How to Build the Perfect Warm-Weather Wardrobe

It’s a fantasy we’ve all had at some point or another: What if you just tossed your entire closet out into the street and started over from scratch? Which garments would be most crucial for establishing the foundations of a deeply stylish, wholly functional wardrobe? And what elements make up the perfect versions of each?

That was the thought experiment we ran through while compiling this list of 50 menswear essentials for the spring and summer seasons. (Keep an eye out for the fall and winter edition in our September issue.) Many of these pieces came directly from our editors’ own wardrobes—meaning they’ve been worn and loved and stood the test of time—and all of them were carefully selected to work in concert with one another, in near-infinite outfit combinations.
In other words: Own these 50 items—or some version of them—and you’ve got pretty much everything you need to dress impeccably through the warmer months. Happy hunting.