The Summertime Setup for Getup: Part 1 - Fashion Advice from the Guy Who Mostly Wears Sweatpants

Recently, I had a discussion with Marissa Rotolo of The Breakroom. Give her blog a read, she knows what she’s talking about in modern chic, pop culture, and style. Initially, I wanted some tips on what it’s like writing a blog, how to stay consistent, and how she found her niche. Then I realized something far more critical.

Summer is just around the corner. Some people think it’s already here. So, we have to have a serious discussion about what to wear, when to wear it, and what events require certain styles.

Guys, let's admit it, we live in an era where men can wear just about anything, and they won’t catch a lot of judgement. I’m not so sure that’s a good thing. How many Miller Lite t-shirts and trucker caps can we wear until we just become a copy of the next guy? This is coming from me by the way, the guy who wore hoodies, shorts, and baseball caps throughout his entire study abroad. I literally lived in the fashion capital of the world, (Italy, not France. Yeah I said it.) and wore the equivalent of tattooing “I’m an American!” across my forehead on a daily basis. 

For this series, I reached out to some friends I consider “fashion forward.” If you didn’t get the call, it’s not a diss I promise. These guys just have a vision that I think lends credibility to why we should take their opinions seriously. 

First, I’d like to offer my own opinions. I’ll start with a harsh truth: none of us are A$AP Rocky. You don’t have a deal with Chanel, you’re not the creative director of Ray-Ban, and you’re not married to Rihanna. Trust me, that’s just fine. Imagine that pressure! I couldn’t do it. 

But the good news is, you don’t have to be. Admittedly, I’m a stocky guy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have swag like that. I know a good outfit when I see one. So these are my thoughts on what we should be wearing this summer, and when to wear it. Each of these articles will be based around the four major components of an outfit: 

1. The Upper Deck (Shirts)

2. The Lower Deck (Pants)

3. The Keel (Shoes)

4. The Sail (Accessories)

At the onset, let’s address the upper deck. If you’re attached to that reliable faded tee with the Coors Banquet logo on the front, and the mountains on the back, that is totally fine. Everyone’s got one, you aren’t alone. But why not add to that? No one’s saying you can’t throw a layer on top. Try an open knit shirt. This has more uses than just saying “My room isn’t a pigsty.” Say your friends dragged you to that awful crowded bar you hate, and you forgot to wear an antiperspirant. For one thing, shame on you. Antiperspirants and deodorants are a MUST. But, the Uber was outside, and you just weren’t quite ready. The knit shirt will hide the sweat gathering in your armpits, and might actually make you look like you tried. 

I’m a recovered Hawaiian shirt addict. I wore them literally all the time throughout freshman and sophomore year of college. I wish I was joking. Don’t get me wrong, Hawaiian shirts are always fun, but like any outfit, it cannot be the main piece. In retrospect, I should have looked into a floral shirt, and definitely should have varied my style a lot more. The colors I wore regularly clashed too much, and in general, my wardrobe was ill fitting and over the top. 

You never want to be the guy who’s outfit says, “HEY! LOOK OVER HERE! I’M WEARING CLOTHES!” As I mentioned, I wore these gaudy Hawaiian shirts and I paired them with (and I can’t believe I’m telling you this) Jordan 1s, with pink laces. Pink. Fucking. Laces. Imagine being the girl at the bar I was trying to talk to that night. Some guy is talking to you, thinking he’s being “smooth” like Will Smith in Hitch, and he’s got a Hawaiian shirt on, with pink laced shoes. What was I doing? 

If you’re going to go bright, maybe keep it in one place. Think of Don Jonson in Miami Vice. That’s another good rule of thumb to keep in mind. Put an outfit together, look in the mirror, and ask yourself: “Would this look good standing next to a Ferrari Testarossa?” If the answer is no, it may be time to head back to the drawing board. 

There’s also an argument to be made on behalf of a Polo. While not as breathable as your average golf shirt, the Polo shirt allows for that splash of color you may be looking for in your Friday night outfit. It’s not above board, and it won’t make any GQ headlines, but it allows for variety in an outfit. Although another thought process you may have to consider is, if you’re wearing this outfit to the office, should you really be wearing it to a summer party?

Arguably the most underrated part of the outfit is also the hardest part to style. Your lower deck does the heavy lifting of the fit, so it’s super important to find the pants that work for you. Despite my distaste for denim, (I’ve never been a fan of the feel of jeans, it’s a personal thing) I’ll admit that a solid pair of jeans goes well with almost anything. Some of my friends have advised chino style pants, which breathe better than khakis, and I’ve been told by a few people that jorts are the move this summer. The only advice I’ll give is to find the pair of pants that fit your dimensions and frame. 

Personally, I’ll be rocking the 5-7” inseam knit shorts this summer. They’re light, work with my frame, and aren’t the flashiest. They allow for a solid base of an outfit, and don’t pull focus from any other piece of the outfit. Just don’t let me catch you wearing your basketball shorts anywhere but your home, the gym, or the beach (and that’s a hard maybe.)

As for my keel, I’ll always be a fan of Nike Dunks. No, I’m not a skateboarder, I just think the style is timeless. As well, some will tell you you can’t go wrong with boat shoes, but make sure they fit the vibe of the event. The long socks and Sperry’s look is so 2016 it’s anticipating Travis Scott’s next album and telling you “yeah dude we’re taking the Metra downtown for Lolla tonight bro!” I left the boat shoe look behind a while ago, but again, I’m not here to tell you exactly what to wear. Just to make sure you wear it well. 

But shoes allow for a variety that no other part of your outfit will. Wearing black jeans on a chillier Saturday night at the rooftop bar? Pair them with some leather boots, or try a pair of Jordan 3’s. Whatever floats your boat man. Also, I mentioned earlier that I wore Jordan 1’s with pink goddamn laces. That was not a diss against Michael Jordan’s debut sneaker. It was a diss against myself. That shoe and that style will go down as classic, and if worn properly, sans pink laces, they will always be a yes. 

Finally, we address the sail of your outfit. Like most wind powered vessels on Lake Michigan, the sail is the part of the boat that gets to pop and show some personality. Some will tell you that clothes should remain cloth. I’m here to say that that’s hooey. If you pick the right accessories, your outfit can go from a 7 to a 9, and you only added two pieces. If you’re a ring guy, add ‘em. A solid watch never hurts.

Bracelets are dope too. Most guys I know, myself included, already wear a chain around their necks. Some may have religious inclinations, others may just be something their ex-girlfriend got them, and they forgot they even wear it. If this is the case, keep it under your shirt like you have been since you got it. That’s between you and the mirror. But if you feel you can rock the ostentatious chain, untuck it. Wear it loud and proud. I won’t be, but I won’t be judging either. 

Summertime allows for my favorite of all the accessories. Sunglasses. I stunt these shades proudly, (they were not that expensive when I bought them, guess I’m a trendsetter) and I think every guy should have a sturdy pair of lenses that compliment their outfit, whether at the beach, the brunch spot patio, or even in the dark, strobe-light filled room of the club. A good pair of sunglasses that pair well with any outfit will change your life, and on the highway? Forget it. You’ll feel like Val Kilmer in Top Gun. 

I will say, some styles of sunglasses have to be left in the past. In my opinion, the Wayfarer can go. They were fine for a while, but to me, they can be retired. Now, focus up because this next part is important. Pit Vipers, or the Oakley tactical style shades were never, ever, ever, ever in style. Fuck those sunglasses in their entirety. You may have thought they looked sick on the baseball field. They didn’t. If you want it broken down for you, just watch this. I get it, you wanted to look like a cool outfielder, you wanted to look like a Dominican outfielder. You didn’t then, and you don’t now. If you see those in the store, and the lightbulb goes off, please ignore it, and maybe schedule an appointment with a therapist. Couldn’t hurt. 

If there’s one thing I think you should take away from my opinions on fashion for this summer, it’s this: wear what you want…but less is more. As I posited earlier, if it wouldn’t look good standing next to a Ferrari Testarossa, is it worth wearing? 

I want to make it clear, I’m no expert in fashion. I literally decided this topic would become the next few articles I’m going to write on Monday. If you’re not a close friend, I won’t tell you your outfit is trash, and I won’t (outwardly) judge you either. Just find your style, and upgrade it. Fellas, it’s almost summer time. There’s no need to be subtle, and no need to be too bold either. Find the groove, and live in it. 

That’s pretty much all I have to say about this matter. Look forward to a couple more of these, as I’m getting opinions from some more qualified voices. In the meantime, I hope you have a great day. Thanks for reading.