3 Easy-To-Wear Smart Casual Summer Outfits For Men (Mini Capsule Wardrobe)

Thanks to our friends at Anson Belt for partnering with us to make this article possible.

Looking for a few sharp warm weather looks that are still comfortable and laid back? You know Effortless Gent’s got you covered.

Smart casual outfits are our specialty, and in this article, we’re gonna go over a few summer-friendly versions.

So when it comes to smart casual summer outfits for men, there are tons of possibilities, but in the interest of not overwhelming you, we’ll throw out a few key pieces to start—many of which will probably already be in your closet—and we’ll put together outfits from there.

That sound good? Let’s do this.

Summer Outfits For Men: A (Lean) Interchangeable Capsule

Remember: there are plenty of options to build a smart casual summer wardrobe, more than I could possibly list in one article. So I’m gonna focus on this particular capsule that I’ve been wearing with relative frequency. That way, you can rest assured knowing that it’s been tested firsthand, that it looks great, and that it’ll keep you feeling (and looking) cool.

Bonus points: It’s lean and interchangeable, meaning you can mix and match every item and come out with a great look!

Adjust this list of clothing as needed, according to your particular preferences and level of comfort when it comes to fashion-forwardness (meaning if you want to be more fashion forward, go for it! If you want to stay more traditional and classic, that’s fine too).

Start with these items:

Olive & off-white shorts

You might be wondering: Why not navy or grey? Well, there’s a good chance you already have those colors, but I wanted to (not so subtly) convince you to add olive and off-white (or cream) shorts to your summer wardrobe as well.

They’re just as versatile, even though you may not have used them as much in the past. And if that’s the case, consider this good practice for mixing and matching new color combos. 

Tan Belt, Red & Blue Stripe belt

These belts from Anson are the only ones I’ve been wearing the past 5 years. I have several straps in different colors and materials, and buckles in both yellow and white metal.

For this capsule, I recommend the tan buffalo veg-tanned leather strap and the navy with red stripe cloth strap. I chose the traditional buckle in antiqued gold and the classic buckle in gunmetal (but really, you can go with any style of white or yellow metal you like).

They have this option to get a box set, which I think is the ideal choice because you get a multitude of belt strap and buckle options that’ll definitely cover all your outfits.

For this capsule wardrobe I’m featuring here, you get 6 belt combos. Check it out:

And luckily for you, Anson is an Effortless Gent partner! So they’re hooking our readers up with something special:

Light grey T-shirt

I’m a huge fan of light heather grey T-shirts year round, but especially in the summer when charcoal, black, and navy can feel a bit too dark and hot.

I still do wear all these colors (as well as the lighter and pastel shades), but if you present me with all these options, most of the time, I’ll reach for my heather grey T-shirt first.

Short sleeve chambray shirt

I love a good chambray shirt year round. In the summers, I gravitate towards any short sleeve style with a button down collar.

Lightweight, breathable, looks great, goes with everything. I stick with the lighter blue shade similar to this one above, especially in hotter weather.

Navy polo

The navy polo is another sharp option to keep at the ready. Something about a well-fitted navy polo either gives me that nautical vibe (perfect for summer) or a slightly dressed up look.

Switch your off-white shorts to tapered trousers and you’re good to go for a nice dinner al fresco.

Stripe camp collar shirt

This camp collar will be your more casual, summer-ready option, easily done with the shorts we’re featuring here, but also with linen pants if you have them in your closet.

I usually go for an easy wide stripe, but you could go with a more interesting pattern (like the one above) if you’re feeling it.

White canvas sneakers

Something simple and straight-forward, a nice canvas sneaker is low-maintenance, easy to throw on with a bunch of outfits, and stays cooler in warm weather, unlike the other types of sneakers we normally wear.

Of course, you can’t go wrong with an elevated, minimal white sneaker… but if it’s hot out, those bad boys won’t keep you cool.

Navy espadrilles

The espadrille is another wildcard, but honestly, more unique than your standard options and fits right in with any men’s summer outfit.

They have a vacation-ready aesthetic, perfect for hot weather, and you can wear these in the city just as easily as you can by the pool (but let’s be honest, they’re made for the beach and pool more than the city streets).

Socks and jewelry (like rings, necklaces, bracelets)

No-show socks are the basic default choice. The ones you see here are from Falke. I’d also consider a crew length cotton sock in interesting colorways if you want to punch up the outfit’s interest a bit.

And as far as jewelry, this is where I’d encourage you to really flex that style muscle! If you aren’t sure how to pull off jewelry yet, I have a whole site dedicated to wearing men’s jewelry, so definitely start there!

What should guys wear in summer?

I’m gonna be honest, this little capsule could take you through the entire summer season! But at the same time, you can expand on this really easily. (You’d probably get tired of wearing the same four shirts… or you might need to put on pants once in a while… totally understandable.)

But for now, let’s work on getting some outfits together from these pieces and go from there! Again, not trying to overwhelm you, so I’ll just give you three solid options.

If you want more, all you have to know is that, because of how this capsule is designed, it’s entirely interchangeable.

Pick a shirt, pick a pair of shorts, pick your favorite pair of shoes, slap on your Anson belt and your jewelry and accessories, and you’re good to go!

Outfit 1

You’ll notice these outfits are mostly menswear neutrals, which contributes to the interchangeability of it all.

This outfit can be worn with or without the chambray over the T-shirt. I like wearing a second layer (in this case, the button-up shirt) open, which is a casual yet more interesting look overall.

And because the outfit’s colors are relatively muted, I went with the navy and red stripe belt here. It’s a little cliché to say “add a pop of color” but I think doing it in this way looks classy and understated (but still interesting and cool!)

Outfit 2

With light khaki / stone / off-white shorts, you can wear pretty much any color shirt. In this case, the red color, geometric pattern, and breezy camp collar style screams “vacation mode”… or at least, “weekend mode”.

If you haven’t worn espadrilles before, think of them like elevated Vans slip-ons, you know, the shoes you wore as a kid. These are perfect for summer, are worn without socks, and can be thrown on any time, including when you’re at the beach or pool.

Outfit 3

I love the lighter, punchier colors of the belt and shoes against the darker shades of this outfit. This is one way to create an interesting look without going too over-the-top. It’s still a very put-together, sharp look that exudes a quiet confidence.

Also, did you notice how a tan or cognac-colored belt goes with almost every outfit? I use this belt 95% of the time, not even kidding. Only time I don’t is when I’m wearing a pair of darker brown or black leather shoes, or a dark brown / black leather jacket.

And if you’re more drawn to the red / blue stripe cloth belt (I know I’m more partial to a colorful belt some days) you can easily sub it in for any of these outfits.

Pretty sweet, right?

How can men look better in summer?

Understandably, it’s hard to dress well during the summer months. Not only is it hot, but you’re wearing fewer layers, which means less of an opportunity to put together interesting looks.

But with the right pieces, you can still put together an awesome outfit that keeps you looking sharp, and that you’d be proud to wear. Hopefully the small capsule we assembled in this article does exactly that for you.

Any questions about these outfits or this mini interchangeable capsule summer wardrobe? Feel free to hit us up on Instagram. And be sure to design your own belt / buckle combos over at Anson Belt.

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