When we go on holiday it’s important that our sense of style doesn’t take a break as well.
When a long, hard slog at the office has finally given way to a prolonged period of day-drinking and sun-lounging it may seem like the last thing you want to care about, but trust me – when you’re on the plane back home, scrolling through what seems like a million smartphone photos, you’ll be glad you were the best-dressed guy at the beach club.
The good news is that it’s actually more simple than you think – just a few well-chosen essentials will give you a louche, effortless style that keeps you cool but doesn't sacrifice aesthetics.
To make it even easier, we’ve put together a capsule wardrobe right here. All you have to do is choose the colours.
Linen Shirts
Shirt by Stenströms
Shirt by New & Lingwood
Let’s start with the obvious – linen is best for resort wear. We all know it’s breathable and helps you stay cool, but that’s far from the only reason.
A linen shirt is a perfect starting point for a resort outfit because the collar gives a little formality but the generous cuts they usually come in and the propensity for crumpling mean you won’t look like a stuffy librarian dragged into the sunlight.
Embrace the creases – they’re certain to happen anyway, so just let that dishevelled nonchalance become part of the look.
Leave a minimum of two buttons undone; roll up the sleeves as opposed to buying short-sleeved. You’ll immediately look like you just stepped out of a Slim Aarons photo.
Sweden’s Stenströms have an extensive range of high-quality linen shirts, including this one in a sandy brown tone (£159 at www.stenstroms.com) while London’s own New & Lingwood have a version in mustard with a beautiful cutaway collar (£155 at www.newandlingwood.com or in its Jermyn Street boutique).
Polo Shirts
Polo shirt by Sunspel
If you really are averse to wearing a shirt on holiday then a polo shirt is an excellent substitute.
Short sleeves and a small placket at the neck make it feel more like a t-shirt, but throw a nice relaxed jacket on top and it’s suddenly fit for any restaurant.
If you are going down this route, it’s best to choose something with a little texture and interest to it, giving you a little edge over those who’ve gone for the easy white cotton version.
English heritage brand Sunspel have this mastered: its Riviera Polo (seen here in Dark Sand, from £135) was originally tailored for Daniel Craig in his first outing as Bond, and the cotton mesh fabric makes it wonderfully airy, while its Textured Knit Polo (shown in Ecru, £315) was based on designs found in the brand archives.
The slightly longer sleeves and deeper neckline give it a retro aesthetic, with the open weave knit allowing for plenty of heat to escape.
Pleated Shorts
Shorts by Kit Blake
Shorts make sense on holiday, but they don’t need to mean an abandonment of style.
Choosing a tailored, pleated pair will be more comfortable, thanks to the extra room provided by the pleats, and more elegant, as the shape will be far more flattering than simply throwing on whatever you usually wear to the gym.
Choose a pair in linen – these from dunhill (£525 from www.dunhill.com or at its Bourdon House flagship) have an elasticated waist for supreme comfort – or in a light cotton/linen blend, like these from Kit Blake (£175 at www.kitblake.com).
Sartorial shorts may seem like a step too far, but once you have your first pair you’ll wonder how you ever did without.
Double Breasted Jackets
Suit by Brunello Cucinelli
Suit by Hackett
Here at Square Mile, we’ve spoken a lot recently about why double-breasted jackets work for summer, but it’s worth mentioning again here, simply because it’s true.
On a resort holiday there may not be too much need for any kind of jacket, but it’s worth having one in the suitcase for if the evenings get chilly or in case you get invited to an elegant dinner by a contact you make over midday margaritas.
For that emergency, opt for something double-breasted in a light colour and light fabric – it will elevate even your shorts to a level where you don’t look out of place at a decent restaurant, far more than a single breast would, but without looking too imbalanced.
A gentle shade of off-white, like this cotton/linen piece by Hackett (£390 at www.hackett.com) or a delicate shade of blue, as demonstrated here by Brunello Cucinelli (£2,800 at www.brunellocucinelli.com) will do the trick nicely.
Shoes
Loafers by Crockett & Jones
The keys to good resort footwear are simplicity and comfort. The ability to kick them off and slip them back on at poolside (or on a yacht, if you’re lucky) is important – no one wants to keep faffing around with laces every time they want a dip – and the more heat can escape them, the better.
Loafers, therefore, are the ideal choice – something slim and elegant which will take you from day to evening without a second thought.
The soft texture of suede will handle walks on the sandy beach a little better than leather – these navy tassel loafers from Crockett & Jones (£545 at www.crockettandjones.com) have a great silhouette and will fit any occasion.
If you feel like going a little more casual, or a little more adventurous, but remaining on the side of elegance, try some suede sandals.
Parisian brand Jaques Soloviere have collaborated with New York-based creative director Steve González to release a line of sandals (£160 at www.jacquessoloviereparis.com) which are airy, sleek, and comfortable, but with an innovative configuration which sets them above the rest of the versions you’ll see along the seafront.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses by Cutler & Gross
A good pair of shades is absolutely essential. Choose a pair with a shape to suit your face – generally speaking, square faces suit round frames, and vice versa – as well as a colour which will match with as much of your wardrobe as possible.
Metal frames can look a little harsh or stark, so for a more relaxed, resort-friendly appearance try a pair made from bio-acetate or cellulose – the softer texture will suit your softer outfit and there are usually far more colour options to choose from.
Curry & Paxton have been designing stylish sunglasses in London since Victorian times – the Yvan frames shown here were worn by Micheal Caine in The Italian Job – and have a wide range to choose from; Cutler & Gross are also from London, almost 100 years younger, and make frames for the more flamboyant among us who feel like expressing our inner rock star.
We won’t tell you exactly which pair to buy as it’s so dependant on your natural features, but both brands offer a ‘virtual try-on’ service on their websites which will allow you to select whatever suits you perfectly.
Swimwear
Swimshorts by Frescobol Carioca
Dipping in the pool or jumping off the back of the boat are among the most popular pursuits on a resort break, so quality swimwear is a must.
Choosing a pair of fairly modest shorts is the most practical option as they remove the need for an immediate place to change – throw on a linen shirt or polo after drying off and they’ll immediately form part of an outfit while you stroll around and dry off in the sun, though it’s probably best to properly switch before heading to dinner.
They also present a great opportunity to experiment with a pop if colour, if that’s something you’re not yet comfortable with.
Frescobol Carioca’s core range of Brazilian-inspired (and where better to get inspiration for beach wear?) swim shorts come in a huge range of vibrant colours (shown here is their signature Copacabana style, from £165 at www.frescobolcarioca.com).
While titans of the resort wear market Orlebar Brown has just launched an exclusive collaboration with the legendary Hôtel Byblos (€350 from the Byblos Boutique) in a wonderfully sunny dark orange hue.
Scent
You may not have considered your scent as an essential part of resort style, but hear me out.
Having a gentle, fresh, floral scent to subtly radiate from you, regardless of how much the heat makes you sweat, how much the chlorine from the pool has stuck in your hair, or – let’s face it – how many mid-afternoon beers or spritzes you sank, gives the ultimate air of cool sophistication.
It tells the world that you aren’t flustered by the humidity which is flustering them; that while they are melting in the summer sun you are taking it all in your stride without a second thought.
Czech and Speake were born on Jermyn Street to create just those fragrances for the gentlemen of London – their Ausonia (notes of apple, vanilla, and conifer) and Oxford & Cambridge (notes of lavender and peppermint) styles are particularly adept at keeping you smelling fresh and light all through the day, without being too overpowering (from £105 at www.czechandspeake.com).
From further afield, Acqua di Parma is the embodiment of Italian dolce vita in a bottle. Its Blu Mediterraneo Mirto di Panarea fragrance (from £71) is meant to represent the serene beauty of the sea and the vibrant energy of the sun on the waves. Smells good to us.
