TV presenter, columnist, and fashion guru Darren Kennedy joined Jennifer Zamparelli on RTÉ 2FM to share some tips for Irishmen hoping to update their summer style. Listen back above.
Jumping straight into the biggest fashion fails men can make come summer time, Kennedy told Zamparelli, in no uncertain terms, that men need to look after their feet.
"Tend to your hooves. The lads get the feet out as soon as the sun comes out, and your feet are mangled."
Kennedy suggests that the men of Ireland book themselves in for a pedicure before getting the sandals out, but if that's not their bag they can, at the very least, "give them a scrub".
Summer suit
With weddings abroad firmly back on the cards, Kennedy says that a linen-cotton blend is a man's best friend.
"You get all the structure of cotton but all the lightness of linen. Linen is really tricky as we know, it creases and it doesn't necessarily sit well. It's kind of a look and if you can pull it off, fair play to you. To get the benefits of the linen but something more structured, go for a blend."
Speaking on formal wear in general, Kennedy says that relaxed and loose tailoring are becoming more acceptable for guests to wear this wedding season.
"If you look at the catwalks and what's even coming into the high street, gone are the days of a super skinny suit - thank God, I think - it's much more flowy. People are wearing baggy suit trousers with trainers, so you can be much more relaxed, I think, when it comes to a wedding - especially abroad."
Nice runners
When it comes to footwear, the presenter says that there are "very few scenarios" where you can't wear a nice pair of runners, it just comes down to the type you wear.
After urging listeners to have a bit of common sense and not wear casual footwear in certain scenarios (a job interview at an accounting firm, for example), Kennedy says that the right trainer can suit almost any occasion.
"If you're wearing a pair of trainers to a wedding, let's say on the Amalfi coast, you might get away with wearing a box-fresh, clean, white pair of Stan Smiths - that style of trainers."
Invisible socks
Moving on to the most controversial section of the interview, Kennedy posed the question: socks or no socks?
"Personally, if I'm wearing tailoring in the summer I like to go sockless, but before people start having a conniption, what it actually means is that I'm wearing an invisible sock, so I am actually wearing a sock for hygiene reasons - sweating and all that - but you don't see it. The key is to get socks that are actually invisible as opposed to ankle socks."
The flip flop rule
"Absolutely do not wear flip flops anywhere other than the beach or the shower or the pool," says Darren. "That's just a rule."
When holidaying stylishly, men should opt for sliders, sandals or Birkenstocks - to be worn with or without socks.
To find out what Darren had to say about the popularity of the GAA short, going topless in town, and the best places to shop, listen back above.
