If you've ever been to the beach before, chances are you've encountered the different types of men who frequent the sandy shores, specifically those who bring their A-game, and those who would prefer to leave it at home. We get it, we've all been there. You just want to go to the beach, slip on your elastic waist band swimshorts, put on your college alma mater T-shirt, and step into your blackened oily flip-flops. After all, the beach is supposed to be your relaxed no-judgment time, your chance to descend into that sand slob you spent all week day dreaming about instead of finishing your TPS reports. Right? Much like all of Donald Trump's policies, you are wrong!
The beach and swimming pool are public social settings, places to meet and mingle, to see and be seen. So if you are willing to impress in social settings where more clothing is required, why not carry over that mentality to other aspects of social life, including the beach.
The Swimsuit
What would a beach or swimming pool setting be without swimsuits (well, a nude resort, but we'll keep that for another post)? The corner-stone of beach attire. The make or break for your sartorial summer outfit. There are a couple of key rules to keep in mind when buying the right swimshorts:
1. The Fit: Just like picking the right pair of dress trousers, your swimshorts should fit straight like they were tailored on Savile Row. Too tight, and you're royal jewels will be on open display. Too loose, and your shorts will parachute and balloon up as soon as you hit the water.
2. The Length: Your swimshorts should ideally fall mid-thigh. So taller and shorter gentlemen should keep that in mind when purchasing their pair.
Try these stylish swimshorts from Onia, Dolce & Gabana, and the stand-out brand Orlebar Brown.
The Hat
Part sun blocker, part head protector, part suave creator, the hat is a central component to any debonair gentleman's summer attire. Unlike the name suggests, Panama hats are actually the product of Ecuador, and you can blame mid-19th century geography and President Theodore Roosevelt appearing in the Panama Canal sporting a black straw hat for the name confusion. Regardless, the Panama hat is solid enough to protect your head from the beating sun, all the while light enough to let a nice breeze in and cool you down. Make sure to look for genuine made in Ecuador, superfine hats that are made from super fine straw weave. They should be soft to the touch, but sturdy enough to not break when being bent. Bonus points if you find the packable version, which can be rolled up and packed, and popped out whenever the need arises.
You can try the brand of style Borsalino, makers of the best hats in the world Lock & Co, or go with a made to order Panama from Brent Black. If your wallet does not permit, then Goorin Bros has a good selection that is not as hard on your bank account.
 |
| Lock & Co Rollable Superfino Montecristi Buy here |
The Sunglasses
What better way to complete your A-lister look, then with a pair of sleek shades that confidently suggests you're part of the Jetset crowd. Finding the right style for your face is key, so try on the pair of sunglasses and make sure you feel confident in them - confident enough to pull them off. For square faces, go with round or aviator glasses. For round faces, I would suggest picking square sunglasses, such as wayfarers. For heart shaped faces, you want to try to balance the wider forehead, so go with rounder frames. If you have an oval face, then congratulations, any style of sunglasses would work great on you, so go crazy. For summery sunglasses, go with lighter brown or tortoiseshell frames. For an extra kick of 'too cool for school', go with tasteful blue or brown opaque lenses.
Persol are the traditional A-lister's choice, not to mention the king of cool, Steve McQueen. Tom Ford, Cutler & Gross and Zegna also make some of the finest glasses on the market.
The Polo
Ditch that raggedy sun-bleached T-shirt your mom found in her garage 5 years ago, and opt for beach elegance with a thin, breathable polo, that can take you from the beach to the restaurant to the bar. You're looking for a crisp polo that looks elegant on its own, but is light and breathable, and can withstand that summer heat. Sunspel has been making underwear since 1860 and have a line of polos that fit the bill for your summer wardrobe. If they're good enough for James Bond then they're good enough for your clandestine beach adventures. Or try the other ingenious invention by the endlessly stylish Orlebar Brown, the Toweling Polo. A combination of a polo and a towel, it will dry you while you wear it, all the while keeping you stylish.
