Here we are at last: it is time to declare the summer event season officially open. Weddings, of course, but also christenings, festivals, stag dos, birthdays and garden parties. Every year around this time, sunnier days and rising temperatures bring these occasions into full swing across the country, stirring both joy and hesitation in every guest's heart. Joy, for obvious reasons; hesitation, when the question of what to wear arises.
This year, we decided to get ahead of the game by putting together a curated selection fit for these special occasions. An anthology drawn from our Spring/Summer 2023 collection, designed to elevate each of these joyful moments.
An ode to lightness, naturally.
To navigate the season of celebrations, weddings and other garden parties with style without overheating, there are three factors to consider: fabrics, cut and colour palette. Three details we have naturally perfected to help you beat the heat.
When it comes to fabrics, we have given pride of place to organic cotton and linen. Blended or used on their own, they build on their respective qualities to offer fabrics that are naturally soft and light, absorbent and breathable, textured and thermoregulating. Alongside them, other eco-friendly materials are stepping into the spotlight, such as Tencel. Made from wood pulp, it takes centre stage on one of this collection's standout pieces: the green and ecru short-sleeved shirt.
In terms of cut, we have generally sculpted more relaxed silhouettes to allow air to circulate freely. While staying true to the timeless lines you love at Hast, we have stepped away from close-fitting cuts which, as everyone knows, are rather uncomfortable in summer. Anyone who has ever endured the sauna effect of overly tight clothing will welcome our straight and casual cuts with much-needed relief.
Finally, the colours of this collection are all about order and beauty, luxury, calm and pleasure. Whether you are attending a wedding, a christening or a birthday, simply pick from their radiant shades to find the ones that suit you. Paired with the texture of the selected fabrics, these equally natural tones will catch the light beautifully… and so will you.
The appeal of the monochrome look
A suit in summer: out of the question? The heat might suggest so, but nothing could be further from the truth. While a three-piece flannel suit would indeed be ill-advised, you can easily turn to summer fabrics to master the suit, even in the height of July. If the occasion or your mood calls for it, here are the ones you can rely on:
The light khaki linen and cotton suit. Lightweight and breathable, it catches the light and draws compliments effortlessly. In fact, its fabric weighs just 215 g/m2.
A statement piece in its own right, we suggest keeping the rest understated, such as with an undyed t-shirt or a white Pima cotton shirt.
Need to dress to the nines? The texture and colour of our patterned green tie will complement those of the suit to complete the look.
The ecru linen suit. Elegant lines, natural fabric and ultra-lightweight construction come together in a two-piece made for summer.
To offset the immaculate pale tone of the suit, we suggest pairing it with a more colourful piece to avoid monochrome monotony. Why not a green striped shirt, a chambray popover or a pastel t-shirt?
If you feel like accessorising, look to a silk pocket square, but remember never to upstage the groom…
As you know, you cannot go wrong with a blue suit. Especially with a blue virgin wool suit from Marzotto. Slightly heavier than the previous two, we recommend this one for the mid-season or cool summer evenings.
More understated, this navy blue fabric welcomes a touch of playfulness. A coral striped shirt and a club tie? For instance. Topped off with an embroidered cap for an Ivy League feel? Why not, let us go all in.
The art of separates
More versatile, the warm season offers a great opportunity to mix things up. In the realm of smart-casual, separates are king; and we have put together a few combinations to help you take the throne.
A reissue of the double-pleated linen and cotton trousers designed for our tenth anniversary, this style opens up a wide range of possibilities for summer.
For maximum elegance, you will likely want to pair it with a light-coloured shirt and a lightweight Fresco wool jacket, and we certainly would not disagree. In a more casual vein, nothing stops you from teaming it with a short-sleeved seersucker or Cuban collar shirt, or a linen and cotton shirt worn loosely unbuttoned.
This is the kind of piece that can do it all. Balancing boldness and classic style, our 100% linen flea blue jacket offers endless possibilities for putting together separates.
Pair it with chinos, a white t-shirt and a cap, and you will play up its character with flair. On the other hand, there is nothing stopping you from leaning into its elegance and wearing it with a touch of sartorial flair. With a striped poplin shirt and ecru pleated trousers? Yes, for instance, or with cotton-hemp trousers and a white and green wide-collar shirt. Spoilt for choice.
A standout, lightweight piece, our summer trousers in 55% cotton and 45% linen are made for those whom the heat has reluctantly forced into shorts. No need to worry: you can leave them behind with this airy, breathable and absorbent piece.
To celebrate, we suggest teaming it with canvas trainers and a colourful shirt. If you prefer loafers and a Supima cotton polo shirt, you will certainly have our blessing. Men of taste that you are.
Make it shorts.
Shorts, exactly! When temperatures soar, there is no doubt you will be drawn to their appeal. This pair is in cotton (76%) and linen (24%), but you will find plenty more to suit every need: a more classic style in 100% cotton, a dressier double-pleated version full of character; and even a water-ready option commonly known as "swim shorts". Whichever you choose for your festivities, never forget that last one: you would not be the first or the last to end up in the water before dessert, would you?
Our favourites.
As you might expect, it is impossible for us to "choose" between the pieces in our Spring/Summer 2023 collection. However, we can highlight the ones that, in our eyes, carry the strongest stylistic character. Not that they are harder to wear; they simply make a bolder statement and can effortlessly elevate an otherwise understated outfit:
Making a striking and well-deserved comeback, the blue 5-pocket trousers are to summer what a royal flush is to poker. With our ecru organic cotton jeans, you will have plenty of opportunity to see for yourself by pairing them with our natural t-shirts, linen shirts or polo shirts.
And since we are sharing tips, we think it pairs wonderfully with our merino wool polo shirt neck jumper. The texture of denim meets the soft drape of knitwear, creating pure sartorial harmony. Feeling a slight chill? Throw on a work jacket and you are good to go.
Speaking of jackets, it is hard to overlook this one.
Crafted by a Portuguese workshop specialised in tailoring, our deconstructed tailored jacket stands out for its well-judged refinement, halfway between relaxed and distinguished.
Worried about the heat? Its breathable cotton hopsack fabric should set your mind at ease. A versatile piece in mottled blue, emblematic of Hast's inspirations and a witness to future memories. A true gem.
Adored by some, questioned by others, respected by us: the short-sleeved shirt makes a strong comeback with this 100% natural version in cotton, linen and ramie. As if its short sleeves and fabric blend were not enough, we have added a few more strings to its bow: two patch chest pockets and an evocative Cuban collar. A statement piece? Absolutely, but above all, a joy to wear.
It is the middle of August. The sun is shining. It is hot. Very hot, in fact. You only need to glance at the backs of your fellow guests to notice. Fortunately for you, all is well. Not only have sweat marks spared you, but you also look impeccably sharp. Magic? In a way, but let us call it a cotton muslin shirt.
PS: accessorise.
Some truisms bear repeating, and this is one of them: with fewer clothing options in the warmer months, we encourage you to go all out on accessories. There, we said it.
The first Hast sunglasses arrive just in time for the first summer rays, and we wanted to share them with you. 100% acetate, solid black, category 3 lenses: ideal for adding texture to your look while protecting the apple of your eye: your eyes.
It might seem like a small detail, but to us this pocket square means a great deal. Elegance is often found in these seemingly minor touches; and this hand-rolled Italian silk accessory is one of them. Tucked casually into a jacket pocket with effortless flair, it can make all the difference.
Is summer really summer without headwear? The answer is no, at least not without risking sunstroke. The crowning touch of headwear, the cap completes any summer outfit worthy of the name, and what better way to do so than by wearing your values with pride?
Hoping this selection inspires outfits fit for all your summer events, we wish you a wonderful season!
