Piece by Piece: Summer Upgrade on the Cheap

J. Crew Ludlow Sportcoat, $248

Brooks Brothers Extra Slim-Fit Dress Shirt, $89

Ralph Lauren Hudson Jeans, $75

Sperry Top-Sider Striper CVO, $60

While we love talking up the seasonal style, we understand that many can’t afford a constantly changing wardrobe. Thankfully, right now there is a surplus of brands carrying some very respectable gear for reasonable prices. While many retailers are rolling out their fall lines, it’s definitely not too late to do some summer buying as Mother Nature has been making sure to remind us that we’re right in the thick of things. The first place we like to start is with the outerwear, which has to be very light this time of year. That’s why the preferred piece this summer is a crisp cotton sport coat as it won’t weight you down too much, but still will make you look a little more on the dressy side.

This time of the year, you’ll want to consider ditching the tie because that extra heft is just the type of thing that can really get you sweating. With a jacket like this, wear a slightly dressier shirt with a nice light fabric. While Brooks Brothers has become famous for their non-iron shirts, look to their classic cottons because the non-iron fabric will trap heat and cause you to fry. Another trick to hot weather is using the color white as we all know it will reflect the sun’s rays while darker colors will only absorb them. If you don’t have a light pair of white trousers, you should be able to get away with a slim pair of light-weight jeans. If you want to look a little more professional, finish this look off with a pair of loafers, but we really love canvas sneakers this time of the year–just make sure to may no more than $60 on them.

J. Crew Ludlow Sport Coat, $248 at J. Crew

Brooks Brothers Extra Slim-Fit Shirt, $80 at Brooks Brothers

Ralph Lauren Hudson Jeans, $75 at Ralph Lauren

Sperry Top-Sider Striper CVO, $60 at Sperry