CENTRE COURT

If you’re heading to Centre Court, you'll want to look effortlessly pulled together, without any indication you’re trying. Think summer suiting in creams, light blues and greys. Go for a subtle, heritage check and tone down the smart level by switching your shirt for a slim-fit white tee.

Alternatively, play with your pairings. Team your neutral suit jacket with navy trousers and a spotted tie, or a pastel pink or sea green blazer with dark chinos and a white shirt and leave your tie at home. When it comes to your footwear, pick Oxfords, suede Derbys or loafers. Though as a side-note, Stella McCartney’s husband, Alasdhair Willis, looked pretty cool in a light pinstripe suit with white trainers last year.

ON THE GROUND

Got ground tickets? You can afford to have a bit more fun. A short-sleeved shirt in a ditsy print teamed with chinos and loafers will get you on the best dressed list. Last year, actor Nick Blood rocked an apricot shirt, worn open, with a white tee underneath, making a strong case for pastel hues. Plimsolls look great here, as do espadrilles or white sneakers.

Otherwise, go for that failsafe combo of mid or long tailored shorts and a striped tee. Keep it suave though – Pimms and baggy sweats don’t mix so well.

GAME ON

If you’re going to be dabbling in a little tennis yourself, go for signature whites. Channel Lacoste, Fred Perry or Bjorn Borg – all founded by tennis legends, of course.

All eyes will be on SW19. The trophies? They’re up for grabs. The ‘best-dressed’ title? That’s yours.

The basics 

Festivals are the perfect opportunity to have a little fun with your wardrobe. The printed shirt is the festival hero piece – breezy, lightweight and it can be unbuttoned if the sun comes out to play. Multi-tasking, neutral shorts are, again, your festival sidekick. Avoid denim (we all know how long that takes to dry) and items that look bad if creased.

A bum bag is a must for keeping everything close to hand, secure and leaving hands free for pints and dancing. Track jackets, anoraks and field jackets also do great at festivals. Hats (bucket hats in particular) and great sunglasses are a stylish necessity – plus don’t forget a wattle bottle and that SPF.

The nitty-gritty

Glastonbury or Isle of Wight 

If you’re going to a mainstream festival like Glasto, pick an outfit that reflects the sunny, chilled vibes. You can push the boat out style-wise as everyone else will too. Holographic bum bag and a dash of your girlfriend’s glitter? Go for it.

Port Eliot or Edinburgh Festival Fringe 

For a cultural festival, go for mellow vibes. Pick a sophisticated, printed shirt and pair with classic shorts. Lace up boots will add edge and shades are a must for hours outside. You’ll look totally cultured, we assure you.

Latitude, Wilderness or Green Man

For a countryside festival that’s more chill, go for artsy vibes. Try an outdoorsy jacket, cargo trousers or chinos in earthy tones with a bucket hat thrown in for good festival measure. Now, with the outfit locked down, you can just sit back (or stand up) and enjoy the music. Living your best life right here… 

Steve McQueen

The King of Cool wore everything with confidence. His casual looks oozed a nonchalant appeal, and smart outfits looked polished but - with the addition of his perennial Persol 714 sunglasses - also carefree. His style favourites included neutral chinos, bomber jackets and desert boots. Everything had a clean-lines feel - pared-back and unfussy.

So what can we learn from the man? Invest in great basics. Make sure they fit well, keep colours neutral and mix and match for a wardrobe that always speaks of unassuming sophistication.

James Dean

The legendary Hollywood actor is forever remembered for his effortless cool and the power of a great white t-shirt. Paired with jeans, rugged boots and tortoiseshell shades, it’s a timeless look that’s remained cool ever since.

The red Harrington jacket he wore in Rebel Without a Cause has become iconic in itself. To channel a piece of James Dean’s undeniable cool, pair a black roll-neck with dark trousers, or a plain tee with a leather biker jacket. Thick rimmed shades are a must.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds, for all his Hollywood stardom, dresses in a way that’s well, surprisingly normal. It’s normal but it’s also nonchalant. It’s stylish without looking like he’s tried too hard. Always on-point but it’s as if he didn’t know it.

He particularly knows the power of a couple of really well-chosen basics. The perfect Oxford shirt, sleeves effortlessly rolled up, great chinos paired with understated trainers, the white t-shirt, the Harrington jacket.

Our take-home tip from Ryan is choose a minimalist colour palette – navy, khaki, black, stone, white – and pull together thought-out ensembles but then undo them a bit. The jumper slightly rumpled or the jeans looking lived in gives a vibe of easy cool. It’s dad dressing done really well. Great job, Ryan.

Oliver Cheshire

Oliver Cheshire is a definite part of the menswear fashion elite. Model, street style favourite at London Fashion Week Men’s, and now founder of his own label, he’s a menswear authority with the personal style to match. He’s a master of fun wardrobe pieces that look totally at home, rather than OTT.

He’ll pick a short pink trench, paired with a graphic monochrome top, or a colour-pop, retro varsity jacket. His choices always look sophisticated because he pairs the statement piece with a neutral backdrop. He excels at rocking the Cuban collar shirt, worn open, and teamed with simple, loose shorts. His style is mostly fuss-free, easy on the logos and big on the sophisticated shapes and textures. Slightly preppy, retro and always suave, a pair of great glasses complete the look. 

Our take-home tips? A jumper slung around the neck and textures, like suede, silk, or faux-fur, add a dose of swoonable sophistication.

Cary Grant

Cary Grant, known for his eternally stylish attire, never in fact considered himself well-dressed. He attributed his sartorial choices to simplicity.

He looked impeccable in suiting. His suits weren’t skinny or overly wide-fitting, but rather a happy middle. In his own words, he went for ‘undisturbing, easy and comfortable’ clothes.

He took the stance of investing in a few great quality pieces rather than a wardrobe of clutter. He knew the power of looking after clothes – creaseless shirts and polished shoes completed his suave look. For casual, he’d pick great knitwear, particularly cardigans, and breezy trousers – worn with one hand nonchalantly tucked in a pocket.

To emulate his style, focus on fit. Get clothes altered so they fit impeccably, invest in a few more expensive pieces and take simplicity seriously. Follow these rules and the title of style icon is yours.

The suit

The fit of your suit is of the utmost importance. The classic three-piece suit is a great bet but make sure it fits swimmingly. As this is summer and crowded rooms of drunk people tend to get toasty, consider the fabric. Linen, fresco wool or cotton are all breathable. A patterned shirt does away with the need for a constrictive tie, and a waistcoat can be your best friend for looking sharp sans suit jacket.

In summer you can experiment with colour. Try an eternally debonair neutral, a more daring bright hue or a mellow pastel. If you get too hot, neatly rolled sleeves look sharper than a shirt unbuttoned too far (we know it’s tempting).

The suit, believe it or not, in today’s wedding landscape is not even necessary. Try separates, like a linen blazer, a great shirt and neutral trousers, which provide max on-or-off versatility.

The shoes

If going for a classic three or two-piece, equally classic Oxfords, Derbies or brogues will set it off. Make sure they’re polished and don’t look like you’ve just run from work – your footwear may be judged by distant relatives.

If the fit of your suit is slimmer and more tapered, a loafer is the dream – you could even try a backless suede variety if you’re feeling fancy. While we wholeheartedly approve of trainers for many a situation, for a wedding it’s safest to leave them at home – unless you know it’s a relaxed, modern affair, in which case, you can sport neutral, branding-free kicks.

The accessories

A tie can make or break an outfit. Sometimes it’s tempting to choose a humorous, whimsical one but really, you want to go for classic or modern. A subtle pattern, clashed against a checked suit, looks suave or a slim shape or woven texture with a plain suit is always a winner.

Pocket squares give the opportunity to bring a little something extra to an ensemble. Use them to add a pattern hit (that works tonally with the rest of your outfit), or to introduce a new texture or colour.  

There was a time when a jazzy sock proudly sported under a suit trouser was a fashion statement. But now, these are best worn ironically. Neutral-coloured socks will ensure you keep your best fashion foot forward at all times.

Sunglasses are not always thought of as a wedding essential, but with squinty photos and hours spent in sun-drenched croquet lawns, we advocate that they’re a must. Choose a cool aviator shape or even a slightly more unusual rose hue and wear for easy, unassuming cool – we all want to be that guy. 

The summer look

We’re declaring 2019 the year of the suit. The Spring/Summer 2019 catwalks were a sonnet to tailoring and more specifically reimagined tailoring. Instead of traditional fits, suits were slouchy and roomy – think dad in an ‘80s office. This look is great for summer weddings. A looser fit has the benefit of breeziness, a built-in air-conditioning if you will. Swap your standard shirt for a t-shirt, tucked in, or a micro checked shirt. Black can look poorly dressed funeral director-esque so go for a grey with a slight sheen.

In other catwalk news, suits of varied colourways took to the floor. Sugary pastels, stone and even neon brights made an appearance. This is a brilliant look to channel full summer vibes.

The modern look

At the same time that fluid suits are a trend, tailoring has also gone close-cut. The rules of suit trousers hitting your shoes are no longer mandatory, but rather trousers tapered above the ankle with summer's very favourite shoe, the loafer, is the modern way to wear suiting. Here a shirt is not needed – try a graphic tee, choosing one that incorporates the hue of your suit. Not only does this say contemporary but it’s super practical for balmy summer days too. Excellent. 

Wimbledon

Wimbledon is as much an opportunity for people-watching as it is watching tennis itself, so the pressure for what to wear can be high. We recommend summery smart-casual: a great shirt, stone chinos, summery loafers, and the almost obligatory shades. Leave all-white to the pros and go for neutral colours. This is not the place for peacocking – who knows who you might run into?

Work do

Is it just us or as soon as summer hits, does your calendar go haywire? Work drinks, functions, lunches and the like mean it can be hard to get any actual work done. What’s more, sometimes choosing something that'll work from desk to do is more hard work than the event itself. We recommend a great, short-sleeved shirt in a print or subtle pastel shade. Team it with summery suit trousers, chinos or, if your office dress code so allows, tailored chino shorts. Minimalist trainers are helpful if running to and from venues and so is a leather backpack.

Polo

It comes as no surprise that a quintessentially English event calls for a preppy outfit. Try a blazer, a short-sleeved shirt, and slim, tailored shorts. A polo shirt is another obvious choice – but steer clear of white jeans and a white polo unless you want to be mistaken for a player. Keep colours neutral and summery and natural fibres will be more breathable which is a definite winner. Boat shoes look great here – smart but still carefree and breezy.

The new smart 

Despite the dramatic casualization of workwear generally, some professions still dictate that you look, well, smart. Just when you thought, especially with fashion’s obsession with streetwear of late, that you could throw out the suit, think again. The spring/summer catwalks were a love letter to tailoring.

When it comes to suits, a wardrobe of four great ones is a good shout: a classic navy and black two-piece, a three piece in a heritage check and a charcoal suit in a slimmer, slightly more modern fit. Don’t scrimp on quality, these are going to last you. It’s best to rest your suit for a day or two in between each wear as well.

Shoes are of the utmost importance here (judging a man by his shoes and all that). With your navy suit, black, rich brown or cognac Oxfords or Derbies look great. With your black suit, stick to black shoes. With a grey, heritage suit, opt for dark brown, maroon or black shoes and with your charcoal number, black or burgundy will set it off.

Ties, watch, cufflinks… again go for quality and modern. Smart no longer means stuffy.