Seersucker Shirts - the Fabric of Milk and Sugar just right for the Summer Heat

OK not actually made from milk and sugar. Its name just originates from the Persian words ‘shir o shekar’ meaning ‘milk and sugar’ which apparently describes the smooth surface (milk) mixed with the bumpy texture (sugar)

This crinkly look is due to slack tension weaving mixed with normal tension which allows the fabric to breath and air to circulate freely against the skin, so keeping the wearer cool and dry. Plus you don’t need to iron, it’s meant to look crinkled. So it's an ideal fabric for the hot summer months and for travelling.

Seersucker shirts usually come in plaid or stripes.

Go for Lands’ End button down collar in fresh spring mountain green plaid.

Or their rich red Bengal Stripe.

Both priced at £25 www.landsend.co.uk

If you don’t like the crinkles, then there is always the Madras shirt. It may have a hot name but the light open weave of this cotton will keep you cool. Here in bright cyan and orange clay plaid. Price £25

Short Sleeved Summer Shirts

 The main draw back with short sleeved button down shirts is the actual short sleeves. A man with his long shirt sleeves rolled up says ‘sexy chic’ compared to short sleeves flapping around skinny arms or straining over stocky arms. But that is not to say the short sleeve does not have its place in a man’s style wardrobe, especially as beach or holiday wear.

Roll Up! Roll Up!

The solution for the skinnier arms is to roll the short sleeves up for a tighter fit.

Debenhams's Manteray shirt

Here the model in the Debenhams Manteray shirt has rolled up his sleeves giving a closer fit around his arms. The actual design – yellow horizontal stripes and buttoned chest pocket, also gives more bulk to the skinnier frame. Keeping cool in 55% linen and 45% cotton and the price won’t break you out in to a sweat either at £32. www.debenhams.com

Heatons linen shirt

For the guys whose arms are stockier, go for the longer length i.e. the sleeves which end nearer to the elbow. Unless of course it is all muscle and you want to show off your biceps.

 Heatons rich linen shirt has longer sleeves. Price £12 Here worn with linen rich trousers £14 and a straw panama hat £5 www.heatonssstores.com

Layering short sleeved shirts over tee shirts and leaving open flatters most body types. For the larger guys, it tends to slim the tummy as the open front acts as vertical lines which create the illusion of a slimmer you. Plus the shirt is loose and so there is no straining of the fabric around the mid section. And for the skinnier guys the extra layer gives more bulk.

Heatons check shirt with mock tee

If you are not very good at layering then Heatons have a check shirt with mock printed t shirt insert. Price £12. Worn here with cargo shorts £13 and laced toe cap canvas shoes £7.00

Linen long sleeved Shirts ideal for the Summer heat

A natural fabric which will keep you cool in the heat is linen.  For those really hot sticky days, linen is probably better than cotton as it quickly absorbs perspiration and doesn’t tend to cling to the skin in wet patches like cotton.  Any moisture dries quickly leaving the linen dry and cool to the touch.

Matalan Hampton linen shirt

 Matalan’s Hampton linen stripe shirt also has a cool price at just £18. www.matalan.co.uk

White Stuff Cook shirt

White Stuff’s Cook Shirt is 55% linen and 45% cotton with subtle stripes, contrasting lining and decorative stitching. £49.95 www.whitestuff.com

Summer Prints for Long Sleeved Summer Shirts

Don’t limit yourself to just checks and stripes, there’s a whole range of other patterns out there for summer shirts.

Next Paisley shirt

Its name may have derived from the Scottish town, but the paisley pattern is of Indian and Persian origin so is no stranger to the hotter climate. 

This paisley shirt (price £32) from Next looks right at home on the beach, teamed with straw Stetson £14, belt £18 and jeans £45 www.next.co.uk/men

Viyella Liberty print shirt

Floral patterns make great summer shirts such as Viyella’s Liberty print blue purple meadow shirt.

This purple and blue ditsy print flowers cotton shirt costs £49.50 

www.viyella.co.uk

 

Manteray flower print shirt from Debenhams

If you can’t take the leap from the safer stripes to the more flamboyant florals, then Debenhams Manteray blue flower stripe shirt may be a good alternative as it mixes floral and stripes. Features chest pocket and denim lining on its two button cuff so looks good rolled up. 

Price £32. 

Available from www.debenhams.com

And for the boys who love their toys, there’s:

Simon Carter's helicopter shirt,................ 

.... Simon Carter's motorbike shirt..........

........ and Simon Carter's airplane shirt.

Check out their website for stockists www.simoncarter.net

Check out the Summer Check Long sleeved shirts

Checks are always on trend, you just have to decide how big to go.

St George by Duffer

For the smaller checks there is always gingham. This pink long sleeved gingham check shirt from Debenhams St George by Duffer features a single chest pocket. Price £36 and also comes in navy if pink is a step too far. Here shown with the sleeves rolled up to give a more casual look but still dressier than the short sleeved shirt. Slim fit, cutaway collar and 100% cotton. www.debenhams.com

Eton Waterloo Sunset Collection

From Eton’s Waterloo Sunset collection is this larger checked poplin with city style collar at £140 proving a long sleeved shirt can look good when teamed with tailored shorts.

www.etonshirts.co.uk