The Essentials: 5 for Summer

Summer's not far away now - on the odd day in London, the temperatures have finally been hitting 20°C - and so I thought my first proper post should be about my five favourite things for the summertime.

1 - SWIMS Waterproof Loafers

These have very quickly found their way at the top of my wishlist due to them being possibly the most practical item of footwear I've come across.

Crocs, in my opinion, have always been hindered by their almost mind-bogglingly hideous appearance. For men with some level of self-respect, however, SWIMS have managed to come up with a pair of waterproof loafers which not only manage to look very attractive in all 6 colourways (my personal favourites are navy and olive) but are also perfect for a trip to the park or the beach.

Luckily, SWIMS now ship to the UK. You can find the loafers here,

Read the other 4 essentials after the jump.

2 - ASOS Slim Fit Chinos

I make no bones about it, I'm a huge fan of the fit and feel of good chinos, certainly preferring their feel to denim. While I won't pretend I don't wear denim, I find myself wearing jeans with much less frequency of late, replacing them almost exclusively with navy or beige chinos.

This particular pair, though, caught my eye recently since I have long been searching for a pair of decent terracotta-coloured chinos which aren't drop crotch (since I absolutely loathe dropped-crotch trousers).

3 - Ray Ban Wayfarers

 

Every list of summer essentials will inevitably include a pair of sunglasses and no discussion about sunglasses can be seriously undertaken without talking about Ray Ban.

My personal favourite style are the Wayfarers which the firm have been producing since the 1950s; while I've only owned mine for 2 years, their brilliance cannot be disputed. Versatile, attractive, well-made and practical, I can't recommend them highly enough.

After all, if they're good enough for JFK...

4 - Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt

Nothing out of the ordinary here either. I'm an advocate of all-year-round wearing of polo shirts, but once the sun comes out, they can't be matched.

There are no limits or rules, so long as the polo shirt you buy is quality. Ralph Lauren has a reputation as one of the best polo makers for a reason; their Custom Fit being particularly appealing due to its more flattering cut.

Just remember. If it's summer, don't be afraid to play with colour!

5 - Sunscreen

It doesn't matter how well you're dressed if you're bright red.
Few do it better than Kiehl's

Baz Luhrmann agrees.