The Ultimate Guide to Summer Wardrobe – Where to Buy Breathable Fabrics

When temperatures rise, staying cool and stylish depends on smart fabric choices and lighter silhouettes. The key to your summer wardrobe is breathability: cotton, linen, seersucker, lyocell, and blends designed to wick moisture and ventilate. Here's what to wear, what to avoid—and where to shop for the best heat-friendly menswear in 2026. As always, use Tellar.co.uk to make sure every piece fits perfectly.

1. Best Fabrics for Summer Clothing

Linen – Lightweight, breathable, and textured. Slightly wrinkled finish adds to the charm.
Organic Cotton – Softer and more breathable than blends, especially in loose weaves like poplin or voile.
Seersucker – Puckered texture lifts fabric off skin, improving air flow.
Lyocell/TENCEL™ – Soft, moisture-wicking, with a silky hand feel. Ideal for shirts and tees.
Lightweight Jersey – Breathable knits for elevated casualwear.

2. What to Avoid in Hot Weather

Polyester-heavy blends – Trap heat and sweat
Heavy denim – Too stiff and thick unless it's chambray or summerweight
Tight tailoring – Slim doesn’t mean tight; airflow matters

3. Key Pieces for a Summer Wardrobe

Linen shirts (short or long sleeve)
Relaxed cotton or drawstring trousers
Tailored shorts in seersucker or brushed cotton
Cuban collar or camp collar shirts
Polo shirts in mercerised cotton or TENCEL™
Open-weave knitwear or sleeveless vests
Lightweight chore jackets or overshirts for evenings

4. Where to Buy Breathable Summer Clothes

Hartford – French brand known for perfect linen shirts – hartford.fr
Portuguese Flannel – Breezy summer shirting – portugueseflannel.com
Luca Faloni – Premium linen and brushed cotton staples – lucafaloni.com
Sunspel – Ultra-soft summer polos and tees – sunspel.com
Arket – Neutral summer layers in organic fabrics – arket.com
Percival – British-made short sleeve shirts and seersucker tailoring – percivalclo.com
Wax London – Relaxed overshirts and summer co-ords – waxlondon.com
Uniqlo – Airism and linen blend staples on a budget – uniqlo.com

5. Getting the Right Fit in Hot Weather

In summer, your fit should allow for movement and airflow without looking baggy. Prioritise comfort over strict structure.

Tellar.co.uk helps by matching your body or brand-known size to 1,500+ brands in real time.

Enter your chest, waist, and hip measurements
Or choose a store you know fits well
Get instant size matches for linen shirts, shorts, or trousers across brands

Start here: Tellar Store Size LookupNeed help measuring? Men’s Measuring Guide

6. Summer Style Advice from Tellar

The Tellar Fashion Hub includes 4,000+ styling and sizing posts, including specific seasonal edits. All free, no ads.

Final Word

Lightweight, breathable, and stylish: your summer wardrobe doesn’t have to sacrifice comfort for polish. Whether you prefer relaxed linen or structured seersucker, Tellar.co.uk helps you size it right—brand by brand.

Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.