Men's Style at the Sea: How to Look Good from the Beach to Dinner

A holiday by the sea is the one time when a man’s wardrobe shrinks to its minimum. The suitcase is small, the choices are limited, and this is exactly where it becomes clear how well you understand your own style. Those who do — pack little and look good everywhere. Those who don’t — pack a lot and still feel like they have nothing to wear.

The sea tests a wardrobe more honestly than any city.

Let’s start with swim shorts — the one thing on the beach you can’t hide under anything else. Length matters: mid-thigh, no lower. Too short looks dated, too long turns into trousers and loses any elegance. For colour — navy, olive, terracotta, deep green. If you’re unsure about a print — go solid. Quick-dry fabric matters too — swim shorts that get heavy in the water and take forever to dry make for a uncomfortable day.

On top — a light linen shirt to throw on, or a simple basic vest in white or blue, no prints. There’s one practical point I use myself — I take old shirts to the sea that aren’t quite right for the city anymore but work beautifully on the beach. The fabric is already broken in, the fit is relaxed, and it doesn’t matter if it gets wet or covered in sunscreen. That’s the right approach — things that serve their purpose to the end, each in its place.

For walking around town, linen trousers or light shorts on the bottom, the same shirt or vest on top. Keep it simple — the main thing is natural fabrics and the right fit.

For shoes — woven sandals that hold the foot properly, fleurianes, topsiders or light boat shoes. They work equally well at the water and on the promenade. Sand or brown sole — not white. For accessories — minimum. A watch if you wear one, a straw hat if the sun is strong, sunglasses with the right frame. One detail that works is better than three that get in each other’s way.

The one thing that definitely shouldn’t be worn to dinner is swim shorts. Everything else is straightforward: linen trousers, a shirt, a loafer. That’s enough to look right in any restaurant by the sea.

Linen trousers — light or dark depending on the shirt. On top a shirt — linen or cotton, short or long sleeve depending on the temperature. A loafer without socks or with invisible socks — leather or suede, warm brown or dark navy. If the evening is cool — a light summer jacket or a safari jacket. It’s both appropriate and adds the right level to the look without any effort.

And scent — in the evening it matters especially. Light, marine or woody, understated. People remember it even when they’ve forgotten everything else.

A good holiday wardrobe is built on three or four neutral colours that work together, a few pieces in natural fabrics, and one or two details that give the look character. A holiday isn’t a reason to dress worse. It’s a reason to dress simpler. These are different things.

At Elety we help men build a wardrobe that works in any context — in the city, at meetings and by the sea. On our website you’ll find a detailed description of each service — choose the one that suits you best. We’ll be happy to help.