Summer Supplements

Just to put all your minds at east, this post will not be about supplement pills! Rather, as I mentioned in my last post, I want to finish up the possibilities for summer out fits by going into accouterments such as neckwear, cufflinks, pocket squares, shoes, belts, and hats. Hopefully these suggestions, along with the ones in previous posts, will round out enough information to put together some solid outfits for the warm months ahead.

I will begin with neckwear as, thought it might not be the most appealing thing to have a strip of silk around your neck when it's 95 degrees out, sometimes the basic tie is necessary even in the summer. The most important thing about summer ties is to avoid anything "heavy" or "dark" in color, fabric, or pattern. The reason for this is twofold. First of all, these concepts of airy clothing that's light and breezy for the summer are ones that I've brought up discussing suits and shirts. A tie should always be interesting and attractive in its own right, but it must compliment the outfit, not stand out noticeably. Therefore, as a general rule, keep to the same ideas listed in earlier posts.

First of all, stick to light colors. Ties with pastels as their primary color(s) work well, especially in light pinks, greens, and purples. Orange, Yellow, and Red can work also, but can be a bit trickier to find with a summery feel. If you prefer a more neutral feel, white, light silver, and light gold are also excellent picks, and a morning coat gray can serve as well, so long as there's enough other stuff in the tie to lighten it up. In terms of patterns, there are many options that fit both with modern styles for ties but are also particularly well suited to summer. I would recommend staying away from bold stripes or prints. These make a very powerful statement better suited to the fall and winter months. Rather, paisleys, smaller floral patterns, some smaller stripes perhaps, and even solid colors work quite well as summer tie designs. As always, remember to try link your tie to the rest of your outfit, most likely through the shirt. The pattern and color you decide upon may well be effected by what shirt and suit you plan to wear for your summer ensemble.

Now, on to less standard accessories! The pocket square accompanies the tie quite well, though this some men find this doesn't fit a conservative outfit. It's true that pocket squares were out of fashion for some time during the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century. However, they really are a classic wardrobe piece and with the right decisions, they can look refined and not flashy. Color and pattern recommendations for the summer are the same as the tie. Indeed, a pocket square is usually worn in conjunction with a tie and with some consideration for the tie. If you choose to don a tie and a pocket square that match precisely, you both win and lose. On the one hand, the outfit will be very cohesive and everything goes together. However, you may also appear as though you walked out of a tuxedo rental shop or at least a wedding. Many trends these days suggest having a complimentary pocket square rather than one that precisely matches the tie. If they are both patterned, make sure the patterns differ (prints are good on pocket squares, as well as subtle paisleys). Another option is the solid pocket square. Solid ties are often seen as a bit simplistic or too much like a rental look, however a solid pocket square nicely compliments a patterned tie.

If you're going for a classic, but now very popularized look, french cuffs with cufflinks can be a great look. It's very refined and gives an outfit a very "put together" feel. As with pocket square, Matching or complimenting items already in the outfit is essential. If you choose to go simply metallic, silver is very popular now and nice and light for summer. However, if you're looking at an outfit that suggests gold in the belt buckle and in conjunction with the other colors, this is nice as well. However, cufflinks don't only come in simple metal. Whenever choosing ones with any sort of colorful flourish, make sure to tie the color to your shirt, tie, and pocket square combinations.

Finally, there are some accessories which aren't too essential to building an outfit but are things upon which I feel obligated to touch. When selecting leather accessories (belts, shoes), you must primarily consider the color of your outfit. Follow regular rules regarding black and brown leather depending on the color of your suit. However, I will comment that brown leather, especially light brown leather, has a particularly summery feel. If you're looking to go a bit further out, you might try white shoes or suede shoes in a color that fits the outfit (make sure they don't steal attention from everything else though by popping out too much!). Hats, though not as popular these days, can be a nice addition to any outfit. The trick in the summer is that hats can get hot. If you feel comfortable with a straw hat, this is a good way to go. Otherwise, avoid heavy fabrics like felt and wool. This round out summer accessories and the summer guide. Future posts will be a bit more general!