Let’s start from the top, literally.

We know that you’re closet is likely stocked with at least a handful of trusty graphic T-shirts, but it’s never the wrong time for a refresh. With the sun beating down on the daily, you’re going to want to have at least a few classic T-shirts in the rotation to prevent pitting out every option before the season’s over.

When it comes to what’s actually on the tee, think about wearability. These are effectively the foundation of your wardrobe regardless of the season, so you’ll want to make sure that for every single stand-out T-shirt you cop, you’ve at least a few subtler ones to keep things balanced. Subtlety is exactly why simple logo tees (like, let’s say, the plain Supreme box logo) are so coveted; say what you need to say without shouting at everybody you pass by (we can get into what each brand ‘represents’ over in Dry Clean Only’s “Surfaced” and “Master Class” sections).

From day trips to date night, your T-shirts are going to say a lot more about you than you might realize, so stick to your style, keep it simple and you’ll get through the summer.

There’s going to come a point where you’ll need to put on a collared shirt this summer. No matter how lazy you are when the season hits, it’s just something that’s damn near unavoidable. Now—given how hot it’s bound to be—we’re certainly not advocating stuffing yourself into some oxford cloth fabric, and lord knows we’re not suggesting you wear sleeves. Something breezy with a collar built in? We’ve got the solution, and no, it’s not a polo shirt.

Call them bowling shirts, call them rayon shirts, call them Hawaiian shirts. The important thing is that the (generally) boxy button-up shirt style is the perfect way to punch up your summer selections without suffocating yourself. But what is a camp collar shirt? Crafted with a one piece collar without buttons, the short-sleeved, straight-cut shirt features a waist-grazing hemline and a spread collar that should lay-flat on the shirt. The effect can range between The Talented Mr. RIpley and The Big Lebowski, but with dad style coming into full effect, the 1950s-style shirt is enjoying a bit of a resurgence.

Aside from the casual collar, the other signature of this style is its penchant to be a canvas for prints. Whether that’s Prada or Supreme, the overall effect is the same. Of course, there’s tamer options—simple stripes, spots or solid colors—but the joy in incorporating something like this into the rotation is the the ability for it to be playful and presentable at the same time.

The keys to success here are twofold:

1. Keep the fit roomy, but not oversized (you should be able to wear the shirt open with a T-shirt underneath without a problem). It’s the type of shirt that should fit perfectly during weekend drinks or at your office.

2. The louder the pattern, the simpler the rest of your fit should be. These shirts may be trendier now, but it’s harder to successfully pull of the look if you’re mashing up lots of loud prints and colors on top.

This is a bit of a tricky one. Depending on your personal style and comfort, shorts are likely a rare occurrence, if not off the table completely. But hear us out—shorts are something that can really set off the summer in a big way—and besides: who doesn’t want to be closer to a warm summer breeze when the thermometer starts creeping towards the triple digits?

The challenge is clear, it’s all about length. More adventurous types would say shorts should hover around five inches long, but you can stretch that out to about seven inches and still end up with a solid silhouette. This debate is illustrated best in Patagonia’s signature Baggies shorts, which—aside from being qualified for damn near every activity the summer will throw at you—come in regular (five inch) and long (seven inch) forms.

If you’re still on the fence about the garment in general, don’t overthink it. Keep the cuts conservative, the fabrics fresh and stay away from prints in lieu of solids. While we appreciate drop crotch shorts from Rick Owens and Boris Bidjan Saberi, we can respect that those who might want to keep things a little more reserved.

See: Shorts.

But seriously, for your sanity, keep in mind that this is going to be something you’re going to be moving around underwater in, so you don’t want to overthink the details and end up uncomfortable all summer long.

That said, if you’re planning on getting into the small stuff, we suggest going with a simple print (florals, vertical stripes and spots are fine, but subtlety is a virtue and it always pays to keep your surroundings in mind), reliable solid (black, blue or lifeguard red are easy favorites) and keeping the length around two inches above the knee (mess around on either side of that and you end up hitting baggy board short or European Speedo-territory).

If you play your cards right, the best swim bottoms can even live a second life as a multi-purpose pair of regular summer shorts. Keep in mind that if you’re looking for shorts that can travel from the beach to the bar, you should consider shorts that swap the drawstring for button closures and/or a zip fly.

We’re not going to lecture you on the merits of denim. Chances are you’ve already got two to three pair in your closet at home, and while there’s definitely plenty to say on the subject (lightwash is in; don’t go too slim) we’d like to offer an alternative when it comes to the bottom half of your outfit. While we love Hedi Slimane as much as the next guy, it’s worth thinking about going for a wider leg opening on your trousers. This doesn’t mean that we’re cosigning pants of JNCO proportions, but shifting off skinny and into something straight-legged is a move we can stand behind.

Workwear brands make this an even easier choice. It’s not a secret that brands like Carhartt and Dickies are enjoying a bit of a surge in popularity. Given the brands’ abilities to craft durable gear at an accessible price, the ‘everyman’ quality of their items (both in terms of ‘ease-of-wear’ and aesthetic) make them easy labels to fold into a wider aesthetic. Carhartt’s double-knee trousers or Dickies’ signature 874 work pant are on-point additions that make sense whether you’re going skating or literally going to work.

But you don’t need to resort to what’s on the shelves at your local Army/Navy if you’re looking for something a bit more high fashion. Designers like Craig Green, Junya Watanabe or Noah inject big-name buzz into a traditional-fit trouser, working in a lineage of workwear or street-smart prep that make the transition from slim to not-too-slim much more palatable.

Just like with a quality shirt, it’s going to pay to have something upscale when it comes to footwear. While we’re more than happy to co-sign a pair of flexible summer sneakers (more on that later) you can definitely get some use out of some loafers.

As the name implies, a good leather loafer should place ease and comfort above rigid formality. That said, you’ll be much better served if your loafers are made with dark leather (hopefully black leather) so they can pull double duty during work hours and wedding season.

Given the silhouette’s ubiquity from Ivy League prep to fresh-from-the-runway reworks, your options are really only confined by your budget and your personal style.

To be honest, this is all about where you’re going and what you’re doing—not to mention the freedom of personal preference. With everything from the “The Ten” to the Triple S, there’s never been a better time to be following the sneaker game.

While we imagine that you’re reaching for sneakers constructed out of Flyknit or set on exposed Boost soles, expect the “dad shoe” trend to crossover right into the summer months. Sure, the hotter weather certainly calls for trimmed down silhouettes, but with so much chunky sneaker heat—from Nike’s M2K Tekno to the adiprene sole of the Yeezy Desert Rat 500—it’s worth reconsidering your conventional summer sneaker rotation.

In terms of socks, that’s something we look at as a binary choice; either go sockless (no-show works too for the same effect), or opt for full on crew socks.

Perhaps summer’s trickiest footwear option is its most pared-down. From slip-ons and slides to the technically-savvy, buckled up silhouettes, the sandals you wear are going to hinge on where you’ll be wearing them.

While we love Suicoke’s many silhouettes and Visvim’s classic Christo for city sidewalks (thanks in part to their thick, strapped up presentation, the fact that they carry a bit of designer credibility doesn’t hurt either. Speaking of designer chops, the once-humble slide has been tuned up with reworks from all across the spectrum. Sure you love your adilettes, but don’t sleep on Balenciaga’s Bernie Sanders logoflips or the never-not-in-style red and green Gucci striped options. If those don’t do it for you, we can also suggest a pair of Birkenstock Arizonas, for a sandal that can be dressed up or down (or wore with tall white socks, if you’re vibing with that ‘German tourist’ look).

Want to step a little outside of the box? Neoprene tabi-esque styles (we’re looking at you Air Rifts) are an off-kilter—but securely on-trend—option for something that manages to meet in between sandal and Nike sneaker.

You don’t have to call it a clout pack, but you do want one in your rotation. A combination of ‘90s style and techy functionality, there’s nothing wrong with increasing the amount of pockets on your outfit (without literally increasing the amount of pockets sewn onto your outfit).

While athletic brands like Nike and adidas—not to mention retro sportswear labels like Fila and Kappa—have been producing waist bags and pouches for use in running and other sports, there’s a strong fashion component to this trendier item.

Those in the know are well-aware of Prada’s (and its subline, Prada Sport) efforts to bring the accessory into the realm of high fashion over the decades, but contemporary brands like Alyx are creating equally desirable high-fashion interpreations with its own crossbody bags. Speaking of Alyx, the brand’s chest rig has become something of a modern-day grail, with street-level and straight-up celebrity co-signs making the Alyx rig a must-have.

Of course, if you’re simply looking for a straightforward way to boost the hype on your ensemble, the renditions from Acronym and Supreme are surefire winners, with the latter’s option in trusty cordura fabric clocking in at relatively affordable prices (at least at retail).

We know that the accessories make the outfit, and honestly, there’s so much room for debate about which shades are best. Of course the shape of the shades are going to vary from person to person, but the general wisdom dictates that the shape of your face should dictate what kind of frames you cop. Square face-shaped? Soften the angles with narrow frames that have more width than depth. Round face-shaped? Add dimensions to your angles with frames that are (at least) as wide as the widest part of your face, keeping in mind square-like silhouettes that can contrast the more circular nature of your face.

Fit is deeply personal, but so is style. We recognize that Ray-Bans are simply too timeless to ignore, there’s also more options beyond the old classics. While thin, Cartier-like frames are reemerging with fashion's love affair with the ‘90s, Supreme’s recent crop of blocky designer-homage sunglasses are perfect for the pool party (or the hangover after). Looking for the right mix of high and low style? Some of Off-White’s best frames are as close as your local mall.

Considering that sunglasses are going to guide you through summer's thick and thin, it’s going to pay to have a pair (or three) that you can wear to pieces, whether the frames are...well, thick or thin.