Top 10 Summer Menswear Essentials: Hot Summer Fashion Trends For Men

By: Sharon Mosley

Whether you’re a guy looking to build a great summer wardrobe or someone who wants to give Dad a little help with his sartorial needs, there are always new ways to refresh menswear for summer. Skip the tried-and-true tie and try something with more style.

Here are the hottest picks from trend expert Tom Julian, who is also president of Tom Julian Group:

— Consider the sport shirt. It becomes the staple and now acts as an outerwear piece or summer jacket for casual office days. Think “The Hangover Part II” for the military shirt with patch pockets at chest and epaulettes. Or check out a plaid pattern shirt. Both can be layered over a crew neck or V-neck T-shirt. Keep the look cool and wear untucked and unbuttoned, guys!

— Nautical stripes are a summer perennial. Classic navy and white on a knit pullover, polo shirt or lightweight sweater are trend items this summer. One can mix and match with dark denim, khakis or linen pants.

— A colored five-pocket pant (not in denim), but in either cotton or cotton/Lycra or cotton/linen. “This pant is designed like a jean, but works very well for casual office days when worn with a woven shirt,” says Julian. Colors range from soft blue and pink to sand and mocha.

— Lighten up! Go for summery citrus hues like grapefruit, tangerine or lemon. A novelty color will add a splash of dash to tank tops, swim trunks or even a baseball cap.

— Patterned shorts in cotton (possibly a 7-inch inseam). No pleats please, guys. Look for small-scale patterns and only two to three colors. Anything too bold and too colorful could overpower a real guy.

— A Henley pullover for those breezy nights. The Henley is a collarless pullover with buttons on the placket. It can be worn alone or layered over V-necks or tank tops. Consider a Henley in a rib texture.

— Dark dressy denim jeans. For a romantic getaway, Julian suggests pairing classic pieces like a white button-down shirt with dark and straight fit jeans, which can become more formal with a distressed casual blazer and buck shoes. Jeans can be casual when paired with a lightweight knit cardigan and driving mocs.

— Desert boots have a “worn-in” look for casual appeal. Opt for worn-in vintage leather or nubuck (shaved down suede) boots. Boot height should not exceed ankles.

— Sunglasses are a must and make a great gift. Think “Mad Men” and go for retro bold frames in plastic.

— Cotton canvas belt with a d-ring buckle will pull all these stylish summer menswear essentials together; it will go with everything.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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