Garden Party Attire for Men
From LoveToKnow Men's Fashion
For summertime gatherings in outdoor settings, garden party attire for men will be suitable for most occasions. Men may wonder what constitutes garden party attire. Are white slacks appropriate? Will sandals look all right? While the time and venue will mostly determine what you should wear, following a few simple rules will help you dress accordingly.
Garden Party Attire for Men Basics
Because most garden parties take place in warmer months, wear clothes suitable to the season. This can include materials like light cotton, silk and linen. Lighter colors and tropical prints work well for outdoor parties. Consider these tips when choosing your outfit for your next garden soiree:
- Slacks: If your invitation specifies a particular dress code, such as cocktail or dressy casual, slacks should be worn. If casual is preferred, then shorts are fine. In either case, you want to look polished even though you’ll be spending much of your time outside. White, beige or madras print slacks and shorts, in cotton or linen, will look crisp, clean and cool. If you prefer darker colors, chocolate brown and navy blue also work well, as well as black shorts paired with a light colored shirt.
- Shirt: Short sleeves will keep you comfortable in the heat. A Polo top or loose, button-up shirt are dressier than your average tee. Stick to cotton and linen to play it cool. One of the nicer aspects of linen is that although it wrinkles easily, it adds to a distinct rumpled appearance that says you didn’t try too hard, even if you did.
- Shoes: Boat shoes, loafers and sandals are acceptable footwear choices. If the party you’re attending calls for dressy attire, skip the sandals and stick to closed-toe shoes. Garden parties are still typically more laid back than semi-formal functions, so lace-up oxfords are probably too dressy.
- Jacket: You may or may not need a jacket or blazer, depending on the party’s dress code. A lightweight sport coat paired with slacks looks polished yet still appropriate for an outdoor venue.
- Hat: Hats are optional, but wearing one can make for a very elegant, sophisticated ensemble. Besides giving you a dapper air, a hat will shield you from the brunt of the sun. For garden parties, choose styles made of straw, such as the Boater or Panama.
Putting Together Summertime Chic
Your age as well as personal style influence where you shop and what you look for in clothes. Some style choices to check out include:
- Linen dress pants by Armani Exchange – These linen slacks are machine washable and available in walnut or white, two perfect colors for garden party attire for men. They’ll look good with a Bacco Bucci sandal or a Sperry Top-sider loafer.
- Polo tops are incredibly versatile. They come in a wide range of colors, including solids and stripes. The perfect casual shirt, they pair well with cotton shorts and slacks.
- If solid slacks are too basic for you, Madras print pants may be more your style. You can choose the color scheme you like best, but these busy patterns are best paired with solid shirts. Blue Madras pants will work well with blue, black, white or red tops. Just look for any complementary color in the pants’ pattern to see what color shirt will match.
Party in Style
There’s only several months of the year when you can sport garden party attire, so make the most of any spring or summer invitations you receive. You can generally expect to dress in a more laid back, relaxed style, which suits many guys just fine.
When in doubt about what to wear, it’s usually better to err on the side of more dressy rather than less, especially if you take a date with you or you want to impress anyone. Enjoy your mojitos, chardonnays, iced teas and other garden party drinks in style.
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This page has been accessed 5,018 times. This page was last modified 19:54, 13 August 2008.
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