Men’s Crop Tops and Cuffed Chinos: A Summer Lookbook for Men

May 06, 2024

Men's clothes

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Do you want to look stylish without compromising on comfort? If so, you need to update your wardrobe to include seersucker, linen, chambray, nylon and cotton blends this summer. Clothing like golf shorts, men’s crop tops and Panama hats should be your warm-weather go-tos. 

Men’s Summer Jackets

Most jackets become unusable in summer, meaning layering becomes unbearable. While you could just suffer through the sweat, functionality is one of the most important factors of a good wardrobe. In other words, you need breathable alternatives.

Chambray Jacket

Chambray looks like denim but is much more breathable. It’s typically made from a cotton and linen blend, which allows air to pass through the fibers. Unlike denim, it’s soft to the touch. A jacket made with this material captures that classic summer vibe without being too stiff or hot.

Noragi Jacket

The Noragi is a signature Japanese jacket with workwear roots. Now, it’s a popular streetwear piece. This long-sleeved, lightweight piece has ties instead of zippers or buttons to keep things airy. You can wear it to replace a cardigan, shirt or blazer.

Men’s Summer Tops

Whether you want to wear unconventional shirts like a men’s crop top or stick with classics like button-downs, we’ve got you covered. 

Short-Sleeve Button-Down

Can you ever go wrong with a short-sleeve button-down? You can dress it up or down, so it’s perfect for any occasion. While solid-color shirts work fine, we recommend branching out into florals, stripes, color blocks or geometric patterns for summer. 

A man in a white shirt

Men’s Crop Top

Guys without six-packs can pull off men’s crop tops, if you were wondering. Don’t worry if you don’t have your beach bod yet — you can pair this shirt with high-waisted pants. This way, you can stay cool while capturing that perfect summer silhouette. 

Finding the perfect men’s crop top for summer is about practicality. While mesh is great for adventurous guys, cotton might be better for gym-goers. The length of the crop matters, too. You can experiment to determine what you’re comfortable with and what looks good. 

Oxford Weave Shirt

An Oxford weave is a unique fabric that is lightweight, coarse and durable. Long-sleeve shirts like this are perfect for formal and semi-formal events in summer. While they usually come in solid colors, you can also find striped and checkerboard versions.

A man in a white shirt

Knit Polo

A knit polo should be your go-to for beach days, nights out and semi-formal events. You’ll stay — and look — cool whether you wear a long or short sleeve. Consider a loose-knit polo if your style leans toward comfy and casual. 

Men’s Summer Bottoms

Are you tired of wearing the same worn-out basketball shorts? Do you find yourself having to temporarily alter your walking style to subtly adjust your you-know-what when you get too sweaty? If you said yes to either of those questions, you need summer pants.

Cuffed Chinos

If you don’t know, chinos are a kind of pant made from a synthetic cotton blend. They trend in the summer because they’re so lightweight. Cuffing the relaxed or slim-fit types looks good and gives extra breathability. 

A man in white shoes

Golf Pants

Golf pants come in various fits and fabrics — their lightweight blend and classic silhouette are their main identifiable characteristics. They were designed for long days in the hot sun, so you know they’re comfortable. Although golf shorts are cooler, pants are seen as more professional and polished.

A man golfing

While classic golf pants come in tan, grey, black and beige, plenty of interesting alternatives exist. For example, you can find them in teal, orange, salmon, powder blue or mint. You can pair them with a neutral shirt for a stylish, laid-back look. 

Light Wash Jeans

Although denim isn’t as breathable as cotton, nylon or linen, it is a classic wardrobe staple for any season. If you need it to complete your look but don’t want to be drenched in sweat, consider a light wash. Lighter colors attract less heat, so you’ll stay cooler. 

A man in jeans

Cotton Blend Shorts

A cotton, polyester and elastane blend looks and feels softer than pure cotton — and it’s more breathable. These are the kinds of shorts you can sleep in and be seen in. You can wear them to the gym, the beach or the bar. 

Nylon Joggers

Every guy needs a nice pair of nylon joggers for when the temperature starts rising. They’re stretchy and breathable, so you can stay cool while being active. More importantly, you don’t have to worry about feeling sweaty or sticky after going outside. 

Men’s Summer Shoes

You need at least two pairs of warm-weather shoes — one to get dirty and one to wear out. If you plan on going to the beach and going out in public at least once this summer, you might need to update your shoe rack. 

Rubber Buckle Slides

Men’s rubber buckle slides are the perfect shoes for the beach. Not only do they look good, but they’re lightweight, breathable and durable. Best of all, you can rinse sand and saltwater off of them without worrying about getting them wet.

Resort Wear Sandals

Every guy needs a good slip-on, closed-toe pair of shoes — one that doesn’t look like it’s seen the front line of a battlefield. Men’s resortwear sandals are high-end versions of what you’d find at a department store when searching for casual summer footwear.

You can easily find cheap dupes of name brands online. We recommend searching for perforated or woven resort-wear sandals if you want a pair of shoes with maximum ventilation. Beige, brown, white, green and black should be your go-to colors to keep things versatile. 

Suede Derby Shoes

Suede derby shoes can be dressed up or down, making them the perfect shoe for semi-formal and formal events. While the style looks classy, the material is more casual — the perfect pairing for summer.

White Canvas Sneakers

White canvas sneakers should be a staple in your closet if they’re not already. They’re simple, breathable and stylish. Plus, even most high-end pairs are affordable, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank to update your wardrobe for summer.

White shoes

Men’s Summer Accessories

Every good summer outfit has accessories. While you might be able to stick with the same chains, belts and ties, you’ll need to swap out your glasses and hats for something more warm-weather friendly. 

Aviators 

Aviators combine functionality with style. If you don’t already own a pair, you should know they’re a summer essential. While styles from high-end brands can cost hundreds of dollars, you can find affordable alternatives and inexpensive dupes online.

A man in with sandals

Panama Hat

A Panama hat looks like a subdued straw hat — it’s more refined. It provides much-needed sun protection, is stylish and can hide a bad haircut. Plus, it looks way better than your standard baseball cap would.

Update Your Wardrobe in Preparation for Warm Weather

Finding the perfect men’s crop top, golf pants, chambray jacket or aviators should be relatively easy. There are tens of thousands of options online and in brick-and-mortar stores, so you can easily apply our lookbook to your life. In other words, you shouldn’t have any trouble tailoring these clothes to your style this summer.

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Author

Jack Shaw is a senior writer at Modded. Jack is an avid enthusiast for keeping up with personal health and enjoying nature. He has over five years of experience writing in the men's lifestyle niche, and has written extensively on topics of fitness, exploring the outdoors and men's interests. His writings have been featured in SportsEd TV, Love Inc., and Offroad Xtreme among many more publications.