Say Goodbye to Sweat With These Lightweight Summer Suits
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EVEN WHEN summer is in full swing, you’re going to need a suit—an appropriate suit, mind we add—or two ready in your closet to wear, one for cocktail hours and dinner parties, and another for attending weddings. After all, this is the season for getting hitched. While as much as wearing suits in summer sounds like wearing a whole sauna on your back, we’re here to remind you of the boon that is summer suits for men and what makes summer suits the superhero of your warm weather wardrobe is simple: the fabric.
Gone are the days of '80s polyester monstrosity or stuffy wool blazers and pants that’ll have you sweating like a runner in marathons. For the best summer suits for men now bring tidings of lightweight fabrics like linen and breathable designs like seersucker to keep you as cool and collected as a (well-dressed) cucumber. Even better, below, we have tested and tried to the brim to find the 14 best summer suits for men that'll bring out your best sweat-free style.
Read more: Learn How Men's Health Tests Products
Whether you have a few summer weddings and beach weddings down the road, or are a regular at formal functions and need some appropriate summer cocktail attire, you’ll stay cool and look cool in these tested summer suits for men. From classic linen suits to charming seersucker suits, let your sharp, no-sweat formal style begin right here, right now.
Best Dress Shirts | Best Black Blazers | Best Linen Shirts | Best Button-Down Shirts | Best Summer Pants
100% European Linen Blazer
Matching Suit Pants: 100% European Linen Pants
Linen is a known godsend material for summer: it’s highly breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying so that you will never feel clammy on dog days—see all the hype around linen sheets? Yeah. It is the fabric that'll let your skin breathe—and trust me, your skin will thank you for it. Which is why linen suits are the most ideal for formal summer fits. And Quince lets your score under $100 for both the blazer and pants. In a relaxed fit, it’s best for business casual. We love that it's completely unlined as well—truly summertime-friendly.
100% European Linen Blazer
$99.00
onequince.com
100% Linen Slim-Fit Suit Blazer
Matching Suit Pants: 100% Linen Suit Trousers
Great for copping a casual-yet-sophisticated look—especially with loafers—this fitted suit with a timeless tailored cut makes your suit the pinnacle of polished style, no matter the season. And it’s available in classic as well as trendy colors—which we've found to be great for casual days in the office or at a gathering. All in all, it is a suit that is as stylish as it is breathable, as comfortable as it is fashionable. While it is lined, we actually love the smoothness and coolness the lining brings inside.
100% Linen Slim-Fit Suit Blazer
$229.99
mango.com
Portuguese Stretch Chambray Suit Jacket
Matching Suit Pants: Portuguese Stretch Chambray Suit Pant
Chambray is truly an underrated warm weather material: its higher thread count makes it extra breathable, which means more airflow and thus will keep you cool in dry heat and humidity; it also looks rugged like denim and feels just as soft but much, much lighter. Bonobos makes chambray suits in more casual tones to help you dress up without looking bored. And you’ll keep chill throughout the summer thanks to the weightless feel and stretch material for easy movement, which our testers have found to be absolutely essential for commutes and office days.
Portuguese Stretch Chambray Suit Jacket
$425.00
Bonobos
Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket
Matching Suit Pants: Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Pant
Who says you need to break the bank for a summer suit that oozes coolness and luxury? Unlined and unpadded, J.Crew's Ludlow cotton-linen blend suit is the ideal option for the dude on the go that needs to stay comfortable, but still looks put together at a decent price tag. And since it's a cotton blend, not only does it work breathability wonder in summer, but our testing editor has also worn this suit in fall and spring to get the most out of its versatility, comfort, and swagger.
Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket
$248.00
jcrew.com
Carry-On Jacket
Matching Suit Pants: Carry-On Pant
Matching Suit Shorts: Carry-On Short
Meant to be packed into your luggage or duffle bag and taken out at the right moment, this vintage lived-in blazer and its matching pants are made unlined with breathable cotton twill to be extra cooling, and added with spandex stretch for even more comfort. In fact, on the first try, I couldn't believe how soft and cool to the touch the fabric is, and how easily I was able to put it on and move in it. In a smart-casual profile, it’s perfect for a beach wedding fit—especially since it also comes with matching dress shorts.
Carry-On Jacket
$178.00
buckmason.com
Dark Green Suit
This sharp, all-season option from SuitShop isn’t just a green suit—it’s a *green* suit. Made from 38 percent recycled polyester—the equivalent of about 25 water bottles—it’s a signature of the brand’s new eco collection, a big step toward what SuitShop hopes will become a fully sustainable and compostable line of apparel. Perhaps just as important, it looks and feels great thanks in part to the top-notch tailoring and construction, as well as the 5 percent spandex that gives the fabric plenty of room to stretch once you transition from dinner to the dance floor.
Dark Green Suit
$224.00
suitshop.com
The Ultimate Performance Suit
Made in one of the most comfortable things for summer—merino wool—the Ultimate Performance suit lets you keep chill throughout the summer thanks to merino wool’s natural weightless feel, natural breathability, temperature-regulating tech, moisture-wicking, and stretch material for easy movement. Don't believe it? Our testing editor has actually worn this to the office and a few events, so we certify here that it's a breeze.
The Ultimate Performance Suit
$549.00
charlestyrwhitt.com
Italian Seersucker Suit
Seersucker is always a go-to for lightweight, practical summer suiting that's quick-drying and hides wrinkles. The fabric has a puckered or crinkled texture that creates space between the fabric and the skin, thus allowing for more ventilation. In Todd Snyder's sophisticated navy, fresh blue, and elevated black, your swanky summer look will be cool as ever. And the seersucker fabric is as lightweight, thin, and breathable as it can come.
Italian Seersucker Suit
$766.00
Todd Snyder
Slim Fit Single Breasted Linen Suit
Why go with a safe cheap suit when you can make a worthy investment and a style statement in Reiss's high-end but still reasonably-priced linen ensemble? Featuring impeccable tailoring and a classic look, this is the linen summer suit that’ll get you through all the summer weddings, business meetings, or all those suit-required occasions. Whether you're attending a wedding, heading to the office, or just want to look dapper while sipping on a piña colada by the pool, it will make all the difference.
Slim Fit Single Breasted Linen Suit
$545.00
Reiss
Hamilton Sharkskin Gray Suit
Fact: wool is just as ideal for summer as it is for winter, courtesy of its natural properties that wicks moisture and ventilate, making it an unbeatable summer fabric like linen. Indochino, in particular, makes lightweight (at only 225 GSM in fabric weight!) but still 100% wool suits that will keep you feeling cool and dry, and this particular gray style is great for office and business fits. But our favorite part about Indochino is the brand's customization services: unless you're constantly in and out of bulking and cutting, you can get a perfectly tailored-to-you summer suit here.
Hamilton Sharkskin Gray Suit
$549.00
indochino.com
Wool and Linen Blazer
Matching Suit Pants: Lancet Slim Fit Wool Linen Trousers
Wool-linen is another blessing for summer style: wool guarantees elegance, comfort, and function, while linen provides lightness and crispness. Mixed with Ted Baker’s classic navy (and a few other neutral hues), this suit is a top-notch choice to avoid sweating all day at the office. Our testing editor also loves that it truly offers the best of both worlds—the coolness of linen and the comfort of wool. Although we found the fit is less tailored, it still looks sharp.
Wool and Linen Blazer
$495.00
Ted Baker
Herringbone Linen 3 Piece Tailored Italian Suit
Hawes & Curtis has been making suits since 1913, so the brand knows stuff about making suits for summer, like this linen suit that'll let you be the best-dressed guest at those upcoming summer weddings. We love that instead of stiff black or grey, this linen summer suit is available in fun beige and blue hues that'll make you stand out in casual events or summer weddings—just try not to outshine the groom, okay? And as a three-piece suit, it is extra classy without being boring for those with traditional tie situations. Or just skip the vest and wear an unbuttoned shirt underneath to keep it easy.
Herringbone Linen 3 Piece Tailored Italian Suit
$699.00
hawesandcurtis.com
Stretch Cotton Seersucker Havana Suit
Looking for a way to wear color without stepping too far out of your comfort zone? Look no further—Suitsupply's seersucker Havana suit comes in neutral and bright tones that add some pop to your suiting. Sport it with a pair of brown leather oxford shoes to dress your look up, or boat shoes for a more casual look. This seersucker suit will look especially good with a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses, too. Another one of our favorite parts about this suit is, of course, you guessed it, the stretch it offers.
Stretch Cotton Seersucker Havana Suit
$649.00
Suitsupply
Raiff Italian Linen Suit Jacket
Matching Suit Vest: Raiff Italian Linen Suit Vest
Matching Suit Pants: Raiff Italian Linen Suit Pant
Be the best-dressed guest at those upcoming summer weddings—or any traditional tie functions—in this three-piece grey herringbone linen suit made in a flattering sculpted fit. As a three-piece, it is impressive in terms of elegance and oozes out a gentleman flair like no other can, but we love that the windowpane check in cerulean blue takes down the stuffy vibe by a notch, making it a perfect piece to wear to smart casual events or beach weddings. While three-piece seems like a lot for summer, each is made in breathable, cooling linen that will beat the heat in layers.
Raiff Italian Linen Suit Jacket
$450.00
bananarepublic.gap.com
What to Look for in Summer Suits for Men
Fabric: For summer suits, the best materials are often light and breathable. Linen and seersucker make the top of the list: they're naturally breathable which means max ventilation and therefore max coolness. Silk, cotton twill, and some tech fiber blends are also easy and breezy for summer suits.
As we mentioned, thick wool suits are a no-go as the temperatures start rising, but thankfully there’s the option of tropical, lightweight wool that’s woven with larger gaps for breathability. And in case you need a refresher: lightweight wool is a top-tier summer fabric since it's naturally breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying. Merino wool, on top of that, offers four-way stretch and temperature regulation for an on-the-go summer style. A wool-linen blend, on the other hand, offers the best of both worlds: wool performance and linen freshness.
Fit: Because summer suits are often lightweight with softer constructions, it's easy for men to just opt for a looser fit that makes sense in theory for more comfort and breathability. But we want to warn you of how sloppy you might look in a not-properly-tailored fit—i.e., a loose-fit summer suit isn't one that'll actually keep you looking cool. Fit plays no role here, it's only the right fabric that'll keep you feeling cool, so don’t get lazy and skip the tailor. Or if you don't have the energy for tailoring, slim fit or tailored/tapered fit is your best bet.
Lining: A lining is the second layer of fabric, which is stitched to the outer. When it comes to the construction of your lightweight suit, unlined—and therefore often unstructured suits—will also keep you much cooler in the summer months because they lose the extra weight that a full lining adds to the suit (but you risk showing the full look of the outer shell fabric and the smoothness of sliding a blazer or trouser on and off). But because most linings are made of viscose, rayon, or even silk and satin, they're naturally cool to touch and breathable as well, and lightweight to boot. Therefore, while unlined is the best way to go for summer suits for men, lined suits shouldn't be too much of a concern to stop you from purchasing.
Color: You’ll have the best luck not sweating it all out by sticking to lighter and brighter colors like pastels and soft grays to absorb heat. If you are going for a black or navy style for an elevated vibe, just keep the above fabric and fit notes in mind.
How We Selected
To find the best summer suits, our editors and writers have personally tried on a variety of lightweight, breathable blazers and slacks in linen or seersucker and put them to the test on different occasions, such as to the office, a dressed-up party, or even a wedding. From there, our testing editors evaluated these summer suits by their price, performance (breathability, stretch, weight, and any anti-sweat and anti-odor qualities), and versatility to narrow down our selection to these 14 best summer suits for men. Specifically, we're looking for styles that are not trendy or trend-chasing (so no baggy fits or graphics here and there); instead, our picks of the best summer suits all fit great even on buff guys, provide a ton of value at reasonable price points, and come in designs that will look great years from now.
Why Trust Us
A product review story that doesn’t actually test anything hands-on or in person isn’t worth your precious time. Thankfully, we at Men’s Health don’t produce any of that nonsense. Therefore, rest assured that our product recommendations derive from first-hand experience, and you can read more about our testing process here.
In addition, we have a whole fashion closet in our NYC office dedicated to calling in, trying out, and selecting the best and newest watches. We put them on ourselves to see how they look on them before making our final decision. And as style editors, we constantly go into the fashion closet to feel and test a watch.
Lastly, you can trust our opinions on shopping recommendations, whether it’s the products, styling tips, or trends. Not only do we have Fashion Director Ted Stafford and Deputy Editor, Commerce Christian Gollyan, but we also have a panel of style experts—including stylists, fashion influencers, designers, etc.—whom we regularly seek shopping guides from. Therefore, our product recommendations and buying tips are all driven by professional, expert opinions.
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