downside to Bather is that they don’t pay shipping on returns, so you need to get your sizing right to avoid the hassle.

Olebar Brown - I’ve worn Orelabar Brown for years - they’re the best swim trunks I’ve found. The classic Bulldog model offers a more tailored look with side adjusters for a tidy, clean look. They started with trunks, but the line has expanded over the years, and they make great warm-weather clothing. This is the first place I’d look before an Italian summer, for example.

Birdwell Britches make THE classic boardshort. I like the medium length. Again, stick to a classic, versatile color.

I really like Onia and they offer a variety of lengths, from thigh bearing 4-inch trunks to a more conservative 7.5-inch.

Short Sleeve shirts

I don’t know why, but short-sleeve shirts can go wrong quickly. Here are some good resources: