After all the false starts and unseasonal rain, summer finally feels like it is here. The sun is out, at least some of the time, and the weather is warmer. For all the joys of the season, though, how to dress for the rising temperatures remains one of the great dilemmas. It can be difficult to square the two competing pressures: how to stay cool and comfortable while also managing to look your best. And that’s where the short-sleeved shirt comes into play.
A short-sleeved shirt is a staple and versatile piece, and an essential item as things start to heat up. It can work just as well thrown on over a pair of shorts en route back from the beach as it can when it’s more buttoned up and formal. By its very nature, a short-sleeved shirt is more relaxed than its everyday relative, but that’s exactly what you want for the hot summer days and nights ahead.
In the past, short-sleeved shirts have got a bad rep, bringing to mind the middle-management squares of the Dilbert comic strip. But they’re much more exciting than any of those old clichés. There are a million different variations and a million ways to wear them, each with its own merits. Some are more formal while others more casual. Yet more play with proportion, pattern and fabric. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together five short-sleeved shirts that you should add to your rotation ahead of the coming summer.
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01. The lacy shirt
There are obvious reasons that short-sleeved shirts are more suitable in summer – the short sleeves, for a start. And it’s possible to boost those benefits and embrace extra ventilation. Lace shirts have been around for a long time, but they’re currently in the spotlight for their mix of form and function. Admittedly, wearing a lace or semi-sheer shirt might be too daring for some, but for others it’s the perfect opportunity to make a statement while staying cool and comfortable in the warmer months.
However, a lace shirt is about more than just keeping things airy. The intricate pattern of these shirts, such as the one shown above, is an eye-catching detail in its own right. It manages to keep things smart and sophisticated, helping to transform the humble short-sleeved shirt from a warm weather necessity into something altogether more elegant. Here, it’s been styled with black trousers and a black crossbody bag, both of which keep the focus squarely on the shirt.
