The secret to looking expensive in summer isn't wearing more — it's wearing less, better. Breathable fabrics, relaxed tailoring, and a coordinated palette make heatwave dressing look effortless. Here's how to do it in 2026.
The summer rules
- Fabric is everything. Linen, linen blends, ice silk, and waffle knits move air and dry fast.
- Relaxed, never shapeless. Resort cuts drape — they don't sag. The shoulder should still sit right.
- Light palette, tonal outfits. Cream, sand, sky blue, olive, and white look cooler and read more premium.
- Tailored shorts only. Clean lines above the knee; leave baggy athletic shorts for the gym.
The pieces to build it
The matching resort set
A coordinated short-sleeve shirt and loose trouser is the single fastest way to look put-together on vacation. The Hamptons Resort Set does the styling for you, while the Como Waffle Resort Set adds texture and stretch. For a knit-forward look, the Hamptons ribbed knit set drapes beautifully.
Linen trousers
The warm-weather equivalent of pleated dress pants. The Amalfi double-pleated linen trousers and the Aegean linen-blend pants pair with everything from a tank to a blazer.
The warm-weather performance shirt
The short-sleeve Infinite Performance Shirt keeps a crisp collar in humidity and refuses to wrinkle — ideal for summer city days and travel.
Tailored shorts
The Nomad ultra-light performance shorts and summer cargo shorts are clean enough to wear with a tucked shirt and loafers.
6 summer outfits to copy
- Resort dinner: Hamptons matching set + leather sandals + minimalist watch.
- Coastal weekend: open waffle resort shirt over a tank + Amalfi linen trousers + loafers.
- Hot city commute: short-sleeve Infinite shirt + ice-silk trousers + white sneakers.
- Smart shorts: tucked contour polo + Nomad tailored shorts + clean sneakers.
- Beach-to-bar: Como resort set unbuttoned over a tee + slides + sunglasses.
- All-cream tonal: cream knit set + sand shorts + off-white trainers — the easiest "expensive" look there is.
In summer, effortlessness is the flex. Coordinated tones and natural texture will always outperform a loud logo.
Fabrics to reach for
- Linen & linen blends — breathable, relaxed, and better with wrinkles.
- Ice silk / performance blends — cool to the touch and sharp for city wear.
- Waffle and textured knit — add interest without adding weight.
Build your warm-weather wardrobe from the Executive Series for resort tailoring and Shorts for clean summer bottoms.