Summer essentials

Summer changes the way we dress. Days become warmer, travel becomes more frequent and occasions become more varied.

A wardrobe designed for winter or a traditional office setting no longer necessarily meets the same needs. It’s also the perfect season to introduce more lightness, texture and natural elements into your outfits.

To better understand what truly defines a successful summer wardrobe, we spoke with Gabriel Belcourt, stylist at Surmesur in Quebec City.

Summer is the season of texture

Summer is the season of texture

When we think about summer essentials, the first thing that often comes to mind is color. Yet according to Gabriel, it’s really texture that transforms a summer look.

Linen, wool-silk-linen blends, more open and breathable fabrics, as well as more visible textures instantly bring a sense of lightness to a garment. Visually, but also in the way the fabric moves and lives day to day.

“In the summer, you want to see texture. You want something that feels more alive, more natural in the clothing.”

Unlike smoother, more structured fabrics often associated with four-season wardrobes, summer materials embrace their organic character more openly. They breathe better, move more freely and create a softer silhouette.

Linen: a fabric designed for summer

Linen: a fabric designed for summer

It’s impossible to talk about summer essentials without talking about linen.

Even today, many people hesitate to wear this fabric because they fear it wrinkles too easily. Yet that’s precisely what gives linen its charm.

Linen is not meant to remain perfectly crisp and rigid from morning to night. It evolves with the person wearing it. The more it moves, the more it develops a relaxed and natural appearance that becomes part of its aesthetic.

“Linen is meant to wrinkle. That’s what makes it beautiful.”

Shirts, trousers, sport jackets or unstructured suits: linen makes it possible to create elegant looks without feeling too formal or overly rigid for the season.

And contrary to some common misconceptions, high-quality linen quickly becomes extremely comfortable to wear. It breathes well, stays light even on hot days and feels much more natural against the skin.

Natural colors take center stage

Natural colors take center stage

Summer is also the ideal season to move away from darker palettes and introduce more natural tones into your wardrobe.

Cream, sand, tan, light brown and shades inspired by stone and sunlight become especially interesting during this time of year.

Cream trousers remain one of the most versatile pieces for building summer outfits.

Worn with a sand-colored jacket, a textured shirt, a polo or even a lightweight knit, they instantly create a more summery feel.

“With cream trousers, half the look is already done.”

The same applies to sport jackets. Summer allows for more freedom in colors, textures and subtle patterns. Fabric blends such as wool, silk and linen often create ideal summer fabrics thanks to their visual depth and lightweight feel.

Shirts become more expressive

Summer shirts also offer much more freedom.

Wider stripes, multicolored stripes, softer or slightly washed-out tones and textured fabrics naturally find their place during the season.

The goal is not necessarily to create busier looks, but rather to introduce more depth and personality through more intentional details.

Certain colors that would rarely be worn in the middle of winter suddenly feel much more natural once integrated into lightweight and breathable fabrics.

Lighter, more open footwear

Lighter, more open footwear

Summer also influences footwear choices.

Softer loafers, shoes with a more open ankle line and minimalist sneakers quickly become more popular as temperatures rise.

White shoes remain a classic, but many now choose to add more personalized details: nautical accents, touches of earth tones or textured finishes that bring more character without sacrificing versatility.

The result remains elegant, but much more suited to the season.