How to build a versatile men's holiday wardrobe to stay sharp on vacation

Writer and expert1 year ago

As the schools shut for Summer, we are all waiting patiently to jet off for our well-deserved holiday. Escaping the wet weather, it's time to get organised and like most men, it’s a last-minute job. So here to help you keep your partner happy, use our guide to help you select staples so you can enjoy your holiday with no wardrobe stress. Here are our recommended staples needed for a man's holiday wardrobe...

Assessing Your Travel Itinerary and Activities

You know what type of holiday you have booked, well we hope you do. You need to access what you need. Will you be eating out for dinner every evening? Are you adventurous and love climbing, hiking or outdoor activities when you are away, or are you just going to sit around the pool all day? Once you have identified a mini list of what you will be doing start to plan your outfits accordingly.

Identifying Your Personal Style Preferences

Everyone has their own style, do you prefer a pop of colour or even a Hawaiian print on vacation? Or are you buying into the resort trends with more neutral tones and linen, classic pieces? It can be nice to have a little mix between the two. More classic pieces that you know you will be able to wear over and over again but also a great summery shirt that can really get you in the spirit. If you know you catch the sun, then a bright colour such as green or orange will always complement your skin tone. If you are fair-haired or fair in complexion, navy, olive green and cream colours will give you that resort luxury aesthetic without washing you out.

The Core Essentials: Must-Have Pieces for Every Man

The Perfect Pair of Pants

Accessing the trousers and shorts you take on holiday makes a massive difference if you have just a few key pairs. Linen trousers or smarter canvas pants are great for on holiday to provide you with that smarter evening-ready staple. Matching your style to the warmer weather, you need might want a chino in a beige colour to compliment your holiday wardrobe colours. If you do go for a classic pair of jeans, a classic straight-leg style is great with forgiving stretch denim that allows the legs to breathe. Don’t forget a travel-ready pair of pants as well such as some cotton shorts or tracksuit bottoms. If it's an early flight or you are managing young children make sure you think about comfort for your long journey.

Versatile Shirts: From Casual Tees to Dressy Button-Downs

Finding a mix of Tee’s and button-down shirts is key for carrying you from the pool to dinner. One suggestion would be to also include some polo shirts as they offer the perfect hybrid between the two as well. When shopping for shirts, the Oxford shirt is the long sleeve shirt optimised for the warmer months. The lighter, breathable Oxford weave allows the body superior ventilation and will prevent embarrassing underarm sweat patches. Tee’s from Farah,Wood Wood and Hugo Boss are favourite this season, with paired back plain tee’s being the top sellers.

Stylish Outerwear for Different Climates

The chances are you will be spending most of your time on holiday lounging around in your swim shorts, meaning that your choice of trunks is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll make this summer. Our advice is to keep it classic, with a block colour style or striped pair. Swim shorts that are made from quick-drying nylon are always a good option. Think about your accessories as your outwear, for example, if you are going on a city break or you love an outdoor adventure. Make sure you think about whether you want a rucksack or a hat or cap so you can protect yourself from the sun and carry all the essentials around.

Shoes for Every Occasion

Some practical shoes are a must especially if you are going to be in and out of the sea, hiking up and down the mountain or chilling around the pool. Our recommended shoes to look at for that kind of essential shoes would be Crocs, Teva and Keen. Moving onto your more everyday, chilled but stylish styles it’s always nice to have a smart trainer. You can’t beat a white trainer. Polo Ralph Lauren’s classic white trainer will perfectly complement a pair of shorts or chinos. A pair of Birkenstocks are great for every day, evening and more. They will also provide you with a really comfortable and stylish men's sandal. Lastly, the selection of Clarks would be one to have on your radar. They are smart but casual shoes that will go with everything in your wardrobe and give an effortlessly well-put-together look. While we often like to mix it up with our colour schemes during the summer months, white should be your go-to colour whether for shirts, tees or trainers. An all-white pair of trainers is a stylish option giving you an effortless fresh style.

The Essential Polo

Famously created by Grand Slam-winning tennis legend-turned-fashion-designer René Lacoste, the humble polo shirt was originally designed as an alternative to the cumbersome, stiff tennis gear of the 20th century. Made from loose knit cotton with a breathable piqué weave that allowed for greater ventilation, the polo shirt is the ultimate summer top. It’s completely ageless and there’s always so many variations to choose from.

Creating Multiple Outfits

The Art of Layering: Maximizing Outfit CombinationsLayering will one allow you to navigate if you get unpredictable weather but it was also allow you to make numerous outfits look different using the same staples. The first trick is the simple shirt undone over a white tee. Although they actually give you more layers they can often look effortlessly more summery and cooler. Perfect for those cooler evenings near the sea, wear your sweatshirt tied over your shoulders. This will provide you with a yacht-inspired styled look, keeping you a little bit warmer but without looking like you’ve not made an effort. Accessorizing to Elevate Your LookAn easy tip is accessorizing your outfits, it will elevate your holiday wardrobe to a new level. Key accessories to think about are your sunglasses, hats, bags, belts, watches and jewellery. You can wear a very plain and simple outfit, but if you have a great pair of aviators and a quality beach bag it will pull your whole outfit together.

Packing Smart: Tips for Efficient Travel

Lightweight and Wrinkle-Resistant Fabrics

Packing lightweight and wrinkle-resistant fabrics is always a great way to get around the dreaded job of ironing. Especially with the risk the iron at your hotel or villa may be rubbish. Synthetic materials inherited resilience so polyester blend tops or nylon shorts will always keep better while travelling. Shirts with wool woven into them resist wrinkles very well, while 100% linen or cotton/linen blends are naturally more wrinkle-prone.

Organisational Hacks for Easy PackingInvesting in a good suitcase is the starting point for this, the Eastpak collection would be a personal favourite. Then test out two of the most popular tricks.

Roll your clothes and then put them in as if you are stacking a pile of logs. This helps to maximize space and minimize wrinkles.
Use packing cubes. These smaller bags help you keep your clothes compact and your outfits ordered. It also helps when it comes to washing, you can keep your dirty washing without mixing it in with your others clothes.