As many installments of What’s In a Fit see me sharing what’s in my own wardrobe, today I want to do something different. We’re going to turn to my mutuals on Instagram and X to discover four classic summer outfits.
These looks come from guys I personally admire and have connected with in the past, so they’re not just random influencers. Their respective styles are quite unique, but even if they’re not for you, they still adhere to classic menswear principles. There’s a lot to learn by breaking down why what they wear works, and then determining how to incorporate those principles into your own wardrobe.
So without further ado, let’s begin by turning to one of my favorite mutuals: a Frenchman with enough panache to give the British a run for their money…
Upscale & Understated
There’s far more than meets the eye in this outfit. At first glance, it’s pretty basic: a solid white shirt, solid brown tie…what’s really that interesting?
The magic here has to do with pattern and texture. Let’s start with the jacket: while beige and tan are summer staples, either of those in combination with a stark white shirt could indeed risk falling a bit flat. But this jacket’s pattern saves the day: the classic glen check adds visual interest by providing a dimensional pattern to contrast against the flat white of the shirt.
From this launching point, the tie is able to shine: the woven silk grenadine makes for a lovely physical texture that captures all the light and shadow of the sun in its manifold ridges. Its pocket square companion, though much smoother to the touch, nonetheless maintains enough visual interest with its different overlapping shades of brown.
The headgear tops it all off, and here once more the fabric harmonizes with the rest of the outfit. Were it paired solely with the smooth white shirt, the course weave of the hat would appear out of place. But with the glen check jacket and the woven silk tie playing their part, the hat is comfortably at home and rounds out the look impeccably.
Lastly, one note on color: in summer, it’s tempting to break away from the duller winter palettes and lean into vibrant colors. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, and as we’ve written before there’s a reason these colors look good in the sun. But you shouldn’t overlook the beauty of what I call the “colonial palette”: tan, beige, cream, sand, white, brown, etc.
At it’s best, the colonial palette gives off a classic, confident, and timeless look. It makes you stand out precisely by making you not stand out: the muted palette pales against the vibrant colors around you, yet somehow speak all the more powerfully against their backdrop.
But, of course, this style is a tad too formal for many. What if you want to go with something that’s a bit more causal, yet no less elegant? The secret lies in a look that’s quintessentially American…
