How to Pull Off a Suit With Shorts

I have been a fan of the suit with shorts for a while. It’s one of those looks where you either love it or hate it. To some it’s a reminder of a dreaded school uniform. To others it brings back memories of AC/DC when Angus Young co-opted the look for his onstage persona. For me it’s been a great summer look that can either be dressed up or dressed down.

While the look may not be the ideal work attire for the corporate world, it can be a great alternative when you want to add a little edge to your fashion sensibilities. My office is business casual so it’s not uncommon for me to rock a short suit to the office from time to time. However I generally reserve my suit with short looks for special events or evenings out.

Dressed up

For a more dressed up look, opt for a dress shirt and tie. With the tie, both a straight tie or the bow tie are great options. If wearing a bolder pattern like my suit, choose a subtler tie. Solids are an excellent choice. Too much print could be a bit much. With a solid suit, it’s okay to go wild with the prints and patterns for the accessories. A bold tie and or pocket square can really make a statement. Finish the look with a great pair of loafers.

Dressed down

The great thing about wearing a suit with shorts is that you can dress it down and yet still have an elevated casual style. I am a proponent of dressing when I travel. So for my recent Vacaya cruise on Celebrity Summit, I chose to wear the same blue ikat suit. But this time, I wanted to be a bit more casual. I swapped out my shirt and tie for a fitted v-neck tee. Shoes I chose dress sandals however a great pair of trainers would work just as well.

Where to wear it?

• Date night
• Summer outdoor wedding
• Polo matches
• Horse races
• Travel attire

Shop the Look

Blue Ikat Blazer & Blue Ikat Shorts – Paisley & Gray | White dress shirt – Saks| Blue tie – Bloomingdales | Brown suede loafers – Ferragamo | Gray T-shirt – Express | Brown dress sandals – Gucci | Mirror sunglasses – St. Laurent

NAVY YARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRADY SCOTT PHOTO | CELEBRITY CRUISE PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE GAY TRAVELER