Stylist Lawson Mpame shares his most fashionable tips for men hoping to look the part this summer - no matter the occasion.
We are deep in the midst of a phenomenal summer, graced with great weather, with the air smelling of summer soirées, weddings, BBQs, brunch parties, festivals, and terrace gatherings.
With all of these events going on, what one should wear can be quite difficult to figure out, but fret not as I am here to help by lending my styling expertise.
Each new season, be it winter or summer, I like to curate a capsule wardrobe collection that has everything I need for any occasion. The beauty of this collection is that it won’t break the bank if you built it up over time, and is versatile enough to help you make a statement - wherever you may be.
A knitted polo
To kick things off, a knitted polo is the must-have piece of clothing you need in your wardrobe this summer. Be it printed, plain, a button down or buttonless with a revere collar, this piece of clothing will be great for the summer soirée, a summer wedding. or a brunch party. It’s super versatile and easy to style.
When sticking this I would opt for a loafer or sneaker paired with trousers or jeans. The choice here really is yours, it’s about getting creative while you create the look and having fun doing it.
This ASOS DESIGN knitted revere shirt with border detail in blue costs €40.99.
A party shirt
Next, you need the summer party shirt. My favourites are from All Saints and they are great for the festival look or again the summer soiree. I would layer this with a tank top, a necklace and rings for accessories, jeans or linen trousers and a penny loafer. If you really want to get creative, add a neckerchief and swap the loafer for a leather Chelsea boot. This will give this look an edge and you will definitely turn some heads. Toning it down is easy with this look, though, and you could even pair it with the right suit to create a summer wedding look!
This All Saints Tagise Tiger Print Hawaiian Shirt is €159.
Penny Loafer
The two-tone penny loafer is the must have shoe of the season. A super versatile shoe that you can wear in many ways, be it with a suit, trousers or jeans. Styling tips for this are to go for some wide or straight leg trousers or jeans, the party shirt will work for this or even the polo I mentioned before, or you can keep it simple with a shirt. Accessories will be key here to complete the look.
Black x White Penny Loafer from Duke and Dexter cost €280.
A good suit
I’m a firm believer that not capsule wardrobe collection is complete without some tailoring. A good suit is a must and something that has some colour and preferably some linen blend that’s breathable or even a seersucker material. This will be perfect for the summer wedding or destination wedding if you are lucky
enough to be invited to one or even just the summer holiday. The beauty of the suit is that you can style it whatever way you want, it will double up as fancy dinner outfit or drinks outfit in a swanky bar were shorts and flip flops will be a faux pas.
This Slim Fit Aqua Double Breasted Jacket from Moss Bross costs €189 and Trousers cost €110.
Summer sunglasses
The perfect sunglasses are a must. At the moment I’m loving sunglasses that are cool enough to pull off indoors. They protect you well from the sun but when indoors it just looks like you are wearing tinted prescription glasses. They just exude suaveness and work perfectly with any look.
ASOS DESIGN square sunglasses with orange lens in black cost €16.99.
Well fitted jeans
Last, but surely not least, you need the well-fitted comfy jeans. I love off-white jeans. They are comfy, work well with any top and footwear. A lot of guys tend to shy away from wearing white but if there was ever a time it was okay to do it’s during summer.
M&S Collection's Straight Fit Stretch Jeans cost €37.
