Your 5-Step Summer Style Bucket List

Big trainers have had a good run. But this summer? It's all about shrinking things down.

Slim sneakers, ballet-inspired flats, and barely-there leather shoes are giving menswear a much-needed change of direction. They look dainty under wide-leg trousers, contrast nicely with oversized shorts, and prove you don't need six inches of foam underfoot to make an impact.

Okay, not that see-through.

Crochet polos, gauzy shirts, and open-weave knits are the easiest way to add texture without piling on layers. They're breezy, a little bit unexpected, and infinitely more interesting than another plain linen shirt.

Besides, if there's ever a time to flirt with a bit of textile transparency, it's when the forecast starts with a nine.

Once reserved for hotel pools and corner shops, minimalist flip-flops have become one of the coolest shoes of the summer. They're cleaner than chunky hiking sandals, cooler than trainers, and surprisingly good with everything from linen tailoring to loose denim.

Just do everyone a favor and book your feet in for a service first.

Every great summer wardrobe has one shirt that feels ever so slightly irresponsible.

The loud print. The patterned bowling shirt. The bold stripe. The one that makes you pause before clicking 'add to bag.' Those are usually the best purchases for this time of year. Summer isn't the season for playing it safe; it's the season for collecting compliments with big style swings.

Don’t just stop at the shirt, go full linen: matching trousers, an overshirt, maybe even an unstructured blazer. Yes, it'll crease. But that’s a good thing, because linen isn't supposed to look pristine. It's supposed to look like you've spent the afternoon drinking something cold on a terrace somewhere.

So, don’t think of the wrinkles as a problem to prevent; think of them as the the souvenir of a fit well worn. If you're really wrinkle reticent, opt for seersucker instead. Same approach applies.