Summer Shirts

June 10, 7:55 PMMen's Style ExaminerStile E. Coyote

IT GETS HOT IN THE SUMMER. (Thank Al Gore for that one.) But it's no excuse to bring out the crummy shirts or wear a poloevery day. Sure, the polo is great, but wear it too much to the office and you'll be mistaken for that guy in IT.

That's why you need a staple of good summer shirts: Madras, linen, summer Oxford. They help to alleviate the weight of the shirt, while still offering style. Heck, you can even wear them with shorts. 

Stile E. likes the summer Oxford. It still holds the Oxford weave (I'm even wearing a traditional Oxford to my wedding to Mrs. Coyote) but is considerably lighter, and you can grab it in light blue, white, or blue/brown check (above, right). Pair it with jeans, chinos, or like I said... shorts.

For weekends, grab a summer Madras print for sipping the gin and tonic on the porch with some grillables. Purchase atCarlton's ($128). 

Visit your inner Preppy this summer

Have a hankering to pull out the pink polo shirt and madras pants? First read up on the trends set forward by Lisa Birnbach's 1980 book The Official Preppy Handbook by Workman Publishing. (Used, from $10; amazon.com)

Dress the part: Grab a pink cotton dress shirt, slim tie, tweed vest, jeans and boat shoes and have at it. Stile suggests a Rooster University tie ($35; AbsoluteTies.com).

 View all 30 Days of Summer Style