Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette! In today's video, we discuss the 7 best
men's summer accessories because there's a lot of color, texture, materials, they'll
make you stand out from the crowd. Along with the heat, summer brings along the
opportunity to embrace the more casual side of classic menswear. Due to the heat
and sunshine, tweed and wool will give way for linen and fresco fabrics, they are just more
breezy and feel cooler when you wear them. Just because it's warm or hot outside
doesn't mean you can't still dress well. At the same time, you don't have to
overheat necessarily. Of course, investing in a full-fledged summer suit can set
you back several hundreds or thousands of dollars and so the easiest, quickest,
and most inexpensive way to do that is by adding summer accessories. The first
one might surprise you because it's usually not top of mind for most men, it's a
woven or fabric belt. It's one of the most casual belt options out there and
because of that, they really suit the summer relaxed casual vibe. Woven leather
or fabric belts are the best companion for your boat shoes, your shorts, your
seersuckers, and any other summer garment out there. Of course, the classic rule is to
always match the color of your belt to your shoes but during summer, you can
be a little more creative and maybe wear something like a Madras belt which is
very contrasting but it suits the outfit, it makes it more casual, and it's very
summery. The contrast is intended and if you don't want to wear colorful belts to
the office, just go with a simple woven leather belt because that is still fine
for a casual summer vibe but it's not as casual than let's say, an elastic woven
belt. Apart from the woven leather belts, you can also find woven fabric belts
that are stiff and woven elastic belts that are flexible. They often come in two
tones or in a single color that is usually lighter and it's just fun to
experiment especially since they have different leather accents and gold or
silver hardware. In regard to fabric belts, there's a number of different ones,
you can find leather belts that are covered with a fabric such as madras.
Alternatively, you can find a stiff fabric belt that has kind of a woven
tie like material put on top. Alternatively, there are
needlepoint belts which are also part of the fabric belts. All those options
are a little more preppy, sometimes they have the emblem of a club or little
anchors for a more nautical themed look. Personally, I think it's a great fun way
to personalize your outfit in a subtle way that doesn't go overboard.
The second accessory worth investing in is anything regarding linen. Linen is a
classic summer fabric. Why? Because it has an open weave, it wrinkles in a casual
way, and the fibers themselves are a little bit irregular making it all more
casual, and therefore, well suited for summer. On top of that, it's often
lightweight and the more you wear it and wash it, the softer it gets so it's super
comfortable. Some may argue that it looks a bit unkempt yet the wrinkling is part of
the fabric and it's a desired side-effect
unlike, let's say, with cotton or a wool suit. Of course, linen comes in different
weights and weaves but for summer, you want something that has an open weave so
you can feel every breeze and something that is lightweight. At the Gentleman's
Gazette, we're big proponents of wearing linen for your suit jackets and pants
but if that's a little much for you, maybe just incorporate it into your accessories.
First of all, consider linen or linen blends for your neckties or bow ties. Linen ties
often have a white warp or weft color that's combined with a different color.
Because of that, you get a light summery color tone rather than something dark which
would be better suited for the cold months of the years. Soft pastel colors
such as orange, pink, maybe olive green, or sky blue, are perfect tie colors. You
frame those ties with a lighter color jacket and shirt, they fit right in
whereas during the winter, they will just stand out too much. Of course, if it's
really hot, you can skip the neckwear and go with a linen pocket square. It
just takes 10 seconds to fold one yet it really upgrades your entire look. The
all-time classic is the white linen pocket square and we offer it with your
embroidered first initial in our shop here. Of course, the edges should
always be handrolled so you can fold a crown or something else that reveals
that this is a piece of art made by a true artisan. While the white linen
pocket square is extremely versatile because you can work with a business
suit, for black-tie, or with a summer ensemble, it's really fun to add a bit of
color to your linen pocket square as well. For example, if you have a blue and
white striped shirt, consider wearing it with a white linen pocket square and a
blue contrast X stitch so you pick up the colors of the shirt in the pocket
square and it's all harmonious. Alternatively, you could have a white
pocket square with blue hand embroidered polka dots, or maybe you want to coordinate
the pocket square with something else in your outfit. So light pastel blue
colors, red or yellow, are fantastic because they're very summery. Again, just
like with the ties, if you have a warp and a weft with one color in white and
the other in a different brighter color, it just gives this three-dimensional
color depth which is very summery and ideal for the warm months of the year. Of
course, you can also wear a summery silk pocket square maybe in white and bolder
lighter colors or maybe a silk blend pocket square in an orange color that
works well. For a rich selection of linen silk and silk blend pocket squares
ideally suited for summer, please check out our shop here. The number three in my
list are knit ties because they're hands-down the best way to add texture
to your summer outfit. Unlike other tie materials, such as woven, or printed silk,
or linen, the knitted silk is usually something you can only find in menswear
and it's very structured and different. If you specifically wanna invest in one
or two ties for summer, I'd make them knit ties and nothing else. Why? Well, just
like open belts, the open structure is just more casual, it's also more
breathable, and it adds dimension and depth to your outfit. That's especially
true if you just have a solid knits tie but maybe a mottled one with different
color tones, just like the one I'm wearing here right now. Frankly, any
variety of knit tie is great, solid, two-tone, mottled, striped,
they all look fantastic. to learn more about knit ties
the differences in qualities and what to look for in a quality one please check
out our knit tie guide here and for a selection of high quality German
made knit ties, head over to our shop here. They're all the Cri de la soi or cry of
the silk kind and we'll explain more what that means there. The fourth
summer accessory that makes you stand out from the crowd are bow ties.
Unlike ties, they cover less of your chest and therefore, wear cooler than a
necktie. Of course, it goes without saying that you should tie it yourself in a
slightly askew way and if you're not sure how to do that please check out
bowtie video here. The slight asymmetry is desired and gives your summery outfit
a casual yet refined look. After all, there is a reason why bowties are so
popular for Derby Day. Rather than going with bold shades in pink and neon green,
maybe turn it down a notch and go with lighter colors such as a buff base maybe.
Or go with a more summery fabric such as a shantung fabric which has silk knobs,
it's soft and textured and perfect for summer. Playful polka dots or micro
patterns are fine, as well. Just keep in mind that if you have a beard or some
kind of a stubble, it will naturally pull some threads from the silk so if you
wear facial hair, I suggest you go with a very finely woven fabric, usually printed
fabrics, not woven jacquards or maybe Shantungs, or Grenadines because they pull
the threads more easily. If you have threads, just cut them off and it's just
part of the charm and of the use of the bowtie, especially if you have facial
hair. My summer accessory number five is a
boutonniere. It is the little lapel flower and I'm
wearing one here right now and it's one of the best way to earn compliments
because they're so different, people usually don't wear them and even 99.99%
of all florists out there don't even know how to make a proper boutonniere
anymore. Yes, they make for weddings but they are more mini bouquets and
just oversized. If you can find a nice summery flower and have it prepared as a
boutonniere, go wear it, it looks beautiful. However, sometimes the problem
is there may be some pollen or it may just stand up straight like a rose or a
carnation and it just doesn't look good
your lapel. Moreover, when it's really hot, they will likely wilt and just look
pathetic at the end of the day. When I was on a Caribbean cruise many years ago,
I wanted a boutonniere with my black-tie outfit and I couldn't find it
so I decided to design my own silk flowers that looked like a real flower yet they
would never wilt and I could rewear them over and over again no matter where I
was in the world and I didn't have to rely on a florist that didn't know what
they were doing. As a result, we have over 50 different artificial flowers now in
our shop people love them and whenever you wear one you'll always get
complimented very quickly so I suggest you give it a try it really upgrades
your summer outfit from average to well-dressed. My summer accessory number
six is a Panama hat. Fun fact, the first article I ever wrote for Gentleman's
Gazette was about the Panama hat. Despite their name, they're actually from Ecuador,
they are still woven and they're part of the tradition there. Nowhere else in
the world can you find a hat that is woven with such finesse. Of course, you
could spend thousands of dollars on hats that take months to weave or a lot less
for some that are a little coarser but still, ideally suited for summer. to learn
more about that please check out our Panama hat guide here.
Now, most panama hats come with a black hatband and a leather sweat band on the
inside. I would substitute the one on the inside with a fabric because it makes
you sweat less and on top of that, I changed the outside one to a different
color. Tobacco Brown can be nice if you wear a
lot of brown shoes, maybe a dark green, or even a pattern that is to your liking. It
really changes the look of the entire hat and it's a lot more fun during
summer. If you already have a Panama hat and you like wearing hats, consider getting a
straw porkpie hat. Often, they're made from dyed or dark brown coconut straw
and they usually have a colorful hatband.
They're extremely popular during the 50s and 60s with people like Frank Sinatra or
Bing Crosby. A porkpie is much more stylish than the stingy brim
trilby you'll find at Target so I would skip those and rather go with a porkpie
or Panama hat. If you're really into the 1920s and 30s, maybe you
can even pull off a boater hat. to learn more about it check out the baoter hat guide
here and for the other hats take a look at this guide. Last but not least,
probably my favorite summer accessory is a pair of good classically styled
sunglasses. Of course, sunglasses are given in the summer but sometimes, it's
hard to choose the right model for a classically styled wardrobe that's not
boring and run-of-the-mill. With the strong heat, I find sometimes that dark frames
in black or a dark tortoiseshell can be just too dark and don't fit in with the
lighter color scheme of summer outfits. Because of that, I prefer a lighter
tortoiseshell than a darker one. If you are into sports or
sporty look, I think aviators in a gold or silver
frame are a safe bet. That being said for a slightly more classic look
check out the Persol 649 which was originally designed for tram drivers in
Milan or take a look at the foldable version the 714 which was popularized by
Steve McQueen to learn more about those sunglasses check out our is it worth it?
Persols here. Otherwise, classic options include Wayfarers or wayfarer
styles. You can go with the Ray Ban originals,
there are many knockoffs but I also like versions that are in a lighter acetate
or a gold or honey color acetate because again, they work well with the warmer
tones of summer. If you like the 50s and 60s mid-century modern aesthetic, a pair of
club masters is probably right for your outfit. of course we've individual videos
on Wayfarers aviators or clubmasters. but on top of that, it's important to
understand what type of sunglass works well with your face shape so I urge you
to check out this video here. Now that you know my favorite 7 men's summer
accessories please share in the comments what your favorites are. in today's video I am
wearing a very typical summery outfit it consists of a linen blend sport coat
with a prince of wales check and very light colors with a light turquoise
green and blue over check i am combining it with a kind of petrol greenish
turquoise influenced pair of pants of course also in linen the shirt is a
lightweight open weave fabric and light blue and pairing it with a slightly
contrasting silk knit tie from Fort Belvedere in a mottled light blue which
you can find in our shop here just like the pocket square which is actually a
light blue linen pocket square with a contrast
stitch in yellow because there was no other yellow in my outfit I decided to
have this kind of a puff fold that works nicely because it's hot outside I skip
the cuff links went with barrel cuffs I added a silver ring that works with my
woven leather buckle and the silver hardware and the colors of the dark
brown and the fabric worked well with my dark chocolate brown woven leather shoes
and to create a bit of contrast that is harmonious with an outfit overall I
added grey and light blue shadow striped socks from Fort Belvedere which work
with a jacket and tie everything together last but not least I am wearing a
hydrangea boutonniere also from Fort Belvedere which you can find in our shop
just like all the other Fort Belvedere accessories