Are you dreaming about your summer vacation but stressed about what to pack? Getting the right outfits together is easier when you adapt your personal style to your destination. If you’re going away for a week or more, make a list of the things you can’t live without. We suggest you take just enough to feel ready for anything and leave room for a few souvenirs.
Don’t be uptight! Summer trips give you the freedom to express yourself. The best clothing for men includes relaxed cuts and fabrics, patterns and bright colors. Take along the basics and pieces that pop, and you’re sure to enjoy getting dressed.
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Planning for a Summer Vacation
If you’re heading to a sunny locale where you’ll be exploring the local hangouts and spending time by the water, you’ll need easygoing daytime outfits and swimwear. Depending on the vibe where you’re headed, you may also want to take along some smart casual looks and dressier clothes, too.
Consider the Weather
If you plan to be lounging around in hot, humid weather, you’ll need breezy outfits that carry a bit of flair and polish. Unless you’re heading to Iceland or traveling far south of the equator, where rainy days and chilly nights are the norm, lighten your load and leave the jeans, boots and heavy jackets at home.
Consider the Occasion
Plenty of people travel to distant shores for weddings and festivals. If dinners and cocktail parties are in your future, take along a lightweight suit or a blazer and tie. When you’re invited to join a gathering, check the dress code; an evening affair might call for refined fabrics like light wool or silk, and you might need a stylish jacket and comfortable shoes for a day at the track.
If you’re meeting friends at a museum or stopping by a cafe, you can dress stylishly but comfortably in smart casual chinos while you relax and enjoy the scenery. Of course, if you’re hanging out in the countryside, you may be able to get away with wearing short-sleeved henleys and shorts, but it never hurts to look put-together.
Consider the Activities
No matter what activities you have planned, you’ll want to pack a wardrobe that works for day and night. Here are some ideas.
Day Tripping
Whether you’re strolling along the beach, sailing the bay or touring the local sites, you’ll want to look good and feel great in your clothes. Center your looks around airy cotton and linen pieces that breathe and keep you cool. Try a collared or collarless cotton or linen shirt unbuttoned over a nice tee.
Boat shoes, driving moccasins, closed-toe leather sandals or dressy rubber-soled sneakers will keep your feet happy and your look sharp. Don’t forget to take along sunglasses, a hat and a lightweight bag for your wallet, guidebook, phone and camera; wherever you find yourself, these accessories will help you navigate your surroundings with confidence.
Nights Out
When you’re out and about at night, tailored chinos and printed shirts with dressy accessories can be a great look. An unlined, summer-weight blazer can give your look a little polish, whether you’re going to a restaurant, a concert or a club. On breezy evenings, loafers and soft dress shoes in browns or neutrals will look great with an easy-to-pack, lightweight merino or cashmere sweater in a cheerful colorway.
Suitcase Essentials
Sometimes when you’re packing, it can be easy to forget the socks, underwear and pajamas you’ll need to see you through your trip. If there’s anything you can’t overpack, this is it!
Undergarments and Socks
It’s never a bad idea to have a few extra pairs of socks and underwear on hand during your trip. You never know when you might want to shower or change during the day, and you’ll always want to feel fresh in the heat. Take along socks that work with your shoes and feel great on your feet during long walks. Consider bringing a few pairs of low-cut, “invisible” socks to keep your feet dry when you’re wearing leather shoes. If you’re a boxer guy, choose shorts in breathable fabrics like cotton, silk and linen.
Pajamas
Although it’s perfectly fine to spend your nights in shorts and t-shirts, why not wear cotton pajamas to bed? You’ll feel well-dressed wherever you are and ready to face anyone who knocks at your hotel door.
Wardrobe Essentials
When you’re on vacation, you’re sure to be seen as you take in the sights, and you want to fit in with the vibe. If you pack the essentials and include a few extras, you’ll be sure to have a blast.
Shirts
When you’re acclimating to a new place, it’s good to know you can dress up or down as needed. Depending on your location, having a few short- or long-sleeved button-down shirts on hand will help you feel well-dressed anywhere.
Crisp Cotton Shirts
A classic white, pink or blue Oxford shirt can be worn anytime and paired with chinos or linen pants for an early dinner.
Linen Shirts
If you want to telegraph an air of easy luxury, you can’t go wrong with linen. This classic natural fiber is breathable and lightweight, and its soft texture and drape always look relaxed and refined.
Chambray Shirts
Another great choice for laid-back style is chambray, a soft blue fabric that skews casual but carries a bit of weathered elegance that works well on the street or by the water.
Printed Button-Down Shirts
Vacations are the perfect time to cut loose, so pack a few lightweight short- or long-sleeved button-down shirts in bright colors and patterns. These can be great conversation starters when you’re sipping a cocktail by the pool.
Polo Shirts
While men’s polos are decidedly casual, they easily add preppy flair to shorts or chinos, especially when you accessorize. Adding a great belt and a watch can add a touch of polish to your look during the day.
Short-Sleeved Henleys
If you know where you’re headed and the vibe is come-as-you-are, you’ll be fine wearing a short-sleeved henley with shorts. The buttons at the collar will give your look a touch of style without any fuss.
T-Shirts
Of course, no vacation wardrobe is complete without a few men’s crew neck tees. These essential layering pieces will always keep you cool, and you can pair them with button-down shirts or wear them alone.
Shorts and Pants
Even on vacation, summer shorts and pants can make or break your look. Fortunately, choosing the right bottoms is easy, and you won’t have to work hard to feel well-dressed.
Linen Pants
Linen pants might be the quintessential vacation pants — they’re both comfy and effortlessly stylish, and they can make anyone look well-off.
Chinos
Pack a neutral pair of chinos in beige or navy, plus a pair in white, stripes or a vibrant color, and you can be confident that you’re prepared for the days ahead. Wear these pants with your polo, button-down or printed shirt, depending on where you’re likely to be.
Shorts
If you’re headed to a city cafe, tailored linen or chino shorts will dress up your look. If you’ll be out and about all day, casual shorts can work, but be mindful of what the locals are wearing.
Shoes
Whatever you plan to see and do, you’re likely to spend a lot of time on your feet when you’re on vacation. Packing lightweight footwear, like comfortable and stylish leather canvas sneakers, lightweight closed-toe sandals and pool slides, should be sufficient for the day. If you plan on enjoying the nightlife or have an event to attend, make sure you have a dressier pair of shoes on hand. Also consider bringing along a pair of driving mocs, loafers, espadrilles or other comfortable shoes you love that will pull your outfits together and make you feel dandy.
Accessories
For the modern man, good accessories aren’t extras: they’re key to completing your outfit.
Sunglasses and Hats
While it’s no secret that sunglasses and hats can give you an air of mystery and cool, they’re also highly functional. Pick a classic pair of tortoise- or wire-rimmed sunnies with full UV protection, and coordinate them with a straw Panama hat or fedora that will complement your clothes.
Watches
In this day and age, you might think a watch is an anachronism, but it’s truly a practical expression of personal style. A classic watch with a steel or leather bracelet will go with anything and keep you on time.
Don’t Forget the Special Summer Items!
Sometimes, when you’re getting ready, it can be easy to forget the things you’re likely to need most — sunscreen and swim trunks! Put these items in your bag and get ready to unwind.
Sunscreen
Wherever you’re going, you’ll need to be wearing sunscreen to protect you from the rays. To keep burns at bay, always have a minimum SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen on hand. If you’re spending time in the water, make sure your lotion is waterproof.
Swim Trunks
Taking a dip on your summer vacation? Bring along a pair or more of classic swim trunks that double as shorts. Go for bold colors, prints or whatever suits your fancy. Choose a quick-drying fabric like nylon or polyester, and you’ll be sure to make a splash in or out of the water.
Enjoy Your Getaway!
Summer vacation is the perfect chance to let go of your worries and live a good life. Packing no-fuss pieces that look great anywhere will ensure that you feel relaxed and free, wherever you are. Just put a little thought into your packing, and you’ll be set to have the time of your life!