Style
10 of This Season’s Best Summer Shirts
Summer shirting doesn’t have to be boring. Coming in many shapes, sizes and fabrics, The Rake has selected 10 that’ll work for a multitude of occasions as the weather heats up.
Words Anna Prendergast
/
Knickerbocker Mfg Striped Bowler Shirt
Despite being a fairly new brand on the menswear scene, Knickerbocker Mfg has developed a distinctive aesthetic that draws heavily on vintage workwear and 1950s youth culture.
This style of shirt started in the bowling lanes, and is designed to allow for freedom of movement; the boxy silhouette, short sleeves, side vents and pleats in the back panel work in sync with a breathable plain weave fabric and open camp collar to help you keep your cool. The off-white and light blue vertical stripes and chainstitch embroidery combined to produce an authentic, retro finish.
$195.00, www.knickerbockermfg.co.
/
Naked Clothing Green Cotton Polo Shirt
Filippo Matera’s stone-washed shirting has not only taken the sartorial scene by storm, but has catapulted the humble polo shirt to new levels of luxury. The acid-washed high-quality cotton of this polo produces a lovely depth of colour as well as an unbelievably soft handle, and the deep forest green shade is a sophisticated alternative to classic blues and browns this season. The staple status of the polo shirt has been enjoying a renaissance recently - just in time for our launch of Naked Clothing on TheRake.com - and it’s not hard to see why.
£95.00, rake.webdezign.uk.
/
Turnbull & Asser Jigsaw Print Cotton Shirt
Having never been content with only producing the classics, Turnbull & Asser is renowned for its eccentric prints and playful designs such as this modern resort-come-pyjama style shirt. A little bit playboy, a little bit Club Tropicana, it takes confidence to pull off, but is nonetheless a great way to summon the holiday spirit and add print to your travelling wardrobe; after all, you’re supposed to be having fun.
£165.00, www.turnbullandasser.co.uk.
/
Manual Alphabet Midnight Blue Cotton Shirt
It’s rare that women’s fashion influences menswear, but pyjama-style shirts have been occupying a space on the style pages for several seasons now, with many menswear designers getting in on the action – and it’s about time too. In midnight blue rayon cotton with white contrast piping, this is a modern interpretation of a classic gentleman’s nightshirt, reimagined in such a way that it’s become a covetable eveningwear garment. Pair with sharp double-pleated trousers and an Aperol spritz. ¥14,904 www.beams.co.jp
/
Orlebar Brown Raspberry Towelling Shirt
A laid-back option for the sun-worshipping, boat-dwelling, seamen among us, Orlebar Brown’s terry towelling shirt is softly textured and demands little to no effort. Throw on at the beach or on the move; it’s absorbent, cool and comfortable, making it an ideal choice for a casual kick about or a sunset stroll. Pair with espadrilles and tailored shorts, and if you’re a victim of disappointing British weather, the raspberry hue also provides the perfect antidote to grey skies.
£95.00, www.orlebarbrown.com.
/
Private White Basketweave Shacket
The hybrid ‘shacket’ may sound like the latest portmanteau in a world of glamping and cockapoos, but actually represents the shift in menswear towards multi-tasking garments that are wearable for more than one season, in more than one way. Private White V.C.’s basketweave linen/cotton-blend shacket has the versatility of a neutral shirt but with a little extra weight, functioning patch pockets and removable butcher buttons. The soft, unstructured design means you can button up over a white T-shirt or layer with a denim shirt and colourful print scarf.
£350.00, www.privatewhitevc.com.
/
Battenwear Cotton Seersucker Shirt
Camp collars and short sleeves evoke a mid-century nostalgia, reminiscent of Elvis at his most stylish and off-duty Sean Connery. Battenwear’s cotton-blend shirt is breezy and bright, with four patch pockets adding a bit of a rugged edge, it’s not hard to imagine wearing this to just about everything. As well as offering an intriguing texture, seersucker’s puckered weave also means the fabric is held away from the skin, making it one of the most breathable and comfortable choices for the hotter months.
£105.00 (sale), www.mrporter.com.
/
Dunhill Cotton Melange Overshirt
If you’re not ready to pack away your safari jacket just yet, Dunhill invites you to upgrade to a lightweight safari-inspired overshirt with three generous functioning pockets and understated spread collar. In a light beige and textured weave, it’s the ultimate travel layer, sitting comfortably over jeans or tailored shorts and a polo shirt.
£125.00, www.dunhill.com.
/
Jigsaw Contrast Trim Polo Shirt
The Talented Mr Ripley’s Dickie Greenleaf would strongly approve of Jigsaw’s Milano knit off-white polo. Resortwear with a vintage vibe is tricky to get right, and while Jigsaw may be a high street name, they have gone for a minimal approach and clean finish that works incredibly well. The polo is cut on the slimmer side and would look great with wide-legged turn-up trousers.
£79.00, www.jigsaw-online.co.uk.
/
Sunspel Cotton Linen Grandad Shirt
Everything about this shirt is designed for lazy days and frivolous nights; the soft blue tone, the lightweight cotton/linen blend and the informal grandad collar favoured by the artistic crowd oozes laidback cool. With a very British heritage that has survived over 150 years, Sunspel knows a thing or two about what gentlemen want from their summer clothes, and delivers season after season of covetable essentials.
£85.00 (sale), www.sunspel.com.
Battenwear, BEAMS, dunhill, jigsaw, Knickerbocker Mfg, Naked Clothing, orlebar brown, private white v.c., Summer Shirts, Sunspel, Turnbull & Asser
share this article
[sharify] M
