How to navigate the heatwave in style

In the very best Irish linen, Edward Sexton's safari shirt is a sophisticated alternative to tailoring. Its bellows breast pocket comes in handy as a substitute for the compartments you’ve lost with your jacket. Holding a natural breathability through its high-quality linen, Magnus & Novus’s ‘Weekend’ leisure shirts would be an excellent addition to your shirting repertoire. There's hardly a situation when a polo shirt can't do a job in the summer months, particularly the ones rendered in the perspiration-absorbing terry cloth.

Jackets

Some may frown at the idea, but there are ways to incorporate tailoring into your outfit in a heatwave. Now that many of the most esteemed British bespoke tailors have entered the ready-to-wear space in the last 10 years, this has become a lot easier. The Rake’s stance is that classic style is perennial, even in stifling temperatures. Deconstructed with a rakish silhouette, Savile Row-based Byrne & Burge's olive linen single-breasted jacket is the perfect example of how classic style can be sustained in the sizzling heat.

Purposefully designed to combat the tropical humidity in Singapore, any one of Sacco’s ultra-light tailored jackets would be a suitable choice on British shores. Completely unlined and deconstructed they’re the perfect jacket for a summer on the go. For something a little more casual, the white and tan unstructured cotton seersucker Lazyman jacket from The Anthology, which is functional-yet-chic would be a shrewd investment.

Trousers

You know you’ve worn the wrong trouser when it starts sticking to your leg. You will have no such trouble with the best-selling Alexander Kraft Monte Carlo cotton and linen twill Riviera trousers in cream. An elegant pant, they’re suitable for informal and more dressy settings. There’s been a surge this year of well-known artisans producing classic-cut drawstring trousers. Rubinacci, Kit Blake and Informale are three brands to look out for when it comes to linen drawstring trousers with traditional trimmings.

Shorts

If you happen to be lodged in the ancient city of Syracuse, Sicily on the Ionian Coast, where 48.8 degrees Celsius was recorded the other day, we would very much advise wearing swim shorts for as long as you can. In vintage-inspired hand-painted designs, cut shorter up the thigh, Ripa Ripa are the go-to swim short brand. Elsewhere, you can find breathable shorts cut in the classic style from Magnus & Novus, Anderson & Sheppard, and Informale.

Guy Madison

Accessories

The deliberation of wearing a hat or not in a heatwave is actually quite a serious one. If you don’t carry much hair, a handwoven Panama hat from Hat of Cain will protect your head from sun damage, whilst you will also look like you’re navigating the heat with real poise. For a cool pair of shades one could head to Curry & Paxton or The Reference Library. More of a luxury, the Rado, The Rake and Revolution Captain Cook "Ghost Captain" Dive Watch can be your official timekeeper whilst seeking refuge in the sea.

Shoes

There's a time and a place to wear loafers and no socks, and during a heatwave is one of them. Loafers which are neater in profile do help you pull off this look, and there's none as chic as the Sagan stride loafers from Baudoin & Lange. Elsewhere with an element of distressed elegance, woven loafers and espadrilles are foolproof heatwave choices. Head to Gaziano & Girling for woven loafers and Manebí and Scarosso for colourful and energetic renditions of espadrilles.