It’s finally summer and we can’t believe it. But, let the record show, we’re not complaining. With everything going on in the world these past few months, sunshine and warmer weather are very much needed.
If you’ve been keeping up with SPY these past few weeks you’re probably covered in the best t-shirt and best swim shorts categories. And if you haven’t been keeping up, shame on you. But all of that aside, how are you doing in the shirt category? Ah yes, we were afraid of that.
Before we dive into the wonderful world that is the best summer shirts for men, we have some things to discuss. First, what exactly is a summer shirt? Our definition is a generally short-sleeved button-up. In other words, not the aforementioned t-shirt. It can have long sleeves, but it should be made with a breathable fabric if that’s the case.
Next, what makes up a quality summer shirt for guys? A few different materials actually! Take a look below:
- Cotton
- Linen
- Polyester (when blended)
- Viscose
The idea is to find a material that is breathable yet also slimming. These are the shirts you wear to summer BBQs or over boardshorts when hitting laidback bars or concerts. Every guy should pack a few of these in their closet. Some may sport wild patterns. Some may use natural materials. But all of them should cut a clean silhouette.
Read on for our roundup of the best summer shirts for men.
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Lululemon Commission Short Sleeve Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lululemon Lululemon is one of our favorite brands because they don’t just make regular menswear, they make menswear with a purpose. And that purpose is comfort. Because they come from the athleisure world, they’re exceptionally well-versed in what materials do to your body. For this reason, you can always buy the best Lululemon menswear in confidence.
Lulu’s take on the summer shirt is flawless. The cut is fitted yet relaxed and they use a cotton/polyester blend (55%/45%) for sweat-wicking abilities and flexibility. Also, they attached a zippered enclosure to the front pocket for extra security that doesn’t obscure style. For a shirt that can easily transition from at-home work station to the patio with a cold one, you can’t do better than Lululemon.
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Bonobos Stretch Riviera Short Sleeve Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Bonobos You saw it coming. What’s a list of the best men’s shirts for summer without Bonobos? It’s an incomplete list, that’s what. And when it comes to shirts suited for summer, can you really top a green Hawaiian shirt? The answer is unequivocally: No.
Bonobos’ Short Riviera Short Sleeve Shirt is definitely a keeper. It embodies summer without being too Tommy Bahama. The green backdrop makes for a more unique option while the print screams that you know your way around a grill. The Riviera short is made of 100% cotton so you’ll look and stay cool all summer long in this winner.
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Goodthreads Slim-Fit Short-Sleeve Printed Poplin Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon Amazon brands aren’t always as basic as you might think. Goodthreads, for example, creates a number of great-looking apparel options for men and women alike that span out into a slew of different categories, so don’t be so shocked that they have one of our favorite summer shirts to wear this season.
This poplin short-sleeve button-down is perfect for casual days out with your buds, seaside date nights with your bae or family outings with mom and pops. There are an array of colors and styles to choose from, and as you’d expect, it’s totally affordable.
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ASOS DESIGN Relaxed Fit Smudged Scribble Print Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of ASOS You can never go wrong with a little lilac. This old-school-esque summer shirt is perfect for the kind of guy who isn’t afraid to shy away from a bit of color in his wardrobe. It exudes perfect warm-weather vibes and looks awesome paired with jean shorts and swim trunks. It’s got a carefree aesthetic to it which we can totally appreciate, too.
Because it’s from ASOS, you can already bet that this shirt is on the affordable side. If you’re ready to beef up your look this summer, there’s no other way to do it.
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Everlane Linen Short-Sleeve Standard Fit Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Everlane Everlane is basic but in the best way. It’s the brand to shop at if you want the staples. And no closet is complete without some linen. A lot of the best summer shirts for men are made from linen, a naturally sweat-wicking fabric that is unbelievably breathable. In other words, linen is ideal for a summer shirt. The natural pattern and feel of the fabric give the garment a casual air that looks good buttoned up or loose.
As for Everlane’s foray into linen shirts for men, this one is a winner. Aside from the linen aspect, the cut is loose which makes it much more comfortable and much more casual than some of our other options. Likewise, it comes in a fantastic array of colors, from olive greens to this handsome black.
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UNTUCKit Wrinkle-Free Short-Sleeve Bennson Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of UNTUCKit Who said wrinkles had to be a problem this summer? UNTUCKit said, “not us!”
UNTUCKit’s Bennson shirt is entirely wrinkle-free to keep you looking fresh and put together day in and day out. Just like all of their shirts, it comes in the perfect length that calls for zero tuckings. Ever. It looks great both open to show off that bod or buttoned up for bar-hopping with the boys. Pair it with some chino shorts and boat shoes to tie the look together.
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J.Crew Short-Sleeve Camp-Collar Harbor Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of J.Crew J.Crew is yet another classic option we couldn’t leave off our list. This time, it’s Tie-Dye Summer take two. Last summer, it was all about tie-dye and this summer we’re anticipating things are going to be the same. This summer shirt will spill solely good vibes and great energy all season long. It’s party-esque and backyard appropriate for whenever the sun’s shining and looks even better with a White Claw in hand.
J.Crew’s summer shirts tend to go out of stock relatively quickly since they’re high in demand, so if you can’t stop looking, we suggest snatching this baby up quickly.
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Van Heusen Air Short Sleeve Button Down
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon Just like our pick from UNTUCKit, Van Heusen’s button-down shirt is totally wrinkle-free, making it the perfect shirt to wear from breakfast to the beach to dinner. It has a flowy design to it that makes it perfect for breezy summer days and comes in a plethora of handsome colors we’re sure you’re going to obsess over. The shirt is made from a majority of rayon with some polyester making it really easy to care for.
Pair it with beige chinos and some Birks and you have yourself a summer fit that can work just about anywhere.
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UO Doodle Graphic Camp Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters A classic white summer shirt with childlike drawings clad all over? Count us in, I guess. Urban Outfitters’ Doodle Graphic Camp Shirt brings a whole new term to the word “camp shirt” because it quite literally looks like it was drawn all over on by a bunch of summer camp kids. Hey, if you have a couple of kids yourself, maybe even have them add to it.
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Mango 100% Linen Slim Fit Shirt
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mango As previously mentioned, one can consider a long sleeve shirt a “summer shirt” so long as the material is lightweight and breathable. And since this shirt from Mango is 100%, it perfectly fits the bill.
As shown in the picture above, this long sleeve pairs well with summer pants and shorts if you’re heading out to the lake or the beach on a particularly breezy day. The extra length in the sleeves will block the breeze, but the linen won’t cause you to overheat in the sunshine.