Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

The Best Men’s Casual Spring and Summer Fashion (Video)

By

Pack up those flannels, cords, and wooly socks — it’s time to start sporting your spring and summer styles. You will be relieved to know that menswear trends haven’t change drastically since 2017, but we always want to make sure our guys know what to look for when shopping for the perfect pieces to update your wardrobe.

We visited Lizard Lounge, one of our favorite menswear stores in Portland, Oregon, to see what’s in this season. In-house stylist Jules Canda helped us pick out three classic, warm weather outfits that are on trend but not over-the-top. Big relief: No fanny packs in sight.

What to Look For This Season

Floral prints: You can be bold and sport a full-on floral shirt like this one from Naked and Famous, or you can show a little flower power in a tie or pocket square.

Basic sweatshirt for layering: In many parts of the world, even in the summer, there is a chill in the air, so a basic pullover like this one from Toad & Co. will keep the cold out yet not take away from the look you worked so hard on (we know you did).

Unstructured blazer: Sometimes the situation calls for a blazer— weddings, lunch with the boss, dinner with the in-laws. Unstructured blazers are lighter and usually unlined so you can look sharp and not be drenched in sweat.

Desert boot: If you aren’t a sandal man, but big boots are too much for the warmer weather, a desert boot is a perfect alternative. Redwing has one of our favorites.

Shades: Yes, the sun shines all year round, but summer means shades and Shwood has a great collection made of unique materials.

If you’re in Portland and you stop by Lizard Lounge, mention The Manual video and you’ll receive a 15 percent discount no your purchase. Looking for something more formal this season? We’ve got you covered.

Video and images by Tomas Patlan.

Cator Sparks
Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
Brain Dead’s newest adidas collaboration is a lesson in texture
Brain Dead, adidas announce new sneaker
pair of adidas x brain dead sneakers

Fresh off their recent collaboration with Dover Street Market, adidas and Brain Dead have already announced their next project. With an interesting and bold new sneaker, the two brands have taken their love for texture to the next level. Using one of adidas’ iconic silhouettes, Brain Dead has tapped into the use of a hairy material to modernize the classic design. While the newly announced sneaker might not be the most versatile or minimalist shoe, it’s certainly an eye-catching design that’ll create a statement moment. Along with the eclectic exterior design, this shoe comes equipped with some of adidas’ most premium footwear features, making it an optimal choice. While fans will still have to wait a few more weeks to get their hands on a pair, there’s no doubt this adidas x Brain Dead collaboration will create major waves again. 
Brain Dead x adidas Forest Hills “Violet Tone”

Based on the classic adidas Forest Hills silhouette, the newest collaboration is nothing like the original sneaker released in 1976. While the Forest Hills sneaker was once considered a staple tennis sneaker, its lack of release has converted it into an archival design last seen in 2018. With the addition of a dark green hairy suede upper and burgundy accents throughout the shoe, Brain Dead has injected new life into this once-forgotten sneaker. Completing the design are off-white leather stripes and lining, which balance out some of the moodier hues found on the uppers. Continuing the use of bold hues, Brain Dead has also added touches of lime green on the tongue and insoles. Rounding out the design is a black sole, which adds edge to an already bold design. While there’s no doubt the shaggy suede uppers won’t appeal to the most minimalist dresser, it’s certainly a bold texture that’ll add depth and visual interest to any look. For those itching to add a pair to their closet, the rumored release date has this sneaker in stock in April 2025.

Read more
Keep your feet warm and dry: A guide to men’s winter shoes
Snow boots vs. winter shoes
Man wearing hiking boots in the snow with red laces

Are you as sick of winter as I am? Well, buckle up because winter isn't sick of us yet and is sticking around. As I walked to the corner bodega this morning, the snow was falling, and it was sticking. It is doing its best to make our lives more inconvenient by the day, and to keep my car parked permanently in the same place for fear of black ice. It isn't all bad, the best part of the winter is you get to break out your favorite sweaters and the best coats for a few months. You get a break from the sweltering heat of the summer.

The worst part? The snow piles up, and everything becomes more cumbersome. Driving is harder. Walking to the office is more precarious. Even going to get the mail is a pain in the neck, literally, if you fall on the ice. But if you have the proper footwear, that isn't an issue. I learned a hard lesson long ago: The wrong shoes can be the difference between an uneventful trip to the office and a broken tailbone. Men's winter shoes are a must-have for your closet, and they will help you navigate the months until you need to trade them in for the waterproof needs of the April showers.
What kind of shoes to wear in the winter

Read more
New York Men’s Day debut: Joseph McRae honors transformation through boldness
Finding the balance between subtlety and using your voice
Joseph McRae greens

New York Men's Day showed up in 2014 mainly because the belief was that men's fashion took a hard backseat to women's fashion during fashion week. While the big brand houses focused on the high fashion looks of the runway to inspire what women would be wearing off the runway, Agentry PR brought brands dedicated to doing the same for men in a now decade-old tradition. Brands of all levels, from newcomers to New York Men's Day veterans, appear yearly to inspire us guys to look our best. The Joseph McRae NYMD debut tells us a story to go beyond the boring and uninspired outfits and instead use our voice to tell a sartorial story.
Balancing boldness and subtlety

The bold use of silhouettes is the first thing that strikes someone walking into the showroom occupied by Joseph McRae in the afternoon segment of NYMD. While the colors are more muted greens and browns, which seem right on trend this season in fashion week, the shapes and lines of his designs are anything but muted. Large, puffy tops and long flowing bottoms create a loud voice contrasting the colors accompanying them. He celebrates the beauty of change. Just as the caterpillar is small, slow, and muted in color, and the butterfly is bright, airborne, and expansive, his collection showcases the marriage between the two. McRae makes a splash in the evening session of the annual show by encouraging us to embrace change and stand up to be seen, even if the world is telling us otherwise.

Read more