The ancient Egyptians admired linen so much they used it as currency and wrapped their mummies in it as a display of wealth. Today, the king of natural fibres is still going strong, and with good reason. Fresh, cool, and wonderfully breathable, linen clothing is the fabric of the summer. It is hard wearing, absorbent and has a canny knack of conducting the heat (so you don’t have to). Wear with chinos, jeans or linen trousers.

A long time favourite of elegant gentlemen holidaying in the Mediterranean, a linen suit adds a certain relaxed sophistication to your demeanour. As well as the benefits of wearing linen (above), a men’s linen suit tends to have a looser fit than other suiting fabrics, so it’s cooler and more comfortable. For the finest quality suit, choose Italian linen and wear over a cotton, silk or men’s linen shirt. Beautiful.

The ultimate way to travel in summer involves a first class ticket, delicious gourmet food… and an Italian wool travel suit. The finest versions are made from high–twist wool (Merino wool, no less), which means they stretch slightly and in turn, have a canny knack of resisting creases. Therefore a travel suit is best for jet-setters, train–travellers, and anyone that needs to move (and look positively delectable) when they’re wearing it.

A 100% pure cotton suit is the perfect alternative to a wool suit in the warmer months. Light and smart, it is as perfect for the summer party as it is for the dash to the office and back. And as if that doesn’t make it versatile enough, the trousers and jacket work equally well on their own as they do together. Wear the jacket with chinos or the trousers with a casual shirt and you’ll have the laid–back look licked.

First things first: Wearing a pink shirt doesn’t mean you’ve lost your masculinity. In fact, pink is turning into the ultimate British summer colour because whatever the weather, it’s guaranteed to brighten up even the dullest outfit. Also, there is also a huge variety of pink shirts on the market, from pale to fuschia, so there’s bound to be a shade to suit every outfit – and skin tone. As a rule of thumb, the darker your skin tone, the darker the pink you can get away with.

The cotton pique polo was invented to replace the long-sleeved shirts of tennis players in the 1920’s and have evolved into the perfect casual top. Get yourself a few short sleeve cotton pique polos in a variety of colours and you’ll wear nothing else during the summer weekends. The double-knit pique fabric is deliciously soft and comfortable against the skin, whether you’re kicking a football around the park or clearing out the garden shed. Pair with jeans or chinos for a dash of weekend chic.

Lace-ups too smart? Trainers too scruffy? Bag yourself a stylish pair of boat shoes. Once only associated toffee-nosed yacht club members (or similar), rubber-soled deck shoes are now worn beyond sea-faring situations and are delightfully versatile and can be worn for most casual situations. Pair with shorts or trousers for a quintessentially British look.

For tough, versatile footwear you can’t go far wrong with a pair of desert boots (similar to chukka boots). Fear not, they have come a long way from the hard boots worn by the military during combat; now they are lightweight and comfortable, with a crepe sole to keep them extra light – and a suede finish to keep them extra smart.

Because a pair of driving shoes is lightweight, practical and wonderfully comfortable, you don’t have to just wear them when behind the wheel. The tough rubber soles will avoid any nasty slipping, wherever you choose to wear them. Match with chinos or jeans.