The sun is shining, the temperatures are rising, and it’s finally time to replenish your closet with the freshest, flyest spring clothes for men. So if you’re looking to hit the ‘thaw’ button on your warm-weather rotation (and reacquaint yourself with the idea of getting dressed again), look no further than the below, a fully-loaded list of all the men’s spring fashion essentials you’ll need this season, cherry-picked by your friendly neighborhood GQ editors.
No matter how you play them, the spring garms here will sing together in beautiful harmony. Think of ’em like the Chick Corea Elektric Band of your wardrobe: A funky fusion of forward-thinking pieces and forever classics that, in aggregate, form an endless array of impeccable men’s spring outfits. From crisp button-downs and trippy hats to close-up-ready shades and comfy shorts, these are the spring essentials we’ll be wearing from now through June.
The Spring Menswear Hit List
- The Crisp Button-Up: Alex Mill Easy Shirt, $165
- The Silky Tee: CDLP Heavyweight T-Shirt, $108
- The Walk Everywhere Sneaker: Nike Zoom Vomero 5, $160
- The Feather-Light Jacket: Alex Mill David Windbreaker, $225
- The Crewneck Cardigan: COS Crewneck Cardigan, $135
- The Throwback Chinos: J.Crew Giant-fit Chino Pant, $100
- The Lazy Sunday Mesh Shorts: Abercrombie & Fitch Retro Mesh Short, $50
- The Sun-Scoffing Shades: Chimi 04 Sunglasses, $155
- The Farmer’s Market Stomper: Birkenstock Boston Soft Clog, $165
- The Picnic Date Polo: Banana Republic Linen-Cotton Resort Shirt, $90
- The Color-Tweaked Cap: ’47 Yankees Clean Up Hat, $40
- The Haul-All Tote: L.L.Bean Boat and Tote, $35
- The Warm-Weather Wedding Blazer: Buck Mason Italian Twill Graduate Blazer, $498
The Crisp Button-Up
Here’s a newsflash for you: Just because the weather finally hit 70 degrees doesn’t mean it’s T-shirt time from here on out. Come springtime, think of the button-up as are your sartorial Swiss Army Knife. A straight-ahead version like Alex Mill’s Easy Shirt can anchor an office-appropriate get-up as easily as it can a beach-ready ensemble. Oh, and in more instances than you’d think, a button-up can pull double duty as a (very) light jacket, too.
The Plain White Tee
When the warm weather finally decides to stick around, T-shirts start to come out of hibernation in droves, emerging from their caves (sweaters) and into the fresh air. In other words: your tees are going to play a central role in your closet for the next six months, so you’d better make them good. That can mean investing in a decidedly luxe plain white T-shirt like CDLP’s airy lyocell-blended version, or opting for Buck Mason’s bicep-flattering, soft-from-the-jump pima cotton tee. It doesn’t mean forgoing your roster of carefully curated band tees, though—keep those in the starting lineup.
The Walk-Everywhere Sneaker
Yes, tiny dress shoes and sneakers are undeniably hot these days, but now that it’s warm enough to actually be outdoors all day, you need a pair of shoes that has the comfort to support your jam-packed afternoon of plans. Thankfully, that list includes some of the best-looking sneakers out there today, from classic Converse (now reinforced with Nike’s plush insole technology) to New Balance’s reissued 1906 silhouette. Even better, you can invest safe in the knowledge that once the tiny sneaker trend passes, you saved yourself the money—and the trip to the foot doctor.
The Feather-Light Layer
Don’t pack away your outerwear just yet. Spring still demands a light jacket for those brisk evenings drinking in the view from a rooftop bar or strolling through the park. Thankfully, there are plenty of light jackets that will still have you feeling you’re dressing for a summer’s day, from Stone Island’s purple hooded jacket to Alex Mill’s new—and already selling-fast—David windbreaker. Though of course, more muted denim and barn jackets are also classics of this genre—and the two below are our favorites this season.
The Shower-Proof Jacket
Beware of the occasional spring shower. You could certainly keep an umbrella in your tote bag, but when trench coats, Harrington jackets, and Barbours exist, why would you? They’re stylish, cinematic, and look a whole lot cooler than struggling to expand your bodega parasol entering and exiting the train.
The Crewneck Cardi
The flirty crewneck cardigan has infiltrated menswear, existing happily in the sweet spot of various hot-button binaries—trendy and timeless, masculine and feminine, subtle and statement-making. Great timing for spring! The lack of collar means no sweaty neck of summer days, while the ability to fully unbutton also means there are at least six different coverage adjustments you can quickly make as the mercury rises and falls.
The Throwback Chino
Name a pair of pants more spring-ready than chinos. (Go on—we’ll wait.) In 2025, though, the key to finding the right chinos for you comes down to fit (actually, the key to pretty much everything comes down to fit). Get your legs into a pair baggy enough to let the air circulate, ideally with a rise high enough to spotlight your tucked-in tees. J.Crew’s Giant-fit chinos are a modern classic; Studio Nicholson’s are just as big but a little more design-forward. Once you’ve got your pants sorted, your shoe options are wide open.
The Dressy Shorts
That said, corp-core is on the rise—and that goes for your shorts, too. (Think swanky pleated trousers lopped at the knee and you’ve got the right idea.) Dressier shorts present an easy way to look put-together while staying cool. Lean into the vibe with a crisp button-up or give ’em a thorough dressing down with a lightweight sweater—keep scrolling!—and some funky clogs, discoverable below also.
The Mesh Shorts
There are dress shorts, as you just saw, but the better news? There are also mesh shorts. The fun, relaxed cousin of the shorts family, these are designed for lazy Sundays and playing sports with friends—two of the best vibes this life can provide. You might not spot them at the Met Gala, but in the next batch of Adam Sandler paparazzi pics, or at a buzzy brunch spot in Miami? Almost definitely. Your legs spent the winter in close-fitting jeans—set them free.
The Unbeatable Jeans
Do we really need to explain why you should own a pair of jeans? They’re as timeless and endlessly style-able as white tees, and look even better with wear. This Spring, we present four great options: Our Legacy’s Third Cut jean has a sort of straight, sort of wide fit that has the fashion crowd buying pairs in droves, while Orslow’s 101 “Super Dad” jean is plenty relaxed also. For classic guys, 3Sixteen’s Classic Straight—this time stonewashed for an ultra-soft feel—is as good as it gets, though for capital C “classic” fellas, Buck Mason just partnered up with Lee to revive some of the greatest American jeans ever made.
The Face-Framing Shades
This one’s a no-brainer: It’s sunny and you need to protect your pretty eyes. But sunglasses are also one of the easiest ways to take your fits to the next level, like adding a lemon peel to a cocktail. They may not cure your hangover the next day, but they will make you look exponentially cooler than you feel.
The Carefree Clog
Wearing clogs is kind of like dressing your dog in a sweater—cute but crazy. And when the weather gets warm and you let your dogs go off-leash, so to speak, a good pair of clogs will get just as much attention. Birkenstock Bostons are the preeminent funky shoe, but Plasticana’s Gardana clogs have swept through stylish circles and the backs of house of the hippest restaurants. If there was a category in between sneakers and loafers, this would fill that niche.
The Ice-Cold Accessory
If winter is for layering, spring is for jewelry. Now that you’ve shed the sweaters, scarves, and big coats, it’s prime time for your necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and—yes—anklets to come out in full force. As you continue to doff layers through June, it’s the accessories that’ll ensure you stay stylish until it gets cold again.
The Air-Chilled Sandal
Breezy sandals are a must during the spring, whether you plan on heading to the beach or not. There’s a grip of gorp-y options and plenty of typical indoor-outdoor slides, but these days we’re more about the fancy leather joints that swaggy older folks have been wearing for ages. Huaraches and fisherman sandals from brands like Nisolo and Hereu look ultra-luxe with billowy linen pants and a camp shirt, and can quickly tap into a cool-dad-at-the-BBQ vibe with washed-out jeans.
The Sultry Polo
The best polos are inherently hot. Sure, even the most conventional of them should be heavy on the texture and designed to highlight your biceps, but the flyest of the genre skew even sexier. We’re talking lace, mesh, crochet; if it’s even slightly see-through, we want it. When the birds and the bees are working overtime, maybe your polo should follow suit…if you catch our drift.
The Sun-Stopping, Head-Turning Hat
Sunglasses may protect your eyes, but they won’t cover your face from the sun’s nasty rays. Whether it’s a vintage-inspired trucker that channels your inner Gosling, a crochet bucket your grandma would approve of, or a minimalist baseball cap for peak Kendall Roy cosplay, you should have a good hat in your bag at all times.
The Farmer’s Market Bag
Speaking of bags! Farmer’s markets are so back, baby, and with them come a spate of sick ways to store your produce. Is there a bigger springtime flex than a fresh baguette poking out of cool, texture-heavy tote? Okay, maybe we’re grasping at an excuse to buy a new bag, but when/if you’re rebuilding your closet from the ground up, why stop at the accessories?
The Wedding-Bound Suit
Love is in the air—and so are RSVPs. In a few weeks from now, you can bet your presence will be requested at a handful of knot-tying ceremonies, and you’ll need a suit to wear to them. If you want to get the most out of your two-piece, opt for one that can easily be broken up and worn solo dolo. A Kind of Guise’s lightweight cotton-linen option is a prime example—rock the jacket on its own with vintage jeans and loafers, take the pants for a spin with sneakers and a cardigan. Just remember to get the whole shebang pressed before you sequester yourself by the open bar.
The Triple-Threat Sweater
Hey, spring can still be chilly! So when the weather decides to reminisce about February, keep a full-zip sweater on hand. (They’re kind of like a a cardigan, track jacket, and polo all in one.) Reiss’s lightweight merino joint promises temperature-regulating powers and the ability to class up your blown-out jorts and scuzzy tees.
The Go-Anywhere Loafer
If you had to limit your shoe rotation to just one pair, we’d argue that it should be a pair of loafers. Give ‘em a good polish and a well-fitting suit and they can attend the fanciest wedding. Sans socks, a pair of short shorts, and a cardigan and you’re in instantly in a blissful state of prep-casual. With some blasted blue jeans and a ribbed tank, you’ve acquired Hot Boy status. They’re as dressy as any dress shoe, as casual as any sneaker, and somehow great at both.
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