How to Keep it Comfy and Classy with Summer Leisurewear
Over the past decade, athleisure has set the precedent that everyone can dress as comfortably in their public lives as they can in their private lives. While this prospect has been wonderfully liberating, it has lead to a certain debasement of sartorial decorum. Sweatpants and gym shorts, once reserved for athletic endeavors, are now commonplace in all public forums. Long gone are the days when a gentleman wouldn’t so much as run to the grocery store without pressed slacks and a collared shirt. Summer after summer, bars throughout America have crowded with bros in v-neck t-shirts and chino shorts. Somewhere after religating suits to formal occasions, menswear lost it’s way and ended up a bit too sloppy. Come on gentlemen, we can do better!
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating for a return to pressed slacks and starched shirts every day. I enjoy the level of comfort we’ve collectively slipped into and I’ll never give it up. However, there are better ways to go about it. Athletic wear should be left on the court and in the gym in favor of more refined clothing designed for comfort. Our grandparents had a name for it, they called it leisurewear. Leisurewear consists of the kind of collared shirts and short-shorts worn on vacation and casual nights out a couple generations back. Gentlemen in the mid-twentieth century enjoyed the same kind of comfort we’ve gotten from athlesiure while maintaining their sartorial dignity.
The fashion zeitgeist is beginning to move away from the dressed-down look of athleisure. Classic leisurewear will enjoy a resurrection during the Summer of 2020 and there are a few new brands that are leading the way. These brands are using lighter and softer fabrics to construct approximations of vintage looks from the golden age of leisurewear. Terrycloth, linen, cotton, and new lightweight sustainable fabrics are replacing the spandex-centric fabrics of mid-twentieth century. Collars are replacing crewnecks and short-shorts are replacing joggers. The result is a stylish casual attire that your grandmother would be happy to see you in.
Dand Del Mar is a brand founded upon the legacy left by the golden age of leisurewear. Their vibe is straight out of a 1970s Southern California pool party and they love terry cloth. Essentially, Dandy Del Mar is a combination of Burt Reynolds and the most comfortable bathrobe you’ve ever worn, turned into a clothing brand. Since the brand is so young – founded at the beginning of 2019 – their summer ’20 line is small. But the vision of that line is so coherent that their entire collection could fit snugly into anyone’s wardrobe as an instant upgrade. However, if you’re going to pluck a single item from the line, I would start with the Gaucho Shirt (Right). They’ve also curated a soundtrack to match their coastal mexicali summer vibes.
If you’re looking for something a little flashier, then Tombolo offers some great options. Tombolo is one of the most progressive new brands in fashion. They design and market all their apparel as unisex. They exclusively source sustainable fabrics with complete transparency. Plus they do not adhere to the traditional seasonal release schedule, opting to produce limited runs by individual design and release them as soon as they’re available to avoid overproduction. So far, they offer shirts, pants, a small line of accessories, and a lightweight quilted jacket. If you’re looking for a new summer party shirt, look no further then Tombolo’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Beverage. It’s a pajama-hawaiian shirt hybrid (notice the piping) made from Tencel, a natural fiber substitute for Rayon (Above). The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Beverage artwork is also featured on a zip-front Cabana Shirt, if you prefer terry cloth. This is a brand to keep a close eye on, either through their social media or their website, because they’re routinely dropping interesting new pieces.
Now, for something more traditional and understated, check out the British loungewear brand Hamilton and Hare. Their classic and understated designs will allow you to dip your toes in the leisurewear pool without diving head-first into the deep end. Hamilton and Hare give sourcing great fabrics the attention it deserves without rubbing your face in it. They specialize in linen, terry cloth, and organic cotton and offer some great natural fiber alternatives. The brand has gotten early traction from their underwear, pyjamas, and basics. However, their loungewear line really sets the brand apart. Equally fit for the bedroom and the hotel bar, the loungewear line is exemplified by their Limoncello Stripe shirt and shorts (Right). This pyjama inspired set will sit comfortably on your body and your mind as they are made from 100% Lyocell, a Rayon substitute made from wood pulp. They work independently but really play well as a set and if you’re feeling bold, you can add the matching robe to your ensemble.
Leisurewear is this sort of long lost secret that we’re collectively rediscovering in 2020. There are plenty of brands out there, big and small, that are taking inspiration from vintage leisure pieces and modernizing them with new fabrics and designs. All of them have the same idea in mind: to look classy while remaining comfy. A happy medium exists between chinos and board shorts and that’s where we all should spend our summers. So when you’re ready to trade in your Bud Light for a Negroni, slip into some leisurewear and let the good times roll.
