I’ve been thinking about different ways to wear a light-colored summer suit since last summer. Of course “light summer suit” is a broad term, and everyone probably has their own idea of the perfect one. For me a light summer suit should be simple and very casual, something you'd wear on vacation in the south of France. The perfect summer suit should also be in a color that contrasts nicely with your summer tan. I’ve also been thinking about what my ideal summer suit color would be since last November. During that time, I was able to find the fabric in the color I wanted with help from the guys at Poszetka, and I commissioned an MTM suit with them. (It should arrive very soon, and it will get its own article.)

They also just released their Spring-Summer collection which includes a Pearl Linen Suit, a shade that is very close to my ideal summer color. It is made from heavy Irish linen that drapes really well, which makes it an even better choice. And since it's a ready-to-wear suit, you can choose different sizes for the jacket and trousers, which is great for guys who don't have a standard body type. When I saw it for the first time, I thought this might be the perfect opportunity for me to figure out the best options to pair it with. I had already planned a photoshoot with them for my Spring-Summer capsule wardrobe, so I knew that if we were efficient, I could squeeze in an extra session with the suit, and that’s exactly what we did!

This is my personal selection from their Spring-Summer collection, with pieces I think pair best with the suit and that I would personally wear. It would also look great with a black, green, red, or even orange shirt (which Tomek, the co-owner of Poszetka, actually paired it with because he’s the kind of guy who can pull off looks like that), but these colors are not really my style, so I focused on options that work best for me.

My goal was to create a selection of items that cover all occasions, from a very casual walk on the beach to formal events. So I ended up with a cream/white striped knitted t-shirt, an off-white polo, a brown long-sleeve polo, a Western denim shirt, a classic light blue linen shirt, a blue Bengal stripe shirt, a white-brown striped shirt, and a white button-down seersucker shirt.

Raglan Sleeve Cream and Navy Stripe Knitted T-Shirt and Navy Linen Espadrilles

Starting with the most casual: a cream/white striped t-shirt paired with navy linen espadrilles. I don’t think there is anything more casual than this, maybe a simple white or navy knitted tee could make it even more relaxed. In the photos you can see that this pearl shade creates enough contrast with white and off-white that they still work together very well.

Off-White Polo Shirt and Kleman Everyday Classic Loafers

If you want to elevate the simple look, go with a polo instead of a t-shirt and switch the espadrilles for penny loafers. I wear Kleman brown suede penny loafers, made exclusively for Poszetka.

If you pair it with a darker neutral color like brown, it will look a bit more serious than when paired with a lighter color like white. Add a brown belt and penny loafers to match the polo and you have an elegant, casual summer office look.

Classic Light Blue Linen Shirt and Beige Linen Espadrilles

There is nothing that creates a classic, relaxed summer look as well as a light blue linen shirt - unbuttoned with the collar popped out, it’s summer after all. Here I wear it with their beige undyed linen espadrilles to make the look even more casual, but you could easily switch them for penny loafers, or even tassel loafers, if you wanted to make it more elegant.

Denim Western Shirt and Black Leather Tassel Loafers

If you want to go back in time and create a '60s vibe, you can also pair it with a denim Western shirt. I wore it with a black belt and black tassel loafers for a more elegant look, but you could pair it with cowboy boots if you wanted more of a rock-star vibe.

I chose two versions of striped shirts, a blue/white striped shirt for a bit more contrast and a more formal look, and a white/brown striped shirt for a toned-down look. Again, imagine that it’s summer, so I wore them with a spread collar.

And the last option is a perfect choice for a formal event: a white button-down seersucker shirt paired with a tie. Because the suit is plain, I would always pick a tie with a pattern in colors that create great contrast but are not too loud. Here I paired it with Black & Gray Stripe Linen Tie.

White Button-Down Seersucker Shirt and Black & Gray Stripe Linen Tie

These are 8 ways I would wear a light summer suit. With the code OUTFITNARRATIVE, you can get 10% off every item.

Let me know which look is your favorite, or if you would style it with something that’s not on my list. If you are looking for more summer tailoring inspiration, you can check out this article.