The 5 Men's Summer Footwear styles

Sweat is an inevitable part of the summer daily grind; a gross inconvenience on the morning commute, and an unpleasant feeling when the working day’s done and the cool down is supposed to commence.

When it comes to our wardrobes, we will often look to negate the effect of rising temperatures by swapping heavy autumn/winter attire for more breathable, lightweight pieces that are designed to keep us cool, even in the most stifling of conditions.

However, it’s not just our fabric choice and clothing that needs to adjust as we approach the warmer months of the year – our shoe collection should too. After all, what’s worse (and more uncomfortable) than hot and sweaty feet?

Keep your cool this season with our selection of versatile, comfortable and well-ventilated footwear – each option a guaranteed winner for any summer situation.

1. Suede Derbies Or Brogues

For occasions when only a formal shoe will do, reach for a suede brogue or Derby. Far from the rigid polish of heavy leather styles, suede Derby shoes or brogues (best for optimal ventilation due to the uppers’ punching detail) are comparatively light in weight and offer a plush textural touch that’s much more in tune with the sunnier season.

Given suede’s sensitivity, it’s essential to regularly treat the uppers with a good spray protector. We’d even advise you keep a suede brush in your bag at all times, as the material’s matte quality can cause it to pick up stains all too easily.

Also key is smart colour selection; make sure to choose a pair in a shade that isn’t too dark, as you will often find that black, navy and charcoal options fade fast. Instead, pick out paler hues such as stone, camel, tan, khaki, or pastel shades, which work particularly well for a summer wedding.

Both of these silhouettes look their best combined with sharp summer-weight suiting or smart-casual separates – think white/beige slim-cut chinos and trousers, linen shirts, cotton blazers, pique polos and tailored shorts.

Where to find them: Grenson, Church’s, ASOS, Ask The Missus, Hudson, Dune, Kurt Geiger, Reiss, O’Keeffe, Mark McNairy, Mr Hare, J.Crew, Common Projects.