Summer-Weight Sports Coat Helps You Look, Feel Cool

In this season of endless afternoons of sweltering, lots of people decide to get married outdoors.

If you’re a man who’s been invited to an outdoor wedding ceremony or reception or to some other fancy outdoor party that requires you to dress up on a 98-degree weekend, and all you have hanging in the closet is a collection of warm, woolly blazers and slacks, you’re not going to look cool.

You can get away with a bulky navy or black blazer by wearing it with a lightweight pair of slacks. “You could go with a light linen or even cotton slack,” said Mark Schell of Mark Schell Designs for Men in Corona del Mar.

But getting a summer-weight sports coat may be a good idea if you expect to be roaming under the sun more than once.

“There are some excellent light silk and linen jackets that you can wear with darker slacks,” said fashion consultant Brian Mayne of Mission Viejo. “With the right shirt and tie, they make a striking appearance.”

Black is acceptable for the hot outdoors, as long as you can stand the heat. “It’s really right for anything so you wouldn’t look out of place wearing black,” said Schell. “However, black, like other dark colors, absorbs the heat and will make you uncomfortable if you’re out in the sun too long.”

Light neutral colors are popular this year. “Look for shades of beige and natural, which are always good choices for summer,” says Schell.

A hot day where a jacket is required can also be the time to wear one of those fashion taboos--the short-sleeved dress shirt. “You can get away with it, but leave your jacket on,” said Mayne. “If you’re in a fashionable crowd, revealing a short-sleeved dress shirt under a nice jacket is a faux pas.”

At parties where you just need to dress “nice casual,” hot-weather apparel becomes more forgiving. “You don’t have to wear socks,” said Schell. “You can go with a nice sandal.”

If the event is very casual, you can get away with wearing a hat, but beware. “Hats tend to be gimmicky,” said Schell. “They call attention to yourself, which may not be appropriate.”

Sunglasses will probably be a necessity on a bright, sunny afternoon. However, try to resist the temptation of popping them in your shirt pocket when you go indoors.