Beach-ready or not, the discerning gent should make space for these key pieces in his wardrobe this summer
It’s at this time of year that a man starts thinking about a swim short. He’ll be thinking about it, more than likely, rather apprehensively given that he’s not going to get the miles in on his whizzy new road bike – the one with semi-deflated tyres and gathering its first film of dust – to make a huge difference to his physique. And even if he does finally fulfil the new year’s resolution to get to the gym three days a week, realistically his shorts are going to have to fit the shape he is now, beach-ready or not.
Orlebar Brown has a cunning knack of styling its shorts not only to look cool on its models – handsome versions of Andy Murray, basically – but also on the rather more upholstered gentleman, to wit, David Cameron.
This summer it’s offering a bespoke design service. You email OB an image of your choice and, if its designers deem it able to somehow span the shorts fore and aft and its boffins say the picture’s high res enough, you can strut around Cornwall showing off that marvellous little bay you discovered in Skiathos last year. Or indeed show it off in Skiathos, although you would run the risk of people staring at your bottom trying to work out if, yes, that is the café that they’ve just come from at the base of the left buttock. They are, though, individual – and, at £395 expensive – fun.
You can save £170 and go for one of Orlebar Brown’s own vibrant photo-emblazoned shorts, or just cut the fancy stuff, and choose a pair of classic mid-length bulldogs (below) in a tasteful range of colours, £145.
Out of the water, every company in the world is going to offer you some sort of short. The main consideration, which Olebar Brown has answered admirably, is fit. Not as well known, but rather cheaper, are the Morley chino shorts from Joules. There’s no shock value here, but get a pair in citrine – that’s fashion for a creamy lemon – and for £39.95, you’ll still cut a beachside dash.
If you want to channel that 1960s James Bond look, then you’ll be glad to know that the Terry Towelling shirt is back, as worn by Sean Connery
If you’re brave enough, and want to channel that 1960s James Bond look, then you’ll be glad to know that the Terry Towelling shirt is back! Yes, as worn by Sean Connery. It kind of helps if you look like him to pull it off, but actually, it’s really quite a practical item for those English summer days – Wolf & Badger will sort you out, with a nice azure Mabes number for £69 (below) – cosy after a bracing swim, but with a nice luxe allure.
Not as warm, not as quirky, and very hard to claim as a style statement, but we all need summer T-shirts. You don’t want to spend too much on the damned things, but nor do you want them to disintegrate after two washes. A gentleman, naturally, wouldn’t dream of any of anything with a logo, or, even worse, some bit of tat recalling the fact that he was fleeced at a rock concert a couple of years ago. Kin at John Lewis, a reliable and really quite stylish label, has a range of plain tees in cool colours (below) and they’re yours for £12.
If you would like to show a bit of individuality, then head for T-lab, which is a small company based in Rutland, producing men’s T-shirts with a range of off-the-wall but always tasteful logos, including a dark-green number, with a Rio logo, reduced to £25, so as the Olympics beckon you can advertise your love of sport without flaunting it.
Summer casual is all well and good, but you still want to smarten up now and again without going formal – you’re not going to go to a beachy restaurant in one of the Charles Tyrwhitts you wear to work every day. Tobias, like T-lab, is a British independent, making casual shirts in linen and cotton, and sent to you in a nice hessian bag. Its Narmada linen shirt (below), £80, is available in grey, blue stripe, sea green and white and blue, or go a bit different with its Indus cotton shirt with a Nehru collar, available in pink or blue and white and yours for £65.
Paul Smith’s slim-fit blue ‘Mini Heart’ print shirt, £120 (below), is everything you’d expect by the great man. Quirky but tasteful, with nice touches such as a point collar with removable bones, a French placket and rear darts for a refined fit, and you can pretty much wear it anywhere.
British summer dictates a mac is still an essential, and you can’t go far wrong with the Ranier also from Joules, £75.95. It’s in a “relaxed” fit so you can layer underneath, has adjustable cuffs, waterproof coating and taped seams. Nice colours, too. Hunter Boots has branched out from just making hardy rubber footwear into practical country wear that looks good pretty much anywhere. The 3-Layer Original Nylon Bomber, £225, from Hunter Original (below) is water-resistant and breathable, two-toned on the surface and meshed at the back.
Although living in the UK we probably should accept that a pair of wellies might be the most essential summer footwear, we British are nothing if not optimistic – which is why cricket is our national summer sport. With their rope soles and cheap canvas uppers, a pair of espadrilles in theory is about as much use as a bicycle in a bog, but doughty a new brand Mulo (below) will make you think again.
Formed 2013 by Tobias Cox and Ingrid de Vries, this British company has taken a modern more practical view of the espadrille, ie, made them in nubuck or suede over a sturdy rubber sole. And they come in a great palette that are a far cry from the traditional, white, black or the most garish interpretation of primary colours. So good for a British summer – ie, dank and grey with the odd sunny day thrown in to get your hopes up.
Main image: Orlebar Brown
The post How to cut a beachside dash appeared first on Beyond Bespoke.