For Shirts & Giggles: 5 Things Men Should Know About Workwear Shirting to Stay Cool This Summer

[For Shirts & Giggles: An Overview ...]

It's summer. It's hot and you need to be cool and even cooler with your shirt selection. 

So where do you start?

First, I'm focusing this conversational article on workwear that is functional and minimizes overheating unnecessarily.

And we'll start addressing this topic just like the previous underwear article.

Fabrics still matter here.  But also fit and function matters too.

If your workplace is a t-shirt and jeans environment, congratulations. This article is not for you.  But If you have a friend you'd like to help dress accordingly for the season, keep reading.

[Let's Talk Shirt Fabrics and Fits]

My favorite casual shirt fabric and fit options during the summer are a short sleeve custom fit polo made of soft Pima cotton or woven mesh/pique Polo - Think the traditional iconic Ralph Lauren Polo shirt.  I know it's simple but it works for me. And it can work for you too if you pick the right ones for your body type.

Now, to be fair I don't get to wear those as much as I'd like to in my day to day wear. But if I worked in the traditional office space and cubicle arrangement, those shirts I just mentioned would be go-to staples. So, if you're in the traditional office space or working out of cubicles, follow the guidelines presented above.  And you can apply the same principles to higher luxury brands i.e. Purple Label, Zegna, Isaia, Brunello Cucinelli etc.

[Fits and Hacks for More Comfort]

If you're on the heavier side or overly muscular, choose "Classic fit" (or the equivalent based on the brand) shirts but if you're on the slimmer side, go for the "Custom Fit" options in Polo which fits like a slim fit. The same principle applies to polo shirt styles in general.

If you want more of a looser fitting fit all around, you can always go for the next size up so your shirt will fit in a little more relaxed and comfortable way if that's your preference.  

Now, again, if you're a slimmer i.e. a custom fit person, and want more room without looking sloppy do this: instead of going from Small to Medium in custom fit, you can go from small custom fit to a Extra small classic fit.  You'll have to experiment with this to make sure it's a good adjustment for you. (That's a hack by the way.)

For my style snobs, again, if you want luxury, consider Isaia, Zegna, Canali, Brunello Cucinelli to name a few. Ultimately, whatever brand you go with, understand the difference in the fits each brand offers.

[Let's Talk Dress Shirts]

For dress shirts, fabric selection is everything. If you have to do a button down look that's not too stuffy...

Here are my favorite go to fabrics to consider for warmer weather:

A Light Chambre (I have old Ledbruy blue shirt that was a favorite of mine for years). 

Benefit: Light and airy in weight and handsome in it's finish

A Giro Englese (ETON has one in white that I love and have worn to death. But they have them in multiple colors)

Benefits: The open weave feature of this fabric makes is very breathable and cool to wear in the hottest days 

Linen (I have a white Club Monaco one that I've worn so much I had to replace it)

Linen has been around forever for it's wait and breathability. And it still gets the job done.

Benefit: This fabric adds a rustic and relaxed look despite its high wrinkle tendencies.  Linen in my assessment embodies maturity and confidence.

Very Light Twill

Twill makes for a great dress shirt no matter the season. But for the summer is can come off as too dressy.  So, if you go the twill shirt route, make sure it's a nice and light one that has a muted finish - not shiny.

Benefits:

Looks dressy and polished.  Slight wrinkle resistant behavior to the fabric which lets it hold up overtime after a long day.

Oxfords

Oxfords can be fun during the summer especially for button down collar shirts.  The button down collar captures casual, calm and relaxed. The key to oxfords is color selection.  Feel free to go beyond white and light blue selections to spice things up.

Benefits:

Oxfords hold up well and keep their shape over the course of a day.  They can work with every look i.e. you can dress them up with a blazer or shirt jacket and look fantastic.  

[Styles and Why They Matter for Coolness]

Now that we've talked about the practicals of fabrics to stay cool, we can touch on style details to honor to make your shirting options look even cooler.  

The button down collar - This collar is a staple chill mode look.  Nothing says "I'm taking it easy" and I'm relaxed more than a summer bottom down collar shit in my assessment.  Ralph Lauren oxfords eternally capture this vibe.

The band or neru collar aka the Mandarin collar is one of my favorites as well.  You can get them from many retail brands. From Uniqlo to Brunello Cuccinelli with their various patterns and fabrics, you can find one that's right for you.

The V-neck no button lower/flat collar polo style shirt (Cucinelli has plenty) is a easy go to for casual and cool options also.

[Final Hacks on Coolness]

Rolling your sleeves a tuck just above the list is a great move for making your looks cleaner and more relaxed. And it allows for air flow for your arms.

If you need more natural ventilation, get a shirt that has epaulette's to fasten your sleeves so they can stay up.

Last but not least, don't wear dress shirts untucked. If you want to wear a button down shirt untucked, make sure it's considered a "sportswear" shirt i.e. sized by letters - S, M, L etc. AND that it's not too long or short for your body type. Of course the untucked shirt look has become so much of a thing, that UNTUCKIT has cornered the market on them.

[Final Thoughts]

To wrap this up, your shirt options can make a big difference when it comes to staying cool while looking charming and smart.  And it starts with fabric followers by style options.  Again, this is not something you should feel overwhelmed and burdened by.  But if you have a tendency to making poor shirt decisions and choices or can't see where to begin, you can correct course by asking for help to get on the right path.  

Now, if you're comfortable enough with everything I've shared so far, you can follow the guidelines and tips mentioned as a DIY person but if you're drowning in daily tasks, business to-do lists and  responsibilities with little time to think about any of this, then professional support can help you sort it out so you can apply your energy to doing what you do best.

- Buihe | Men's Style Visionary