This is the one type of suit every guy should have in summer, according to a tailor

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This is the one type of suit every guy should have in summer, according to a tailor

Navy suit Alton Lane

Alton Lane

Stay cool this summer.

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  • Feeling the heat this summer?
  • Alton Lane tailors CEO and co-founder Colin Hunter has some advice for you.
  • Always get your suits "half-lined," Hunter says, they'll keep you much cooler.
  • Scroll down to see the difference between full-lined and half-lined blazers.
  • If you can afford it, a navy linen blazer is a versatile addition to any wardrobe.


There's almost nothing worse than putting on a full suit when the sun is blazing and temperatures are soaring.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to maximize your suit-wearing comfort in the summer months.

Colin Hunter, CEO and cofounder of Alton Lane tailors, says there's one thing you should always look out for when searching for a suit that's weather appropriate all year round.

"If you are truly on a budget and you can only get one suit, get it made half-lined," Hunter says.

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"A half-lined jacket will still have the normal structure of a traditional suit or blazer... but it will actually keep you so much more comfortable in the summer."

The difference between full and half-lined blazers is, unsurprisingly, in the lining.

A regular, full-lined blazer has an extra layer of fabric, which runs from the neck line all the way to the hemline to cover up all the rough stitching and details on the inside.

A half-lined blazer has all that rough stitching on show and, as a result, allows air to move much more freely between the fabric.

Half-lined blazer (L) versus full-lined blazer (R):

Half line jacket full line jacket comparison

Alton Lane / Moss Bros. / Business Insider

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From the outside, no one will be able to tell the difference between a half-lined and a full-lined blazer, but the former will keep you much cooler.

That's not to say that half-lined suits aren't appropriate for winter, though, in the words of Hunter, "that's what overcoats are for."

Once your wardrobe is sufficiently stocked with at least one or two core suits that you can wear year-round, Hunter says guys should go straight for a navy linen suit.

"A navy linen suit gives you all the versatility of a navy suit and it's appropriate to wear in spring, summer and even early fall," he says.

Alton Lane Linen Blazer

Alton Lane

A navy linen blazer is one of the most versatile items out there.

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"I love being able to throw on a linen blazer in the summer - perfectly acceptable to wear to work. It's also the perfect outfit to wear to a summer wedding or cocktail parties."

Though linen is a relatively expensive material because of the labour incurred in making it, it'll likely last you a while.

Despite having a lower thread count, linen is about 30% stronger than cotton, according to FashionBeans. It will also get better over time - while cotton fabrics will depreciate with each wash, linen gets softer and shinier as time goes on.

So, if you're feeling the heat this summer you have two options:

  1. Make sure your blazer is half-lined, whatever the material.
  2. If you can afford it, a linen blazer - preferably in navy - is a versatile addition to any wardrobe.
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