Summertime favourites

The last blog post was about lining which is a very important part of the suit. And we will continue to write about fabrics. But this time about the actual fabrics of the suit. And we focus on the upcoming summer which (hopefully) brings us some hot summer breeze very soon. But before the heatwave actually hits us let’s just think what we’ll be wearing. The return of double-digit temperatures doesn’t necessarily mean stripping down. We will tell you the 4 most important natural fibres that will help you deflect sweat and stay cool (figuratively and literally).

1) COTTON

Cotton is the legendary summer choice,  as it is adaptable, affordable and readily available. Cotton is in fact the most widely used natural fibre in the world. It’s worn year-round by most of us because the it’s used a lot in different clothing layers.  Cotton makes a great fabric for warm weather due to its extremely breathable fibre. And it also has natural moisture-wicking properties that will help to draw moisture away from your body. No sweating in the office during the hot months! Of course your shirt is already made from cotton, and LGFG has a variety of cotton suits, and even cotton/silk/linen blends (more on silk and linen below) which can make for an excellent summer suit (although suit-wrinkle-haters beware!).

2) LINEN

It seems so natural for linen to be in this list. Cause like, everybody knows linen, right? But does everyone really KNOW linen? Like is not something that men only wear for their garden parties and barbecues or when holidaying on a yacht in the Mediterranean. It does have a place in your weekday wardrobe! Because just like cotton, linen is a natural fibre and equally adept at keeping you cool in hot weather. It’s just way too useful for you to ignore it! Did you know that linen has been used for more than 4000 years? And that fact also proves that we still haven’t made up something more useful than linen for the right weather. It does have less fibres than cotton and that will give the extra breathability we need when the temperatures rise. And also did you know that while linen is very lightweight, ‘is’ also the world’s strongest natural fibre? It might feel a bit rough at the first touch but give it a time, linen is like a good wine. It will reveal itself to be ‘strokabl’y soft. In our London line, LGFG has an excellent Linen/Silk blend from Italy which performs better against wrinkling, has a soothing soft feel and look, and is one of our President’s favourite suits.

3) WOOL

Wool is our winter wardrobe best friend… but read on. Wool actually is a really good material for our fair-weather wardrobe. The lightweight (tropical weight) wool isn’t heavy at all. It’s still sheared off a sheep’s back, but unlike other wools, it’s sourced for its lightness. The material is ideal for looking smart when the sun’s beating down – it gives a structure to your silhouette. A linen suit is perfect for the Riviera but the tropical weight wool allows you to still look business without leaving you sweatier than your intern on an early morning coffee run. And the cons against linen and cotton aren’t there in that wool maintains its crisp look, if that’s what you’re into. LGFG Tropical weight wool in our Tokyo and Venice collections can make an excellent addition to your summer wardrobe that can still be worn year-round (depending on colour too, of course).

4) SILK

Silk means a pure luxury for all the ladies out there but it really is high up on most men’s lists of practical summer fabrics. It’s just the right stuff to add some much-needed cool when the Celsius rises. Silk is a new trend in men’s wardrobes (it was used in Louis Vuitton summer 2016 men’s collection!). The best part about silk is that you’ll forget you’re wearing it! And while it’s far from utilitarian, this fine fabric has its advantages, like being pretty much weightless. So why not try out a silk bomber jacket or shirt? Although it’s a new trend, silk has indeed been a favourite before. Raw silk for example, makes for a suit with some shine, is a very crisp fabric, and was the preferred suit of Michael Corleone.

Heads up on raw silk- the very solid pattern fabric will have these little black dots in them. It’s part of the appeal of the imperfection of natural silk suits- but if it’s good enough for the Corleone family, how can LGFG not recommend them for a classic yet simultaneously new look.