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This story is from Manual, GQ’s flagship newsletter offering useful advice on style, health, and more, four days a week. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Summer is one of the most deceptively difficult seasons to dress for—layering all but goes out the window and even your most breathable clothes suddenly feel stifling. Thankfully, your old pals at GQ are here to help you navigate all the pitfalls and pit stains. Here are the tried-and-true style moves our team uses every year to keep fresh in the face of punishing temps.
Make your shorts your whole personality.
People define their summers in many ways: If you’re Megan Thee Stallion, you might have a Hot Girl Summer; I hear Chet Hanks saw his shadow outside of a microbrewery in Glendale, so another White Boy Summer is unfortunately upon us. I, on the other hand, define each summer by the shorts I wear into the ground. Over the past half-decade, I’ve eliminated the day-to-day challenge of choosing bottoms to deal with the miserable midsummer heat by orienting my entire warm weather wardrobe around one pair of good shorts. This practice began five years ago, when I wore John Elliott’s Sour Skittles basketball shorts non-stop in an attempt to recreate one of the all-time great outfits: Frank Ocean in a pair of epic sequined basketball shorts on the cover of 032C. Over the last few years, I’ve maintained this single-pair routine with standout shorts from Online Ceramics and Everybody.World. And for 2024, I’ve decided to go back to basics with a can’t-miss classic: Patagonia Baggies in black. —Cam Wolf, senior style writer
Go all-in on Jersey Season.
Sports uniforms are already designed to wick away sweat and perform under the most intense conditions—which means finally getting in on the blokecore wave or letting your biceps shine in a basketball jersey is as practical as it is stylish. —Yang-Yi Goh, style editor
Ditch the undershirt.
That extra layer isn’t doing anything to cool you down—and, more importantly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with undoing a couple more buttons than you’re used to for a little chest-baring action. —Tyler Chin, lifestyle commerce editor
Cut all your hair off.
With the right pair of electric clippers, anyone can be a buzz cut guy—even you. —Sam Schube, director, GQ Sports
Invest in breezier button-ups.
I wouldn’t say I’ve cracked this one, but my big goal for the summer has been to figure out how to wear layers when it’s really damn hot. I just feel dumb in just a tee or polo these days. I’m really leaning on a vintage Levi’s denim work shirt—not chambray, but so threadbare it may as well be. Works great over a light white tee. Just copped a Made-in-USA vintage Ralph Lauren work shirt that also works nicely. I have an ultralight linen jacket from Portuguese Flannel on the way. I think this ends in me wearing a partner respecter for the first time in my life and I’m scared! —Chris Cohen, deputy site editor
Get a pedicure.
Summer style is all about letting your dogs breathe in beautiful open-toed footwear. But it pays to do a little foot maintenance in the off-season before debuting your new leather thongs. —Samuel Hine, fashion writer
Linen, linen, linen.
It probably feels obvious to suggest the airiest of all fabrics, but not all linen is built the same. Avoid blends when possible; the closer to pure, unadulterated linen you can get, the fresher it’ll feel against your skin. And don’t be afraid to lean in to the wrinkles—when worn with confidence, they look rakish and nonchalant, not sloppy. —Raymond Ang, associate director, editorial operations
Rotate your shades.
Accessories are especially important in the summertime, when you’re often not wearing much else—and no summer accessory is more crucial to consider than your sunglasses. The right pair of sunnies has the power to flip the entire vibe of an outfit, so it pays to have a top-notch eyewear roster to fit any mood or situation. —Gerald Ortiz, style commerce writer
Solidify your summer-shoe rotation.
Summer is the season of having plans, which means you’ll want some seasonally-appropriate footwear that can accommodate trekking to the beach, checking out that new neighborhood bistro you’ve been hearing about, and stopping by that random friend-of-a-friend’s rooftop that somehow can only be accessed by climbing up a rickety stepladder. Realistically, all that doesn’t have to be the same pair, but it helps if it can be. A great sandal and/or sneaker you can traipse around in is good for daytime, but it’s also worth having a dressier shoe like a low-profile loafer (if you’re Chris Black, choose one you can go sockless in) or even a ballet flat for evening. I just picked up a pair of classic checkerboard Vans, which I plan to dress up for nights out. —EC
Knot up a neckerchief.
Adding yet another piece of fabric to a fit when you’re trying to keep cool might seem counterintuitive. But on sweltering days, a loosely-tied bandana around your neck will serve two purposes: 1) it’ll help make even your simplest tee-and-short ensembles look a little more considered and put together, and 2) it gives you a great vehicle for mopping up perspiration on your forehead, chest, and beyond closer to the end of the day. (Just be sure to shove it in a back pocket and not put it back on after you’ve used it as a sweat receptacle.) —YG
Pack an extra shirt.
This was a move I started implementing when I was covering baseball games during the summer. Whether I was on the road and walking to the stadium from my hotel, or riding the New York City subway to Queens or the Bronx, I’d wear a shirt that I didn’t mind sweating through. Then, when I arrived at the stadium, I’d duck into the nearest bathroom and change into a shirt that I had neatly folded in my bag. That way, when I found my seat in the press box or barged into the clubhouse to interview massive professional athletes, I wouldn’t embarrass myself. This can be applied to any summer situation, really (work commutes, park hangs, bar hangs, etc.) and is a true life changer for those of us in the sweaty community. —Matthew Roberson, staff writer
Crop your tops.
Whether you choose to slice up an old shirt or two yourself or cop a pre-chopped number, giving your lower torso some extra breathing room is always an especially hot way to keep cool. —YG
Make arm day matter.
And while you’ve got the scissors out, don’t be afraid to channel Muscle Beach-era Arnold and chop the sleeves off your tees, too. —TC
Clean the inside of your hats.
I’m cursed with the pallid complexion of a Dickensian street urchin, which means my dome stays swaddled in baseball caps from May through August. Those brims soak up more gunk, sweat, and oil than a Roomba, so throughout the summer, I give ’em a vigorous scrubbing every two weeks or so. Reserve a toothbrush for the cause, douse the bristles in the non-toxic detergent of your choice, and toss it back on your keppie stink-free. —Avidan Grossman, senior commerce editor
When in doubt, study the experts.
Last summer, we did this great series during men’s fashion month where the very cool photographer Christina Fragkou shot a bunch of very cool dudes wearing their warm-weather best around Paris and Milan. The resulting photos are a great source of summer-style inspo, whether that means showing more skin, wearing freaky shorts and skirts, or finding the best cut of pants for when showing your calves simply won’t do. —EC
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