As with cooking, so with style. The more you invest in quality ingredients, the better your final product. Flavoring and pairings give personality, context and place. A polo shirt with a linen shorts versus a denim western shirt and jeans; steak frites versus chicken-fried steak.
The maxim of “buy better, buy less” applies here. Match good taste with smart purchasing, and the two will coalesce naturally over a period of years. The summer wardrobe may change more over those years, but it is fundamentally rooted in classic basics that age well with years in the sun. To lay the baseline, we present the 30 best staples that are definitely worth the investment.
Shirts
Madras LS Shirt by Industry of All Nations $145
Bryan Shirt by A.P.C. $210
Benoit Shirt by Officine Generale $250
Cotton-Gauze Shirt by The Elder Statesman $355
Shorts
Slim-Fit Shorts by Mollusk $80
Aros Shorts by Norse Projects $105
Vela Watercolor-Dyed Shorts by Massimo Alba $270
Pants
Cotton-Ripstop Drawstring Trousers by Remi Relief $250
Washed Selvedge Denim Jeans by OrSlow $325
Basics
Basic Pocket Tee in Dusty Pink by General Admission $45
FSC T-Shirt by Freemans Sporting Club $48
Piqué Polo in Navy by Todd Snyder + Champion $98
Our Navy T-Shirt by Lady White Co. $99 (two pack)
Knits
Merino Wool Zip-Up Hoodie by Officine Generale $350
Dégradé Cashmere Sweater by The Elder Statesman $960
Outerwear
Tie-Dyed Sweatshirt by Remi Relief $250
Denim Jacket by Simon Miller $485
Dress Clothes
Beige Suit Trousers by P. Johnson $475
Cream Blazer by Officine Generale $515
Grey Virgin Wool Suit by Boglioli $1,295
Blue Eggsy Suit Jacket by Kingsman $1,595
Footwear
OG Classic LX Slip-On Sneakers by Vans $50
Arizona Sandals by Birkenstock $125
Achilles Sneakers by Common Projects $450
Slipper Black Calf Suede by Viberg $470
Suede Jodhpur Boots by Saint Laurent $895
Accessories
Mock Rib Crew Socks by Anonymous Ism $35
Two-Tone Linen Cap by Mollusk $45
Brown Woven Leather Belt by J.Crew $55
Livingston Tortoiseshell Sunglasses by Max Pittion $465
