What are you going to wear? Sometimes there’s an easy answer. Sometimes not. Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. This weekend is the unofficial start to summer. It’s also an opportunity for us run-of-the-mill civilians to take a moment and consider how lucky we are to have the dedicated men and women of our armed forces looking out for us. If it wasn’t for them and their families, we wouldn’t get to do silly stuff like… talk about what someone might wear to a BBQ. Thanks a million to them.
The Tee: GAP Essential Pocket Tee – $12.71 w/ GAPSUMMER. Depending on your location, this might be the only layer you’ll need for your torso. Not too thick, not paper thin, and the pocket is sorta like a grown up graphic. Or something. Great for layering or wearing on its own.
The Sweater: J. Crew Factory 55% Linen / 45% Cotton Crew – $35.50 ($59.50). This thing is friggin’ fantastic. Cool linen blend has more texture than cotton. Looks great in person. Wait for a sale (UPDATE: It’s marked down through today, 5/22). If the orange (labeled as red on their site?) is a little too bold for you, try this wool/cotton crew from Club Monaco.
The Sunglasses: Warby Parker Polarized Griffin – $95. Not Gas-station cheap by any stretch, but they are nicely priced for being polarized. You’ll need some sunglasses for that stretch of time when the sun is low in the sky, the cooler has been opened, but the grill has yet to be lit. Shown here in matte black. McQueen/Persol-like without the monster price (or hinges…damm).
The Jacket: S. Slater by Golden Bear Barracuda – $199. Pricey, but when’s the last time you came across a made in the USA light jacket? Good to throw in your car/on the back of your bike in some areas, totally useless in the warmer climates. Plaid lining, 65% poly / 35% cotton that feels nice and soft. Runs a bit on the short side. Sold through Jackthreads, so be careful… returns are only in the form of store credit. There are plenty of other light jacket options out there.
Your canned beer of choice: 21st Amendment Bitter American. Cans are just easier to transport, and they feel mighty right in your hand while working the grill. Bitter American’s stunningly low 4.4% ABV means you can put a few down and still pedal home without ending up in the shrubbery. Extremely tasty. Well reviewed too.
The Shoes: Brooks Brothers Suede Tie Driving Moc – $148. A step up from sneakers but nowhere near lace ups.
The Belt: Web Belt – $6.99
The Shorts: Merona Tailored Club Chino Shorts in Blue – $24.99. Probably the best bang for your buck shorts on the market. Oxford like cloth, lightweight but not flimsy, and cheap enough that when you get charcoal smudges all over them, it’s not that big of a deal.
The Watch: Orient Mako XL
Man I really like that jacket, & I really want a nice summer jacket like that,but I just can’t see myself spending that much on a lightweight jacket. Also I like the Brooks Brothers Red Fleece reversible one better, but same problem there.
Don’t know about you guys, but this is what I’m wearing to BBQs in the summer (on top of my casual clothes that is):
http://fieldaesthetic.com/Work-Shop-Apron.html
Oh to have a summer where one could wear a sweater *and* a jacket.
Come to Vermont. We have plenty of summer evenings like that. In fact this weekend daytime highs are forecast in the low 60s, with lows in the upper 30s, so I’m thinking jackets and sweaters may well be the thing.
I cannot imagine a situation in which I would want to wear a sweater and a jacket with shorts. I mean, I almost never wear shorts anyway, but that just seems silly.
Love that jacket, don’t love the price. Definitely picking up that sweater next time they run a sale though. I would swap the drivers for some boat shoes though. For some reason I never feel like drivers and shorts look right on me.
If you live somewhere where it doesn’t get any warmer than 70’s-80’s during the day and cools off at night, shorts and a sweater are a solid combo.
Haha, my thoughts too. I opened the link, saw the sweater (and a jacket!) and immediately thought “who the heck can wear a sweater in 90 degree weather?!”
Every time I see something about a summer jacket my brain fries a little more. I guess I need to get further north (always lived DC and further south).
Man, it broke 90 for the first time yesterday. Humidity is already at “wet blanket” stage and is approaching “stop squirming so I can suffocate you.”
Living in Miami… even the long sleeve is too much.
We’ve been there for a while. Our outdoor graduation was this past weekend. I had a faux leather binder in my lap with a bottled water sitting on top. It literally melted a ring into the binder right there on my lap. I didn’t feel right for another 2 days because of the heat.
It depends on where you live. A rugby an a pair of shorts is a solid combo for a lot of spring and late summer nights in Colorado. Not so much in the dirty south where I am now.
Agreed. I’m just outside of Atlanta and long-sleeve shirts are pretty unbearable in the summer. The second the thermometer goes over 90 I make the switch to polos and short-sleeve button ups.
I really like that Bitter American – it’s like watery domestic garbage beers but with actual flavor.
After seeing them here I picked up those driving mocs during the 30% off corporate member day. I can’t tell you how often they’re on my feet, it’s ridiculous how easy to wear they are. Highly recommended from this corner.
Also beer snobs guilty summer pleasure – 1st Amendment’s Hell or High Watermelon! I (and most of my beer snob pals) don’t usually go for fruity tasting beers but this one is straight up refreshing with no bitterness and the watermelon flavor is not oversweet or cloying. So gooooooood.
Has anyone checked out the 55% silk/45% linen light sweaters at Banana Republic? MSRP is $70, so $42 when 40% off. I haven’t tried either, but I think I prefer it over the JCF one as I like the v-neck and solid colors better because I could layer with patterned shirts/ties for work. Wonder if either would get too hot during the work day in actual use though.
Anyone have a suggestion for leather slider belt? Just a simple leather strap and a slider buckle.
These are the shoes that I’ll be wearing to upcoming BBQs. Has a cushioned leather-feeling insole and fits true to size. Less than $35 at Kohl’s? Sold.
https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1278548/apt-9-slip-on-shoes-men.jsp
I’m not a big fan of sweaters with linen in them. Linen has no elasticity, and my elbows always stretch out the sleeves. With cotton, the sleeves will bounce back into shape, but with linen they just stay stretched out after a few wears and you end up with all this excess fabric hanging there when your arms are straight. This is especially a problem if you push the sleeves up your forearms.
Bit more casual than the driving mocs but these are a solid pick.
It’s also on the short side, just so you know. At 5’10”, it’s starting to ride a little high on me, but man do I love it.
“Depending on your location, this might be the only layer you’ll need for your torso.”
Yep. It depends on where you’re at. Also, this is for at night. 90 at night. Ouch.
Can’t say I really have that problem if I wash and half/dry reshape after wearing it.
In lovely South Texas, temps don’t drop below 90º ’til after the sun sets…at 9pm. Someone save me.
For an alternative spring/fall light jacket, I highly recommend the J Crew Factory Harrington. It’s all cotton, so no crappy hot polyester. The jacket breathes reasonably well, fits well (no need to size down). I waited for it to go on sale, I probably would not pay full price for it, but at 30% off I feel like it was plenty worth it. http://factory.jcrew.com/mens-clothing/jackets_outerwear/cotton_nylon_outerwear/PRDOVR~37059/37059.jsp
And there it is…
The point at which the heritage/fashiony critical mass is reached and goes supernova ensuring our universe’s destruction.
I kid…I kid. But seriously that is one handsome ass apron….
The current crop of Merona shorts are a godsend. Lots of great colors too if you want to go a bit bolder.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd that Barracuda jacket is beautiful—and green!
I know better than to bother though. A tall guy like me can only bother buying jackets (or shirts for that matter) with the “Tall” label on them. Bombers, barracudas and really every other jacket are made for men of the shire. Not for Frost Giants such as I.
Oh FYI, I bought a pair of those Griffins last summer (I got them in this cool grey tortoise) and they’re great. I don’t recommend the matte black finish—as cool as it looks, because it really shows oily face smudges all the time.
As an alternative to the pocket T, I highly recommend the Rusden Micro SS button ups from Vans – $30 in store. It got exposure to 3 BBQs this past weekend (all in one day and of varying formality) It’s just so damn breathable, and wearing it all day with good day to night boardshorts was not a problem at all.
Check it out here:
http://shop.vans.com/catalog/Vans/en_US/style/s7j.html?categoryId=73106&colorCode=S7J884
I’m 6′, 175lbs, on the skinnier side of athletic – I bought a Medium and it fits like I just had it tailored, much trimmer in every respect compared to the “6′ model wearing a Medium” on their site
McAllen born and raised here so I feel your pain. My first two summer jobs were at a carwash and doing large-scale yard work (maintaining an 80 acre industrial park). It’s a miracle I survived…
Everything at Brooks Brothers is 40% off this weekend for their Memorial Day sale (it was 50% off last year however). So, pick it up for almost half off.
In South Florida, you’re lucky if you drop below 90 at night. Not to mention that the humidity is stuck at a constant 100%. I look at some style blogs and see posts for spring/summer outfits and think “that’s probably what i’d wear during winter down here.” The heat definitely makes layering a virtual impossibility during summer months.
You’re not alone. I always feel they look off on me as well, which is why with shorts I usually go boat shoe.