By 
The British summer has a tendency to polarise. Some men are good at dressing for it while others most definitely are not. Within each sector exists a series of style tribes, each with its own defining look. Here, to help you figure out which you want to be part of (and to ensure you don't end up in one you shouldn't) is our run down to recognising six style tribes you're most likely to encounter this summer.
The Winners
1 | Bloomsbury Dad
A mid-ranker in London's literati, this chap looks a bit crumpled, even in a suit costing more than two mortgage payments. David Hockney is his style icon, so he's always in shirt and tie (weekends, too) and he abhors the skinny silhouette, evident in his wide-legged chinos. Holidays are in Cornwall with his life partner (he opposes marriage) and kids, where he wears scuffed old boat shoes and sits in the shade reading. He owns six pairs of British-made brogues, all in chestnut, and covets Margaret Howell chunky jumpers and Sunspel sea island cotton T-shirts.
Navy cotton-linen jacket, £515, by Boglioli. Blue linen shirt, £20, by H&M. Plum silk tie, £125, by Drake's. Beige pima cotton-twill chinos, £115, by Polo Ralph Lauren. Brown leather brogues, £255, by Paul Smith
2 | Post-Hipster
In 2010, the Post-Hipster (then, simply, Hipster) sported a full beard, perfect Brylcreemed hair and a lumberjack shirt. Now he's grown up, got a gym card and a girlfriend (maybe a Post-Hipster kid) and had a shave. He's left Shoreditch to own a fixer-upper in Walthamstow. He still favours functional-inspired clothing (APC Breton tops and Our Legacy fatigue jackets) but channels a sportier vibe. Expect Nike flyknits with skinny black jeans or, if going low key, silk-mix track pants from a niche brand he discovered in Seoul. Look out for the black leather Saint Laurent biker jacket he wears with near-religious fervour and his whippet, named Anouk or Margaux.
Black Free RN mesh trainers, £100, by Nike.
Black denim jeans, £140, by Tiger of Sweden. Black leather jacket, £2,590, by Saint Laurent. Bamboo printed shirt, £330, by Marc Jacobs.
3 | Signore Sprezzatura
Originally hailing from Italy, Signore Sprezzatura spends hours in front of the mirror every morning ensuring that he looks like he cares, but not too much (sprezzatura means studied carelessness). Resplendent in textured linen jackets, cotton waistcoats and immaculately tapered trousers (woven from silk and brushed angel hair, natch), no one dresses better for summer than he. On the Continent, he can be found perched on the edge of a Vespa staring into the middle distance. In the UK, you're more likely to find him nursing a double espresso at Colbert in Sloane Square. Oh, and if he isn't wearing sunglasses, you know that something is seriously wrong.
Brown leather bag, £2,020, by Berluti. Oatmeal wool double-breasted blazer, £1,490, by Brunello Cucinelli. White cotton shirt, £25, by Topman. Brown suede loafers, £255, by Russell & Bromley.
The Losers
1| Adventure Dad
His style icon is Ray Mears (or Brian Cox on a good day) and he prefers safari shirts, actual hiking boots (not fashion ones) and cargo trousers that zip off at the knee (brilliant in summer!). Never without a phone holder on his belt or cycling sunnies on his head, this is the guy you want in a crisis, though preferably not in your eyeline.
2 | The Over-Sharer
His summer wardrobe consists of short shorts, low-slung vests, double deep V-neck T-shirts and side-saddle mankinis. For The Oversharer, the moment the mercury hits anything above 15ºC is his cue to bare as much skin as possible. Unnecessary.
3 | Urban Surfer
Authentically, he is Antipodean and usually homesick. Urban Surfers are largely found striding South London streets in flip flops (or in his lingo "thongs" or "jandals") and boardies, with carefully mussed hair bottle-bleached to eyeball-scorching extremes.
