You work a lot, a whole lot. You also appreciate presenting yourself in the best possible way while you work. But, you deserve your time off to relax and unwind, and that doesn’t mean your look has to take a 180 from polished to sloppy. Casual, but smart, vacation style is essential and is actually pretty easy to accomplish.
For the guy on the go, packing light is a necessity. To keep your carry-on or garment bag manageable, stick with neutral colors that mix and match easily. Sure, we all have a favorite wild vacation shirt, and bringing one is fine, but don’t fill your bag up with them. Best warm-weather options for the smart packer are casual trousers made of cotton, shorts with some construction (no baggy cargos), and neutral, nonoversized polos and linen shirts.
A versatile, soft-shoulder sport jacket is also a must. The softer shoulder lends itself to a more casual look and the lighter construction is more cool and comfortable for warmer climates. A night out to a special event or restaurant requires a jacket. Pair it with a linen shirt with a true shirt collar or a polo shirt that fits properly and you will look your best while still retaining maximum comfort.
Days on the beach can be warm and nights a bit chilly. During the day, a pair of navy or any variation of blue swim trunks is required. Unless you’re a surfer, stay away from board shorts – they are far too long for the modern vacationer. At night, a neutral sweater in lightweight cotton or linen is a stylish and necessary accompaniment to battle the cool ocean breeze.
Finally, footwear is just as important as everything else in your wardrobe. You want to be comfortable, but also appropriate. Please, no sneakers with sport coats. Modern, casual loafers or driving shoes pair well with trousers or tailored shorts. They’re also easy to slip off when nobody is looking. Keep to browns and tans, they go with nearly everything and black is far too formal for a relaxed getaway.
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ON THE GO: With a little effort, it’s not hard to dress casually, but smart, while on vacation. / COURTESY PETER OSBOURNE[/caption]
All of these components are easily brought together and extremely packable. A little pro tip, when you arrive at your destination, unpack and hang up everything immediately to minimize wrinkles. After all of this effort, don’t let wrinkles put a crimp in your vacation style!
Marc A. Streisand is the owner of Marc Allen Fine Clothiers in Providence and Newport.
