Summer Mitch here!
By popular demand 😆, I present the latest in my Capsule Wardrobe series. Summer clothes lend themselves to a capsule wardrobe, so today I’m sharing a whole season’s worth of super simple pieces made from light-and-easy materials that are easily rearranged into dozens of outfits.
Let’s get to it!
Where to shop
J.Crew/J.Crew Factory: Always my first stop when building a capsule wardrobe. They’re an authority in men’s fashion in my opinion, with reliable fashion sense and quality materials. The majority of the products you’ll find in this post are J.Crew and J.Crew Factory.
Amazon: Amazon has asserted itself as a real presence in men’s fashion over the last couple of years. They offer competitive prices and a real simplicity of shopping. Amazon Prime Wardrobe will send you clothes to try on and send back free of charge, too.
Nordstrom: My favorite place for specialized pieces and higher-end brands. I use Nordstrom as a reliable source for unique pieces not found at other stores. Also shout out to their world-class customer service and easy return policies—fabulous for the disorganized like myself.
Men’s Summer Capsule Wardrobe
T-Shirts: Gray / Salmon / White
The workhorse of any summer outfit is the tee. I fill my drawers with a variety of J.Crew’s Broken-in T-Shirts each summer, and they’re the first thing I reach for each morning. They fit true to size, wash without shrinking, and come in a wide variety of great summer colors. A must!
Swim: Blue Stripe / Pink Stripe / Seersucker
It’s time to update your swimming suit. Board shorts and floral patterns are OUT, people. These suits from Amazon and J.Crew are simple in pattern and feature the optimal length for the beach or the pool. Or let’s be honest, for the bar after you leave the pool since you don’t want to change.
As you may have noticed, I wear shorts most days of the year, so you could consider me a bit of an expert. I’ve tried shorts from everywhere and this stretchy pair from Amazon Basics and this 7 inch pair from J.Crew are the best around. I threw away all my old pairs the second I found them and you probably should, too.
#PoloYolo! For those special summer moments when a t-shirt won’t do. I’m a big fan of J.Crew’s Garment-dyed slub cotton material. It wears like a favorite shirt the first time you put it on, and washes without shrinking.
Short Sleeve: Chambray / Stripe / White / Seersucker
The short-sleeved button down is my ace in the hole for summer attire. It’s got the collar and the buttons of a formal shirt, but the short sleeves embody a more wild-and-free spirit for the outfit. They’re the mullet of shirts, my wife hates them, and I’d recommend buying all four of these while supplies last.
Long Sleeve: White / Chambray / Gingham / Pink Stripe
Long-sleeve shirts with shorts and flip flops is about as formal as I go in the summer. Luckily, I look freakin’ fancy in that outfit, if you ask me.
Pants: Navy / Light Jeans / Khakis
I recommend a three-pant approach for those rare summer pants occasions. Light khakis, navy chinos and light-dyed jeans easily get the job done. These three pairs are the best I’ve found. They’re light, fit true-to-size and have plenty of stretch to keep you comfortable.
Shoes: Sneakers / Wingtips / Birkenstocks / Slip-On / Flip Flops
In the summer, I need versatile shoes that work with shorts, pants or even swimsuits. I prefer slip-on loafers, Birkenstocks and flip flops that I can put on without using my hands. For more formal situations, the new Rothy’s sneakers and Cole Haan Wingtips are a great summer look.
I love the look of a jacket and shorts in the summer so I keep this linen jacket and Chore Coat from J.Crew at the ready. I’m also a big fan of using a rain coat for surprise summer storms, and this one from J.Crew is my favorite.
Accessories: Sunglasses / Watch / Hat / Belt / Wallet / Tie / Backpack
Fun summer accessories are key to taking your simple outfit to the next level. I switch over to J.Crew’s light wallet to keep things easy. This woven belt helps to tie things together, and J.Crew’s seerscucker hat plus Warby Parker sunglasses are great for beach days.
Happy shopping!
Summer Mitch OUT!
