If you’re one of the unlucky souls who has to wear a suit to work, then you’ll already know how unbearable the summer heat can be. But with this round-up of the 15 best summer suits you’ll quickly go from being the overly sweaty bloke in a meeting to the guy who looks like he’s just walked straight out of a Milanese tailor and into a board meeting.
H&M Linen Slim Fit Suit
One of the easiest ways to stop yourself from overheating during the summer months is to simply buy a more breathable fabric, and not only does this navy suit from H&M come in at a very reasonable £85 but it’s also made from a 100% linen weave.
SuitSupply Lazio Blue Suit
This brilliant little two piece from Suit Supply is made from a linen, wool and silk blend and features a half canvassed construction – meaning the top half of the suit jacket is structured in the same way as a traditional suit while the bottom half is uncanvassed to give it more of a relaxed fit, resulting in a sharp-looking suit that is both well structured and extremely breathable.
CHARLIE CASELY-HAYFORD X TOPMAN Navy Fleck Relaxed Fit Weekend Suit
Made in collaboration with LCM regular Charlie Casely-Hayford, this double-breasted navy fleck suit has a very casual feel to it and can be paired nicely with a Cuban collar shirt for a cool pared-back look, making it the perfect option for those looking to pick up something a little less formal for summer weddings or a day out at the races.
M&S COLLECTION Grey Textured Regular Fit Suit
Coming in a surprisingly wearable khaki colour, this suit will require very little maintenance in comparison to many other pieces of summer tailoring due to its unique polyester and linen blend. The addition of a bit of polyester gives it a softer handle and means you can finally wave goodbye to your linen suit looking wrinklier than Rupert Murdoch’s forehead.
Universal Works Aston Charcoal Summer Suiting (Jacket and Trousers)
Universal Works are well known for their combination of fantastic materials and very relaxed tailoring, and this wool and polyester blend two piece is a great example. Not only is the jacket half-lined for added temperature control, but the trousers are also so well tailored you can get away with wearing them down the pub with a pair of trainers.
Jaegar Silk Linen Regular (Jacket and Trousers)
Jaegar is one of the high streets best kept secrets. In terms of quality and price their selection of suits is second to none, and this straw-coloured suit is a prime example. Made from a 50/50 blend of linen and silk, if you wanted a similar blend from another big name label you’d expect to pay upwards of £600.
Albam Travail Blazer in Coyote Brown (Jacket and Trousers)
Much like Universal Works, Albam are well known for their casual workwear inspired styling. So if you fancy buying a suit you can dress up with some smart shoes (or dress down with a pair of trainers), this is the one for you. And, best of all, it’s 100% cotton and made in Portugal.
Reiss Buckingham Wool and Linen Light Blue Suit
This Reiss suit is made from a great wool and linen blend which gives it a soft handle and a little bit more structure than your traditional 100% linen suit. Combined with its grey-ish blue colourway, this is a great suit to wear on a day-to-day basis during the warmer months and can be paired with most shirt and tie combinations.
Ted Baker Grid Crosshatch linen (Jacket and Trousers)
Ted Baker is having a bit of a renaissance period at the moment. Two years ago the suggestion of shopping at Ted Baker might’ve earned you some funny looks, but after a bit of a revamp and dressing the Kurupt FM boys as they won a BAFTA for ‘Best Scripted Comedy’ they’re back on the menswear map. And this crosshatch linen number is a great way to get back into the brand (gold Air Max 97s are optional (but recommended)).
Massimo Dutti Limited Edition Checked Wool/Linen/Silk Slim Fit (Jacket and Trousers)
This Massimo Dutti suit is the most expensive on the list at just over £400, but it really is worth every penny. Not only does it come in a very traditional charcoal window pane check, but it’s also cut in a traditional Italian shape from a luxurious wool, linen and silk blend. It’s sort of like seeing Antonio Conte in a Wetherspoons – the perfect mix of Italian and British.
Jigsaw Italian Seersucker Slim Fit Suit (Jacket and Trousers)
Summer isn’t just about lightweight materials and pastel colours, it’s also about showing less is more and experimenting with different textures, and this Jigsaw is a prime example. Made from 100% seersucker wool (seersucker has a puckered texture to it and is slightly more breathable than normal wool), this suit can be paired with a plain white shirt and a navy knitted tie for a very continental look.
Scalpers Palermo Suit Squares
If you haven’t heard of Scalpers, they’re one of Spain’s sharpest menswear brands who came to the UK for the first time last year after they opened up shop in Soho. Unsurprisingly, one of their specialties is the summer suit, and this 100% linen window pane navy and green check suit is perfect for those days spent in the sun sipping on an espresso (or a Estrella or two).
Cos Melange Cotton-Silk Suit
Featuring rounded shoulders, double button breast and thin lapels, this Cos suit is perfect for those looking for something a little more modern this summer. And with a silk, cotton and linen blend construction you’d be hard pressed to find a more breathable suit for under £250.
Selected Homme Slim-Fit Suit (Jacket and Trousers)
Perhaps one of the more traditional summer suits, this Selected Homme two-piece comes in 100% linen and a solid mid-grey colour, making it a great addition to your wardrobe if you’re partial to wearing plain shirts with bold patterned ties.
Zara Cashmere Suit
Made from 100% cashmere and featuring a fine pinstripe, this is one sharp piece of tailoring from Zara. The deep blue combined with the pinstripe makes this one of the most versatile summer suits going, and best of all you can get it for £150.
