A Breton top, though, bridges the gap between safe and unwearably bold, bringing some color and visual depth to your holiday line-up. Opt for a long-sleeved version in a medium weight (100 percent cotton styles come recommended), but not so heavy that it’s unbearably hot.

Example Styles

• Armor Lux Long Sleeve T-shirt In Breton Stripe
• Allsaints Minala 3/4 Sleeve Crew Tshirt
• Scotch & Soda T-shirt With Breton Stripe In Navy Long Sleeves
• J.crew Deck Striped Cotton-jersey T-shirt
• Armor-lux 2297 Long Sleeve Mariniere Heritage Tee Dark Navy & Natural
• Zara Striped Sweater

Lightweight Trousers

Shorts are indispensable in a man’s warm-weather rotation. But that’s not to say there aren’t other options for letting your legs breathe.

By swapping your heavy-duty denim and twill chinos out for a lighter twill, 100 per cent cotton or cotton-blend trouser (in a cut that’s close but doesn’t cling), you can keep your pins under wraps without running the risk of self-combusting.

As an anchor piece in your summer squad, your trousers need to play with other pieces, so stick to light neutral hues (beige, stone, off-white), shades of blue or even pastels if you’re the type of guy that would get good wear out of an ice cream-coloured pair.

Example Styles

• Allsaints Stove Lumen Chinos
• New Look Slim Fit Chino In Burgundy
• Zara Chino Trousers With Belt
• Reiss Bennett Straight Leg Chinos Airforce Blue
• He By Mango Slim-fit Garment-dyed Chinos
• Hackett Slim-fit Stretch-cotton Chinos

Chino Shorts

Sometimes you just want to let it all hang out. We get it. But, as freeing as it’d be to tour a museum in just a pair of Speedos, social norms dictate at least a modicum of modesty when you’re not by the pool.

Which is where chino shorts come in handy. Only marginally less smart than trousers, chino shorts still work with everything from a T-shirt to a Breton top and a blazer – and, of course, they’ll help you stay cool.