10 Reasons Streetwear Kicks Menswear's Ass in the Summer

Image via Complex Original

During all your summer adventures, the one thing you don't want to ever do is hold back. And let's be real, there are times when the style-conscious among us might not jump into an opportunity because it might fuck up our gear. Well guess what—when wearing a $40 T-shirt versus a $900 suit, guess who's going to be less risk-averse when it comes to doing awesome shit that could get down and dirty? The less you have holding you back from having an incredible summer, the better.

During the summer, your feet can be one of the hottest and sweatiest (and therefore grossest) parts of your entire body. So whoever's rocking sneakers over hardbottoms is already at an advantage when it comes to enjoying their summer the most. And it's not even a question that sneakers and streetwear go together much better than sneakers and menswear.

If you are gonna go the menswear route by choice or by necessity, then you're going to want to wear an undershirt all season long. Not only will it protect your oxford from being a pit-stained mess, but it will actually keep you cooler by wicking sweat away from your body and keeping a pocket of air between the shirts. However, you know what's cooler than two shirts? One shirt.

Don't get us wrong; like anything else, menswear can look dope as fuck when done right. But it's not as versatile for all of summer's great opportunities as streetwear is. Whether it's the beach, a BBQ, chillin' on a rooftop, lounging at the park, or any combo of the above, streetwear is just more versatile and adaptable to whatever situations you find yourself in.

Short sleeve button downs exist in the overlapping segment of menswear and streetwear. And not that it's a hard rule that menswear dudes have to always keep their shirts tucked, but bold patterns and prints are meant for the summer, and these strictly exist in the realm of streetwear. Menswear will always champion the popover, but have you ever tried to take off one of those things? Getting stuck and wriggling out will cancel out any instance of coolness you were enjoying before.

With all the sweating that goes on, dudes who need shirts pressed and suits dry-cleaned have to save up serious dough just to keep their summer gear presentable. Plus, with all the ice cream that's getting consumed, every stop at Mr. Softee is a potential $10 investment when you have to let the pros steam out that soft serve. With a graphic tee, just Tide Stick that bitch out and be on your way.

In the turbo heat, streetwear keeps it simple. Tee, shorts, sneakers, and maybe a cap. There's no undershirts or button-downs or anything except your crispiest T-shirt. The winner is pretty obvious, and it's the reason why streetweared out dudes simply flourish in the heat (or at least, don't melt).

Pharrell, some wildly out there Japanese dudes, and a handful of Italian gawds. Those are the only dudes who can flourish in this next level style risk. This rarely seen style is an extreme move taken by suit-wearers who are simply trying to survive in the sweltering heat. Menswear in desperate times means menswear taking desperate measures.

A dope snapback or bucket hat is a summertime essential, and, sorry, but they just don't mesh well with menswear. Headwear is definitely something in which streetwear reigns king, and the domepiece protection that you require in the summer is just a bonus from an already good thing.

Even a suit made of the most lightweight, breathable materials is going to cause the floodgates to open in the dog days of summer. Just thinking of buttoning up, adding a noose, throwing on a jacket, and hiking up some socks under full-length trousers is enough of a mental picture to get dudes sweating. Hopefully, you don't have a job that requires a suited-up uniform, otherwise your envy when you see dudes laced in streetwear keeping it breezy on the street is going to be through the roof.