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14 Cool Style Moves Every Man Should Rock This Summer

Updated on May 26, 2025 by TMM Staff · Clothing and Style

A man with a beard and glasses, wearing a white t-shirt, stands with his back to the viewer,
©Luan de Oliveira Silva/Unsplash.com

Dark colors absorb sunlight, while lighter shades reflect it. That means less trapped heat and more comfort in the sun. Wearing light colors like white, stone, or pale blue keeps you cooler all day. It’s one of the easiest, most effective summer style upgrades you can make.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Start With Neutral Foundations
  • Add Seasonal Colors With Pastels
  • Lighten Up Your Bottoms
  • Rethink Your Summer Suiting
  • Summer Ready Footwear Matters
  • Light Layers Still Belong in Summer
  • Texture Keeps Light Looks Interesting
  • Match Accessories to the Season
  • Keep Your Clothes Clean and Fresh
  • Grooming Is Part of the Look
  • Go Tonal for an Elevated Look
  • Light Colors Help You Stand Out
  • Let Your Look Reflect the Season
  • Start With One Light Piece and Build From There

Start With Neutral Foundations

A close-up of a clothing rack holding several loose-fitting, button-down linen shirts in various muted pastel and neutral colors.
©Thirdman/Pexels.com

Build your wardrobe around white, beige, and light gray. These tones are clean, sharp, and incredibly easy to mix and match. They also create a minimalist look that works in both casual and elevated settings. Think of them as your summer style anchor.

Add Seasonal Colors With Pastels

A close-up shot of a bald man with a dark beard laughing outdoors, wearing a light gray t-shirt, with a glimpse of a child in the lower left corner.
©Alex Gallegos/Unsplash.com

Pastels like mint, blush, and sky blue bring freshness to your outfit without overwhelming it. They feel relaxed, confident, and totally appropriate for summer. Use them in one piece at a time, like a tee or short-sleeve button up. Keep the rest of your look neutral to stay balanced.

Lighten Up Your Bottoms

A man standing in a grassy field under a cloudy sky, wearing a light yellow button-down shirt, light-colored shorts, and a tan belt.
©Laura Garcia/Pexels.com

Swap dark jeans for lighter options like khaki shorts, off white chinos, or cream linen trousers. These bottoms keep your look breezy and seasonally appropriate. Plus, they reflect heat rather than absorb it. Bonus: they pair well with both soft and bold tops.

Rethink Your Summer Suiting

A bald man with a reddish beard and glasses, wearing a navy blue suit and a white shirt, talking on a cell phone in a room with white panel walls.
© Kaboompics.com/Pexels.com

Traditional dark suits feel heavy in the heat and out of place in the sun. Opt for light gray, beige, or powder blue suits in linen or cotton. These fabrics breathe better and look sharper at daytime weddings, work events, or date nights. Light suits stand out in the best way.

Summer Ready Footwear Matters

A young man sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a white wall, wearing a white t-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers, looking upwards.
©SHVETS production/Pexels.com

Your shoes shouldn’t weigh you down. Switch to lighter tones like white sneakers, tan loafers, or sand colored espadrilles. These styles match the rest of your summer wardrobe and help keep your overall look cohesive. Avoid bulky black or dark brown shoes during peak heat.

Light Layers Still Belong in Summer

A man with curly brown hair and glasses standing by a window, wearing a white t-shirt and a rust-colored button-down overshirt.
©cottonbro studio/Pexels.com

Even in warm months, a lightweight jacket or overshirt has its place. Choose breathable fabrics in sand, fog gray, or pale olive. These tones layer easily over tees without feeling stuffy. It’s about staying prepared and polished.

Texture Keeps Light Looks Interesting

A man with light brown hair and a beard standing outdoors among trees, wearing a white button-down shirt and rings.
©Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels.com

Lighter tones can sometimes feel flat, but texture fixes that. Try slub cotton, seersucker, or linen for visual interest and airflow. These fabrics add depth while staying breathable. It’s how you keep a simple outfit from feeling basic.

Match Accessories to the Season

An overhead flat-lay of various men's accessories arranged on a gray surface, including a brown leather bag, wallet, belt, shoes, sunglasses, watch, camera, striped shirt, and light blue scarf.
©Lum3n/Pexels.com

Heavy black belts and dark bags don’t belong in summer. Opt for woven belts, tan leather, or canvas accessories instead. Lighter accessories complete the warm weather look without clashing. It’s the detail that shows you’ve thought it through.

Keep Your Clothes Clean and Fresh

A man with brown hair standing in a laundromat with washing machines, wearing a white t-shirt and a white button-down shirt, touching his neck.
©Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels.com

Lighter colors show sweat and stains more easily. Use an undershirt to manage sweat, and carry stain remover wipes if needed. Prioritize breathable fabrics to stay dry. A crisp, clean look starts with good habits.

Grooming Is Part of the Look

A close-up of a man's hands adjusting the cuffs of a white button-down shirt.
©Caleb Oquendo/Pexels.com

When you wear lighter colors, everything else gets noticed more skin, hair, and nails. Stay groomed with trimmed body hair and clean nails. Use an oil free moisturizer with SPF to protect and control shine. Your grooming should complement your outfit, not compete with it.

Go Tonal for an Elevated Look

A Black man with a shaved head and glasses sitting on a bed, putting on white sneakers, with an open suitcase and clothes nearby.
©Julian Jagtenberg/Pexels.com

Try wearing multiple pieces in the same color family for a sleek vibe. Pair a light blue polo with soft gray trousers, or beige on beige with a touch of texture. Tonal outfits feel intentional and modern. Keep silhouettes tailored for best results.

Light Colors Help You Stand Out

A smiling man with light brown hair sitting on a colorful crosswalk, wearing a white t-shirt, denim shorts, and white sneakers.
©Nicholas Swatz/Pexels.com

In a crowd of dark outfits, lighter shades make you pop. They show confidence, awareness of seasonal style, and effort. You’ll feel more at ease and look more in control. That’s powerful style with very little work.

Let Your Look Reflect the Season

A man with dark hair and sunglasses standing outdoors with trees in the background, wearing a light-colored patterned button-down shirt.
©Safa Bakırcı/Pexels.com

Summer is about ease and lightness, your clothes should reflect that. Choosing lighter tones aligns your outfit with the season’s mood. You’ll look cooler and more in sync with your environment. It’s subtle, but it makes a big difference.

Start With One Light Piece and Build From There

A portrait of a young boy with his arms crossed on his chest in the soft shadows of the setting sun.
©Artem Balashevsky/Pexels.com

If you’re unsure where to begin, start small. Try a white tee, a pair of tan chinos, or some light sneakers. See how it feels, then expand your palette. The goal isn’t to overhaul overnight, it’s to evolve confidently.

Clothing and Style ethical clothing, sustainability, Tentree

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About TMM Staff

The Modest Man staff writers are experts in men's lifestyle who love teaching guys how to live their best lives.

If an article is published under TMM Staff, that means multiple writers worked on it. For example, sometimes several of us have experience with a certain brand, so we collaborate to publish a more thorough review.

Or, if an article was originally written by one person, but then it was updated by someone else, we'll re-publish it under TMM Staff.

Remember: all of our articles (including those below) are written by real people with decades of combined experience in men's fashion and lifestyle topics.

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