Yep, yep. My summer garb usually defaults to shorts (usually baggy, camo, or cargo-style), new balance or etnies sneakers, and any number of weird t-shirts. The problem with this is that it gives me the appearance of being an approx. 17-year-old skater kid instead of a 26-year-old soon-to-be teacher. Don’t get me wrong, that garb is commensurate with my general personality, but there are times that I need to look a little more serious/my age.
What can I wear in the summer months to achieve this? I see a lot of guys just wear regular jeans during the summer, but that’s mindboggling to me - it gets hot as balls here to the point where I feel like I’m going to pass out while wearing shorts and t-shirts!
A lot of people here have expressed extreme distate for capris, but if you’ve got the right figure, they look good. Especially the longer ones (mid-calf). I’m really tall so I can pull them off. I have a pair in black, khaki, and white. Easy to dress up or down. I hate when adult women wear shorts (unless they are working out, pull them over swimsuit, required for job, doing yard work, in their home etc) because they just don’t look right to me. Women’s shorts are either baggy or very tiny. Neither are flattering.
I wear jeans a lot in the summer but that’s because I sleep all day and go out at night, and it’s not so bad.
Maybe instead of tshirts, add some polos, 3/4 dress shirts, camis? Nice summer blazer? Sandals?
eeeep no…VCO3 is a guy 
No capris!
One of my best friends is a 26-year-old teacher. When I see him in the summer he’s wearing jean shorts or khaki shorts, and a polo shirt or a t-shirt from his school (he’s a track coach so he has alot of school sports shirts). He wears alot of stripes or solid colors.
His shoes are just uh…you know, like regular “tennis shoes” as opposed to “skater shoes.”
He also wears a baseball cap most of the time which I think makes him look a little fratboy-ish…but maybe it’s a jock thing.
Polos are good, unless you hate them, in which case, I’m not so sure. I think one of the main things you might want to do is wear clothes that are not that baggy or loose. Wear things a little more fitted, though I don’t recommend creepy-guy short shorts. Regular tennis shoes, as ZipperJJ says, are good, too.
Yeah, I really hate polos and anything that hints at the fratboy or jock look.
Oh no! My mistake. Sorry! :wally
Um…hmmm…the polos are still my best suggestion for a guy - but you don’t want to look like a fratty. Don’t pop the collar and you should be fine. Match a plain colored one with a nice pair of shorts (down to the knee-ish but not baggy). Stay away from cargo shorts then - I like them but I also like 20 year old guys - and most I see are baggy. But if you really just won’t wear polos, maybe just plain tshirts? Like ones that don’t come out of a package and aren’t Fruit of the Loom. A nice plain black tshirt paired with khaki shorts would look nice. Stay away from jean shorts please. Plain sneakers. Maybe some mandals? It’s easier to look “more-grown up” when your clothes are simple, nice, and fit correctly. Maybe pair a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up with shorts.
There’s a pretty cool men’s magazine called Cargo that my brother reads. It’s about fashion, gadgets, food, lifestyle, etc for men.
Perhaps start perusing this mag at the newsstand and pick up an issue or two when they start talking about summer clothes.
There really aren’t a whole lot of options for warm weather wear (especially for guys). One of the most important things you can do is make sure all your clothes are in good repair, even if you are just wearing a T-shirt and cargos. Don’t slouch around in that favorite pair of camo shorts with the hole in the ass and a concert T from '92 that’s so thin it’s transparent.
I think real running shoes like New Balance say “adult” and not “skater boy”. It’s not like they’re Vans. You coudl also try a decent pair of Tevas.
Best thing to do is to go to a men’s clothes store that has salespersons walking around, on a quiet shopping hour, and ask them the question you asked in the OP.
Don’t go to a store where the underpaid teenage personnel is just there to hang clothes back on racks; and don’t go to a posh store where the clothes cost more then you’re willing to spend and the experienced shopkeeper will make you feel a ridiculous, underdressed, cheap slob if you don’t buy all he advises you to.
Somewhere in the middle lies the ideal shop. You’ll find it.
Or take a female friend shopping with you. You’ll do them a HUGE favour. Beware of the experienced shopkeeper effect, though.
Baggy T-shirts are probably your problem. You could get away with the same shorts (unless they’re jean) but look more “grown up” by wearing a more form fitting t-shirt and a light weight short sleeve button-down shirt over it…but the shirt doesn’t need to be buttoned if it’s really warm out. And I bet your wife would like the look The guy in this picture has no head, but this is more or less what I mean.
Get above-the-knee shorts if your figure supports this look. Stay away from dressing in Graf Zeppelin. Stay the hell away from crap that hangs from you and shows your crack.
This is difficult to find, I know…oh, gawd, I know.
If polos don’t suit you, get some summery cotton button-down shirts with pleasiing patterns, nothing too radical. Depends onyour build, but consider both tucking them inside the shorts or leaving them outside the shorts. Wear a belt in any case.
Stay from sandals. Flips are OK, but think of boat shoes w/o socks. Casual sneakers with or without socks are OK.
It’s all relative; just beat neat.
Shoot…
Stay “away” from sandals.
Just “be” neat.