Summer suiting – the Florence edit
Menswear guys talk a big game about linen suits.
They’re cooling in hot weather, the summery shades are ideal for destination weddings, the creases add character to your look. Linen: it’s the original performance fabric, they say. AC you can wear, no less. A few even claim a cream-coloured double-breasted might make you feel like an Amalfi coast don.
And who are we to swim upstream? We’ve boldly dropped similar statements ourselves. But this summer, for the sake of transparency, we decided to back them up with uncompromising, boots-on-the-ground research.
Which brings us to Florence. We recently visited for the summer edition of Pitti Uomo, where daily temperatures topped 35°C. To make the most of the hectic schedule of outdoor shindigs while staying as chilled as possible, we wore our latest collection of linen suits almost every day.
There were suits cut from beautiful Italian-woven linen, the jackets unlined for maximum airflow. Luxurious wool, silk and linen blends stayed cool while cutting down on creases. Elsewhere, linen shirts and pleated shorts served as easygoing options for the week’s more casual get-togethers.
Granted, these outfits didn't exactly feel like a cold plunge in a commercial walk-in, but they did keep things breezy despite the boiling temps.
It might not be AC you can wear, but we wouldn’t want to wear anything else when it’s this hot.
