Summer prints

Summer in menswear is all about brightening up your outfit with colour and flaunting some prints. Of course some are easier to wear than others, see my run below of the top 4 prints you should consider for additions to your wardrobe:

Stripes

The obvious choice for the man wary of prints. Stripes and summer go perennially hand in hand thanks to the sunshine associations of nautical and Riviera style. Nautical is generally quite a wide stripe and is all over the high street so you can't miss it. A Riviera stripe should really have a smarter note. A new stripe to consider comes in a seersucker fabric and is generally a softer shade than nautical or Riviera. Just wearing seersucker shorts or a shirt will conjure up images of beach huts and sand dunes.

Hawaiian

My personal favourite! Who doesn't want to wear a shirt that'll have everyone thinking of tropical paradise?! A note of warning though - if you're going for a Hawaiian shirt and don't want to look like an old man on the Florida coast, please make sure the shirt doesn't swamp you and has more tailoring to it than the average tent!

Checks

Phew, back to an easy one of the previous controversial print! For the last few years, checks have been everywhere in menswear, you probably already have 3 checked shirts in your wardrobe. If you're a classic check, in the style of a cowboy kind of guy, maybe branch out into gingham this season. It's a tad smarter than the American Midwest check but it's got a fresher look to it.

Tribal

A little bit more daring as this one is a recent introduction to the menswear prints repertoire that's spilt over from womenswear. I know they look a little scary but I think these trousers from H&M are perfect for summer holidays! They're 100% cotton, they have a soft comfortable waistband and a relaxed fit, what more could you want?! And they look just like Burberry's Ikat trousers (on the right) at less than 10% of the price! Just pair them with a plain jersey top, grey or navy would work well, and sandals. When they're on, they'll feel just like your comfiest sweatpants so hopefully you'll realise they're nothing to be scared of!

The onesie 'dilemma'

I'm just going to come right out and state where I fall on this divisive subject (if you couldn't tell from the post title): no, no, no, no. Seriously, no. Yes they may be the comfiest thing since Abercrombie sweatpants but trust me, they won't do anything for your sex appeal! And frankly, I'm confused why a grown man would want to take style tips from George Dawes. I mean it was the nineties and he was trying to look ridiculous; is that what you want from an ensemble? If your answer is yes then go ahead, be my guest. I'll just be sniggering at you from afar.

I am aware that Brad Pitt has been snapped recently strolling about in his onesie and the entirety of One Direction love theirs (although they were photographed wearing them at the same time - screams sponsored endorsement doesn't it?!). If you've not seen the photos of Brad, look them up; even he, who is undoubtedly one of the biggest male sex icons of the last 20 years, can't pull it off.

I can see that a onesie may be useful in the Nordic countries they originate from where it's cold and they don't get a lot of sunlight, so no-one can really see what you've got on. But in Britain? It's still light at 5.30pm here right now and it's never going to be cold enough to regress back to when you were a baby crawling around in a romper suit.

And how do you go to the toilet? There may be a very simple action for this but that's what I think every time I see someone in a onesie. Is that the first thought you want to provoke in people?

If I've not convinced you with this post, seriously, look up the pictures of Brad Pitt. Then put the onesie back on the shelf or hanger (I'm unsure how you'd merchandise such a garment) and step away. Maybe treat yourself to a nice new pair of baggy sweatpants instead, and successfully maintain your credibility and your dignity.