After my last article on the winter shirt upgrade, I thought it was about time that I covered what to do when the sun eventually rears its beautiful head again. We should all know that the spring/summer months provide the perfect opportunity to integrate shots of colour into your wardrobe, but sometimes shirts can get left behind when compared to other pieces such as shorts and polo shirts. I can understand why. With the climate seemingly getting hotter and stickier by the minute during summer, it can be hard to face the prospect of pulling on that pink Oxford cloth shirt with your navy wool suit. The easiest way to remedy this is to start buying pieces with the seasons in mind. As soon as it’s officially summer it’s time to move out of your thicker materials such as wool, corduroy and flannel. You should be looking to replace these pieces with materials that are lightweight and breathable like linen, lightweight cotton and thin merino wools. I tend to change my basic shirts (i.e. white, blue and pink) from Oxford cloth to the thinner broadcloth or – if I can find it – a cotton and linen blend. You now know what material to buy your new summer shirts in, so what colours should you be buying?

The Green Shirt

First on the list should be a green shirt. However, similar to the winter shirt upgrade article, we should be looking for a colour that mirrors the season – so aim for a green that isn’t too offensive and loud. A lightweight pastel green is all you need and allows you to complement the relaxed vibe of summer. Green itself is a very underestimated colour (check out the article I dedicated to it if you don’t believe me) and can be paired with pretty much everything that is already in your wardrobe. It looks great under a navy suit or paired with jeans, and it even looks good with a pair of red shorts and a few buttons undone.