Cool and Comfortable – These Lightweight Suits Will Help You Survive Summer
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Summer means beaches, long nights and late mornings, but it also means wedding season, and for a great many men who find dressing up uncomfortable even in the colder months, that can be an absolute nightmare. Thankfully, there’s a solution to your sartorial woes: linen.
Linen is one of nature’s miracle fabrics, offering both light weight and extreme breathability, so you can keep your body cool even when you’re listening to friends exchange their vows in direct sunlight. Linen even has some natural moisture-wicking properties, so you won’t have to worry about sweat stains. It isn’t all upside, though: linen is notoriously wrinkle-prone, so you will have to take care of your linen suits between weddings.
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All of that said, if you’re in the market for a versatile, comfortable suit that can take you from a formal wedding to a night out at the bar, we’ve got some great options for you to choose from, across a wide variety of prices.
Hugo Boss Slim-Fit Jacket in a Micro-Patterned Linen Blend
Hugo BossA good linen blazer opens up all kinds of sartorial options for summer. Case in point: this slim-fit jacket from Hugo Boss. You can dress it up with dark pants or dress it down with chinos, but either way this single-breasted was purpose-built to keep you cool in a heat wave. It has ventilated sides for better airflow, notched lapels and kissing buttons on the cuff, as well as a plethora of pockets, all of which make this jacket as functional as it is stylish.
Todd Snyder Italian Unconstructed Linen Double Breasted Suit
Todd SnyderThe relaxed styling, slim fit, and 100% Italian linen all contribute to make this suit from Todd Snyder a summer staple. Wear it to the office, weddings, cocktail parties or even backyard BBQs, because even men who hate wearing suits will find this lightweight, breathable option a treat for their skin. The designer counteracts some of the free-flowing casualness of linen by adding formal touches like horn buttons, peak lapels and a six-button, double-breasted design, but none of those more high-fashion elements detracts from the sheer comfort of this suit one little bit.
Banana Republic Milano Linen Suit Jacket
Banana RepublicIf you want a great budget option, look no further than Banana Republic. Their Milano suit is made from herringbone linen, offering rich hues and woven textures that don’t in the least diminish this suit’s comfort. The interior is only semi-lined, to keep weight down, and there’s a handy vertical vent in the back to allow for maximum air flow, while the soft shoulder fit and articulated sleeves give you greater mobility than you’d have in a more fitted suit.
Jacket – $400 at BananaRepublic.Gap.com
Pants – $200 at BananaRepublic.Gap.com
Brunello Cucinelli Unstructured Linen Suit
Brunello CucinelliAt the highest of the high-scale, you’ll find the works of bespoke Italian fashion house Brunello Cucinelli. If premium ingredients and effortless style are what you’re after, and you have deep pockets, you can’t do better than this unstructured linen suit, made from pure Italian linen and hand-built to the most exacting standards. Notch lapels, patch pockets and a clever, crease-beating double-vent design make this jacket surprisingly versatile, whether worn with jeans or the matching pants.
Jacket – $3,895 at MrPorter.com
Pants – $1,495 at MrPorter.com
J. Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Linen Suit
J. CrewAnother great low-cost option, the J. Crew Ludlow is made from Irish cotton-linen and deliberately unstructured, for a more casual look. It’s lightweight, unpadded and available in three great summer colors – Blue Glen, Cream and Deep Water, and for this price you might even opt to buy multiple pairs, so you can enjoy the comfort and style throughout the summer season.
Jacket – From $198 at JCrew.com
Pants – $128 at JCrew.com
Ralph Lauren Hadley Silk-Linen Suit
Ralph LaurenLooking for something a bit more upscale? Ralph Lauren weaves an incredible silk-linen blend, stylish and comfortable and soft to the touch, and there’s no greater proof of that than their Hadley suit. It’s available in three cuts and five colors (Navy, Light Navy, Light Cream, Dusty Pink and Dark Sea Foam), and boasts some clever design elements that help you beat the worst of the summer heat, starting with the lightweight fabric and extending to the double vent design. One important note: the cuffs have been left unfinished, allowing you to visit your tailor and choose your preferred sleeve length.
Jacket – $1,995 at RalphLauren.com
Pants – $595 at RalphLauren.com
Alex Mill Mercer Blazer in Linen
Alex Mill If you want distinctive good looks and supreme comfort but don’t have a few thousand dollars to drop on clothing, never fear: Alex Mill offers high fashion at great prices. Their 100% linen Mercer blazer and pant combo proves our point, offering a lightweight and comfortable suit choice that’s versatile enough to wear to a wedding while still possessing the kind of casual flair that will make you stand out at a bar on a hot summer night. We especially dig the contrasting white buttons and exposed stitching.
Jacket – $225 at AlexMill.com
Pants – $185 at AlexMill.com
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