What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. The unofficial start to summer is in a few days, and most of us will kicking back enjoying some beer and grilled meat (or loofahs) with friends. Remember, it’s a BBQ. Not a runway during fashion week. That’s why we’re going real simple here.
The Shirt: Slim-Fit Linen/Cotton Shirt – $69.50. You can’t go wrong with a cotton linen blend on a warm day. Yes, this slim-fit shirt has long sleeves, but you can roll them up (here’s how to get them to stay up), and you might be thankful for them if you’re out in the sun for too long and start to burn. Your arms probably shuoldn’t match the blistered skin on the dogs coming off the grill. 55% linen, 45% cotton. Only M-XL left in the black/white option shown above, but you can easily swap it out for the white or blue options, which have plenty of sizes available. Almost always on sale, so wait for a 30% – 40% off code.
The Shorts: Aiden Slim Chambray Short – $59.50. Navy shorts are fine, but a lighter shade of blue can inject some color in a subtle way. These chambray shorts from BR will give your summer ensembles a more tailored look. Like the shirt, best to hang out for a code.
The Shoes: Sperry Varsity Boat Shoe in Burgundy – $59.95. A classic summer shoe option in a color that might not be a typical choice, but will work well throughout the season. Big fan of the slightly unusual shade here. Does well with the rest of the toned down colors.
The Belt: J. Crew Made in the USA Braided Web Belt – $29.62 w/ SUMMERLOVE. A basic that can be utilized just about every season, especially since it’s a mixed media belt. We tend to fall back on leathers come fall, so this offers the best of both worlds.
The Watch: Citizen BM8180-03E Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Watch – $108.75 Canvas band = Casual. Perfect for a cook out as well as other outdoor summer activities. 37 mm, so smaller in diameter, but that seems to be surging as a trend right now. 100m water resistance, so no worries reaching in to grab a beer out of a tub full of ice and water.
The Sunglasses: Warby Parker Dempsey Sunglasses – $145. Not cheap by any means, but with Warby Parker you’re paying for quality. If it’s time to invest in a better pair of sunglasses, these aviators might fit the bill. They are a wide frame, so if you know your head/face is smaller, check out the narrow/medium frame options. Really liking the tortoise shell ear piece ends. The nice thing about the WP site is you can filter frames by width, and all orders ship & return (which is key) for free.
The Beer: Deschutes Brewery Fresh Squeezed IPA. Not a low ABV session brew, yet not a syrupy Imperial monster either. Summery without tasting like a wheat beer or a shandy. 6.4% and 60 IBUs.
The Hostess/Host Gift: Flowers. Or Beer. If there’s a female hosting the grill out you’re attending, bring some flowers. They don’t have to be extravagant. A bunch of tulips will do just fnie, but they’ll convey appreciation to the host for putting on the shin-dig. If it’s a guy hosting, bring a good bottle of beer he can add to his collection. Trader Joe’s can be a great place to pick up either of these at a very reasonable cost.