It’s not fair that summer is wedding season. The very moment we’re able to shed layers and become our freest, most relaxed selves, basking poolside and driving with the top down, we’re required to don a suit jacket and trousers and, depending on the blessed events, various forms of underpinnings. A whiplash of contradictions, right?
But let’s shift our perspective. Having a laid-back, porch-sittin’, fun-in-the-sun mindset and looking appropriate—hell, looking great—in the summer heat aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, bringing some of those chilled-out vibes to dressing for warm-weather events will make you look cooler. The best summer suits don’t take themselves too seriously, and most could work well with loafers and a button-down or sneakers and a T-shirt. Soft shoulders, flowy cuts, patch pockets, and minimal (if any) flourishes all result in a sense of ease and versatility that sharp, woolen suits just can’t achieve. Think of suits for summer as an opportunity to elevate your wardrobe sans stuffiness.
Of course, keeping cool is paramount. It doesn’t matter how great your fit is if you’re sweating through it. The best summer suits are mostly made of linen or breathable cotton, although there are some excellent ones in other super lightweight wools or silk blends. And a standard-issue khaki suit is far from the only option nowadays. There are all kinds of styles available, from the most casual to those with a bit more structure or darker colors.
Need some suggestions? We’ve rounded up the best of the best summer suits for whatever occasion requires you to show up looking fresh. No stress.
Best Unstructured Linen Suit for Summer
Boglioli Unstructured Garment Dyed Linen Suit Jacket and Trousers
Boglioli specializes in the ideal summer suit adjectives: unstructured, garment-dyed, lightweight. It should be your first stop for the kind of relaxed-but-elegant Italian tailoring that warm weather calls for. Its dark brown linen suit here is a prime example.
Material: Linen.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Pleated straight leg.
Buy Now on Mr Porter (Jacket): $1,310
Buy Now on Mr Porter (Trousers): $545
Best Seersucker Suit for Summer
Todd Snyder Seersucker Madison Drawstring Suit
Seersucker has had its historic moments as a preppy staple, often cast in bright hues. But Todd Snyder’s take is something different. The designer has cut a softly tailored suit with drawstring trousers out of a jet black seersucker from Subalpino Mill in Italy. Get into this new direction.
Material: Cotton seersucker.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Tapered drawstring.
Best Hopsack Suit for Summer
Brunello Cucinelli Linen Blend Hopsack Suit
If you’re not on the hopsack train for summer, get on board. The term refers to a fabric’s weave—open and loose—which makes it ideal for that good-good airflow. With a linen, silk, and wool blend material and Brunello’s easy tailoring infused with Solomeo sunshine, you’ve got a killer summer wedding uniform.
Material: Linen, silk, and wool.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Tapered.
Buy Now on Bergdorf Goodman: $3,995
Best Silk-Blend Suit for Summer
Lemaire Black Double-Breasted Silk Blend Jacket and Trousers
The patron saint of French minimalism comes in with silk-blend taffeta separates that are distinctly left of center—shawl collar, belted jacket—without going too far past the point of suitdom. The lightweight material and roomy shape give the whole thing a welcome fluidity that’ll serve you well as things heat up.
Material: Silk-blend.
Jacket Type: Double-breasted.
Trouser Type: Relaxed and belted.
Buy Now on Matches Fashion (Jacket): $725
Buy Now on Matches Fashion (Trousers): $1,195
Best Chino Suit for Summer
Polo Ralph Lauren Soft Stretch Chino Suit Jacket and Trousers
Half-canvassed, naturally shouldered, and garment-dyed, Ralph’s relaxed spin on a double-breasted jacket with a peak lapel keeps it feeling nice and easy. He added some stretch and a soothing gray color so you can breathe a little. Skip the tie.
Material: Cotton and elastane.
Jacket Type: Double-breasted.
Trouser Type: Pleated straight leg.
Buy Now on Ralph Lauren (Jacket): $498
Buy Now on Ralph Lauren (Trousers): $298
Best Shorts Suit for Summer
Commas Peak Lapel Double-Breasted Linen Blend Blazer and Shorts
Ponder this: What if the breeze could flow freely on your legs while you’re wearing a summer suit? Sounds pretty nice. Commas pulls it off elegantly with its DB linen-blend blazer and pleated wide-leg shorts. If you’re not quite ready to commit, there’s a wide pants option, too.
Material: Linen-blend.
Jacket Type: Double-breasted.
Trouser Type: Pleated shorts.
Buy Now on Matches Fashion (Jacket): $1,255
Buy Now on Matches Fashion (Trousers): $395
Best Classic-Cut Suit for Summer
Dries Van Noten Kayne Cotton Gabardine Suit
Some summer events call for a sharper suit; the other relaxed separates on this list won’t quite cut it. This impeccably tailored suit by Dries will get you sorted with proper shoulders, notch lapels. and lining. And the cotton gabardine construction will stay looking polished and keep things cool.
Material: Cotton gabardine.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Straight leg.
Best Beach-Ready Suit for Summer
Orlebar Brown Cotton and Linen Blazer and Trousers
Yes, this is the same Orlebar Brown that makes your favorite tailored swim shorts. It keeps it’s commitment to a life of leisure with this unstructured linen and cotton blazer (chore coat-adjacent) and relaxed fit trousers in a dusty garment-dyed gray. Wear ’em together or break ’em up. Either works.
Material: Cotton and linen.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Relaxed straight-leg.
Buy Now on Orlebar Brown (Jacket): $595
Buy Now on Orlebar Brown (Trousers): $375
Best Patterned Suit for Summer
Itoh Plaid Cotton Blazer and Trousers
New Delhi-based designer Amit Babbar, who launched Itoh in 2018, looks to his time spent working in Japan (“itoh” means “thread” in Japanese) when creating his garments. He sources fabric from West Bengal, including the airy multicolored plaid cotton used for this workwear-inspired casual blazer and trousers.
Material: Cotton.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Relaxed straight-leg.
Buy Now on Matches Fashion (Jacket): $348
Buy Now on Matches Fashion (Trousers): $270
Best Three-Button Suit for Summer
Officine Générale Armie Unstructured Twill Suit Jacket and Drawstring Trousers
Pierre Mahéo at Officine Générale designs the kind of clothes that just makes sense. Like using cool-to-the-touch Lyocell and linen in this unstructured jacket (a far cry from a dressed-up navy blazer) and trousers. Consider this is your T-shirt and sneakers suit.
Material: Lyocell, linen, and cotton.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Tapered drawstring.
Buy Now on Mr Porter (Jacket): $645
Buy Now on Mr Porter (Trousers): $340
Best Power Suit for Summer
Giorgio Armani Double-Breasted Herringbone Suit
It just so happens that Giorgio Armani’s signature generously tailored aesthetic is ideal for balmy weather. With plenty of room to move and a go-with-the flow but subtly powerful vibe, Mr. Armani’s herringbone beige suit is perfect for summer—and asserting authority.
Material: Viscose, linen, and silk.
Jacket Type: Double-breasted.
Trouser Type: Relaxed pleated straight-leg.
Buy Now on Matches Fashion: $3,995
Most Versatile Suit for Summer
Dunhill Stretch Cotton and Silk-Blend Suit Jacket and Trousers
Jacket alone, trousers alone, or keep them together, Dunhill’s suit is just as cool paired up as it is worn separately. With patch pockets and a sage-y green color, it strikes the right balance of utility and refinement. It has a bit of stretch, too, so it won’t ever feel too stiff however you wear it.
Material: Stretch cotton and silk.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Straight-leg.
Buy Now on Mr Porter (Jacket): $1,795
Buy Now on Mr Porter (Trousers): $480
Best Tan Suit for Summer
Canali Kei Summer Suit
We all remember August 28, 2014: Suitgate. When President Barack Obama stepped out in a (arguably nice!) tan suit for a press conference and was thrown into the biggest scandal of his tenure. Canali’s tone-on-tone cotton suit should be far less controversial. It’s a solid option for balmy weather nuptials.
Material: Cotton.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Straight-leg.
Buy Now on Saks Fifth Avenue: $1,995
Best White Suit for Summer
Massimo Alba Sloop Single-Breasted Suit
This suit is right-out-of-the-crisper-drawer fresh. Besides its sun-reflecting (and therefore cooler) color, Massimo Alba’s perfect white suit has a subtly textured, natural hand that marks the thoughtful Italian craftsmanship. It’s Gatsby-level without all the fuss.
Material: Cotton.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Straight-leg.
Buy Now on Saks Fifth Avenue: $1,445
Best Bright Suit for Summer
Boss Light Blue Suit
When your suit matches the cloudless summer sky, you’re on the right track. Boss’s light blue separates offer a welcome alternative if you already have your neutral suiting locked down and are attending your 6,491st wedding weekend.
Material: Cotton and wool.
Jacket Type: Single-breasted.
Trouser Type: Slim fit.
