Our European compatriots might be rugging up in the coming days, but for denizens of the southern hemisphere, itโs again that time of year when every man and his dog breaks out the silk, linen and other warm-weather essentials โ all with a view to dressing like Miles Teller in Top Gun: Maverick.
To assist in this not-always-straightforward exercise โ the goal is to dress well rather than be overdressed โ weโve compiled half a dozen of the best summer shirts on the internet: from easy breezy resort wear styles to big-baller silk joints (with the price tag to match), these layers will see you through hot days and balmy nights. That is, of course, unless La Niรฑa drowns us all.
โSunsetโ Cuban Shirt by The Anthology
Sartorial savants are likely to have come across the name, โThe Anthologyโ at some point or other and for good reason. With presences in London and Taiwan, the HK-based clothier, whose main hustle is tailored clothing with โa relevant and contemporaryโ edge, also makes one hell of a resort shirt.
For instance, the โSunsetโ style features a moderately sized high-buttoning camp collar โ allowing for it to be worn with more dressy kit, alongside more casual staples like a crisp white tee and swim shorts. Fabric too is carefully considered: woven in a singed orange cotton-silk blend that comes from one of The Anthologyโs specialist clothmakers in Japan.
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โOrbite Au Tourโ Silk Shirt By Casablanca
Somewhere between your grandfatherโs โluckyโ bowling shirt and the kind of kit youโd imagine draped over a cartel enforcer, Casablancaโs โOrbite Au Tourโ is for those who want to make a splash this summer beyond the confines of the pool.
The Parisian brand is well-regarded for its bombastic, slightly billowy print tops โ and this season is no different. This pure silk number features retro-inspired aviation graphics on the chest and back. Best when paired with a couple of simple wardrobe staples, such as drawstring shorts or your comfiest pair of loafers.
Sunset Beach Shirt by Haulier
Designer Jeremy Hershanโs jet-set-inspired unisex brand has taken a creative tact to summer shirts this year, eschewing the usual morass of blue and yellow in favour of a simple, blacked-out approach. The โSunsetโ is Haulierโs answer to the ubiquitous polo: instead of cotton piquรฉ, itโs cut in an airy Japanese mesh that has been reinforced with faintly orange top-stitching โ lending the overall design a somewhat denim-esque appeal.
In addition, functional details abound: the one-piece collar can be converted into the more summery camp style, and the hips are finished with flapped pockets โ the perfect repository for your phone and shades.
โRobertoโ Leaf Print Shirt by Frescobol Carioca
Inspired by Rio de Janeiroโs vibrant carioca culture, itโs no stretch to imagine that Frescobol Carioca makes some of the punchiest summer attire around. The brandโs camp collar shirting has always proven an effective canvas for showcasing the cityโs sights and scenes, with the โRobertoโ being a recurrent bestseller. For 2022, we really enjoy the sand linen version โ charming, gauzy and in keeping with the flora theme of the leaf print (a subtle nod to the tropical greenery that surrounds the cityโs world-famous beaches).
Cream โSundialโ Camp Collar Shirt by Commas
No BH-approved list of the best summer shirts would be complete without a dash of local love, which brings us to the very top-shelf resort wear of Sydney brand COMMAS. Its cream โsundialโ shirt, cut to a boxy proportion in nearly equal parts silk/cotton, actually features a hand-painted depiction of the titular print, giving this a rustic quality that immediately sets it apart from slicker, arguably less interesting designer fare. We recommend embracing a tone-on-tone aesthetic, and wearing this with some very simple chino shorts โ think shades of ecru, taupe and sand.
โParaisoโ Shirt in Pink by SMR Days
Taking inspiration from the relaxed, wandering lifestyle of co-founder Gautam Rajani, SMR Days is a brand that knows a thing or two about making summer shirts that feel comfortable and flatter you quietly. Its โParaisoโ camp collar may be removed, in name, from other styles that more clearly reflect Rajaniโs love of traditional Indian clothing, yet it still possesses the lightness and slightly roomy fit that many of us would crave for a trip through the Subcontinent. The washed pink colourway is alarmingly easy on the eyes, making this a shoo-in when youโre hightailing it to the coast on weekends.
