Evening, 24–30°C
Terrace dinner
Cream knitted camp-collar shirt, white ribbed vest, sand pleated trousers, tan suede loafers
The tonal look at its simplest. Add tortoiseshell sunglasses.
Outfits
Six outfits, ready to copy
Each outfit uses simple pieces in one colour family. Pick the occasion, copy the formula and adjust the colours to what you own.
Day, walking
City break at 32°C
Pale blue linen shirt, stone lightweight trousers, white leather trainers
Sleeves rolled once. Keep a light jacket in the bag for air-conditioning.
Smart, outdoors
Wedding guest
Light grey tropical-wool trousers, white fine-cotton shirt, sand unstructured jacket, brown loafers
Carry the jacket between ceremony and reception.
Casual, coastal
Beach to bar
Navy tailored shorts, ecru knitted polo, leather sandals
Shorts should finish just above the knee for a smarter line.
Smart casual
Warm office
Stone cotton trousers, fine white short-sleeve shirt, lightweight jacket on the chair, brown loafers
Jacket on when you meet clients, off the rest of the day.
Drinks, 22–28°C
All-olive evening
Olive knitted camp-collar shirt, olive-stone trousers, dark brown loafers
Two greens and one neutral. Texture does the rest.
The four-step tonal formula
- Choose one colour familyCream and sand, olive and stone, or pale blue and white.
- Vary the shadeOne step lighter on top, one deeper below. Never match exactly.
- Vary the textureKnit against twill. Linen against smooth leather.
- Add one darker anchorShoes, belt or sunglasses give the outfit a start and an end.
Want the ten pieces behind these outfits?
The packing list that makes more than a dozen looks.