Lighten Up: A Summer Uniform to Adopt On-Duty and Off

Every few months, I see a lovely doctor here in New York for a consultation to confirm that, Yes, please, I’d like more Lexapro. No, no big changes in mood. Yes, it still feels like the right dosage for me.

And I’m on my way.

She and I have been doing this dance so long that seeing one another feels more like catching up with a favorite former co-worker.

On our most recent visit, she was dressed in shades of white from head-to-toe, looking like a Greek goddess, or a character from a Nora Ephron movie. I had foolishly decided to walk the twenty blocks downtown, in a heat wave, so had arrived sweating like a dog who had been sent to the backyard to get out their zoomies. I remarked on how lovely—and cool—her outfit looked.

“Oh, I always dress in white in the summers. It makes laundry easy, and psychologically it has the effect of making me feel less hot.”

Genius. This is why she gets to dole out SSRI’s and I don’t.

So I thought I’d find some similarly summer-ready men’s white outfits for you.

Don’t worry. These aren’t ’90s boy band, billowy linen on a beach for a slow song’s music video looks. They’re not even head-to-toe white, either. Instead, you’ll find shades ranging from eggshell all the way to beige. The range!

Bottom line? These light-colored outfits are meant to inspire a “Stay cool” state of mind, not make you break out in a romantic bridge.

Get inspired with light colored outfits for men:

Wear to work

The denim jacket and navy bag adds a punch of color to an otherwise monochrome look, but this outfit will work just as well if you need to take the coat off when it gets too hot.

Easy breezy. You can swap the loafers for a chunky sneaker if that’s more your vibe.

The casual office equivalent of a summer suit.

On the weekends

Don’t overthink it!

A white t-shirt and light-colored shorts will always do the trick.

Or, swap the shorts for a pair of tan-colored chinos.

Peel off the cardigan once you get outside.

Don’t want to look too matchy-matchy? Swap the tan-colored top for something closer to white.

On vacation

Planning a European summer vacation?

This is when you get to lean all-l-l-l the way into linen.

Add a ribbed tank (or are we still calling them wife pleasers?) underneath if a bare chest feels too scandalous.

Dog optional. Bandana is mandatory.

10/10. No notes!