As with cooking, so with style. The better your ingredients, the better your dish. Flavoring and pairings give personality, context and place. A polo shirt with linen shorts versus a denim western shirt and jeans; steak frites versus chicken-fried steak. A hemp T-shirt with faded wash jeans compared to a graphic one overtop sweatshorts; pitting crudo up against fish sticks.
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. And although your summer wardrobe may slightly change over those years, it remains rooted in classic basics that age well with years in the sun. (As fans of vintage clothing, it's hard not to imagine these pieces after a season under constant sunlight.)
Although there is much to love, there isn't much to say about each of these selections. Simply put, these are bite-the-bullet-and-buy-it items — but some are surprisingly affordable. Covering most all of your bases, save for attire meant for special occasions, we present a few dozen style staples that are definitely worth the investment.
Shirts
Officine Generale Green Eren Camp-Collar Voile Shirt
Brunello Cucinelli Blue Striped Cotton Shirt
Knickerbocker ? Camp Shirt
Save Khaki Blue Garment-Dyed Button-Down Collar Shirt
Shorts
Alex Mill Pull on Button Fly Short
Corridor Pincord Camp Shorts
De Bonne Facture Washed Linen-Canvas Drawstring Shorts
Birdwell Corduroy Shorts
Pants
Oliver Spencer Linen and Cotton-Blend Trousers
Todd Snyder Straight Fit Faded Wash Jean
Universal Works Ecru Fatigue Pant
Dandy Del Mar Brisa Linen Pant
Basics
Jungmaven Jung Tee
Velva Sheen Pigment Dyed Pocket Tee
Sunspel Cotton Riviera Polo Shirt
Corridor Washed Indigo Pique Polo
Knits
Todd Snyder Italian Linen Crewneck Sweater
The Elder Statesman Continuum Pullover
Outerwear
Cushman Lot. 26903 Freedom Sleeve Sweatshirt
De Bonne Facture Camp-Collar Washed Linen-Canvas Chore Jacket
Footwear
Viberg Slipper
Yuketen Arizonian Two-Strap Suede Sandals
Blackstock and Weber The Ellis Penny Loafer
Fear of God Leather Sneakers
Accessories
American Trench Corduroy Bucket Hat
Jacques Marie Mage Clear Dealan D-Frame Acetate Sunglasses
Folk Assembly Belt
Todd Snyder x New Era British Millerain Cap
