The Weather is Heating Up. Time to Dress Down, Right? (Wrong!)

Winter is just a few days over and it’s already starting to heat up. If you’ve felt the temptation to turn on the air conditioning already, don’t worry – you’re not alone. We’re in for a warm summer.

As the temperatures rise, you inevitably see some people opting to forgo formal attire for lighter, more casual clothing. It’s easy to understand why: the sweltering summer heat may seem incompatible with tailored suits, especially once the mercury starts topping 30 degrees.

But does that really mean you should abandon professionalism and style? Is it time to put aside your luxury tailored shirts until the weather takes a turn for the cool? No. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in your summer suit, that’s just because you need a better tailor.

The Myth of the "Uncomfortable Suit"

Too many people think that suits are inherently uncomfortable in hot weather. It’s a stereotype that overlooks the versatility of modern tailoring and the advances in fabric technology. A well-made suit, especially one crafted from breathable materials and designed for hot climates, can be as comfortable as you want it to be, even in the middle of the summer (or, at least, no more uncomfortable than anything else that you’re wearing – with the Australian summer there’s a point where nothing can save you from discomfort).

The key to looking both professional and feeling cool lies in selecting the right components—lightweight fabrics, proper linings, and breathable structures. And this is why finding the right tailor matters, because they’re going to be able to help you achieve those things within your budget and based on your own unique needs.

The Foundation of a Summer Suit

Fabric choice is the single most important factor in determining how comfortable a suit will be in hot weather. The wrong fabric, such as thick wool or polyester blends, can trap heat and make wearing a suit unbearable. The right fabric, on the other hand, can make all the difference.

And this is why many of our customers opt for a couple of different suits. Those thick material, warm suits are excellent for winter, after all. Having a summer and winter option makes sure that you’re covered for the full year.

Linen
Linen is often the go-to fabric for warm weather due to its lightweight and breathable properties. It’s a natural fibre that allows air to flow freely, making it ideal for keeping cool. For these reasons, these suits are popular for outdoor events like weddings or garden parties, where it’s important to look the part but it could mean long periods without air conditioning. Just be aware that linen as a material can wrinkle easily, so it might not be a great option if you’re going to have an important meeting at the end of a day.
Cotton
Another great option for hot weather is cotton. Cotton suits are softer and less prone to wrinkling compared to linen. They breathe well and absorb moisture, keeping you comfortable throughout the day. Cotton has its drawbacks too, but a cotton-blend suit, incorporating small amounts of synthetic fibres like elastane, can offer a great balance between comfort, durability, and stretch.
Lightweight Wool
While wool may seem like a strange choice for summer, lightweight wool (sometimes referred to as tropical wool) is actually highly breathable and moisture-wicking. Wool fibres allow air to pass through, making it an excellent option for those who want the look and feel of a traditional suit without the weight.
Seersucker
Seersucker is another fabric synonymous with warm-weather tailoring. Its crinkled texture allows for airflow, preventing the material from sticking to your skin. The downside to these suits is that the material does lend itself to a more casual look, so it might not be the right fit for professional settings, but for social events and the like it is often seen as a good balancing choice between formality and comfort.

Here's Where The Tailoring Comes In

Aside from fabric, tailoring plays a crucial role in how a suit performs in hot weather. A well-tailored suit should not only fit perfectly but also be structured in a way that will help you stay cool with the perfect air flow.

Unlined or Half-Lined Jackets
The lining in a suit jacket provides structure and a smooth drape, but it can also trap heat. For summer, opting for an unlined or half-lined jacket can make a world of difference. These jackets use minimal or no lining, particularly in the back and shoulders, allowing air to circulate more freely. As a result, the jacket feels lighter and cooler against the skin.
Loose and Relaxed Fits
While tight, form-fitting suits may look sleek, they can also be restrictive and trap heat in warm weather. A slightly looser fit—without being baggy—allows for better airflow and greater comfort. In summer, relaxed-fit trousers and jackets made from breathable fabrics strike the perfect balance between style and practicality.
Minimal Layering
Keeping layers to a minimum is another simple way to stay cool. Skip the waistcoat and instead focus on lightweight dress shirts made from breathable fabrics like cotton or linen. Alternatively, consider a short-sleeved shirt under your suit for a more casual yet refined summer look.

Don’t Sacrifice Style for Comfort

In short, dressing for hot weather doesn’t mean abandoning style. With the right approach, a suit can be both practical and elegant even when the temperature is soaring. Australian summers may be brutal, but they don’t have to be an excuse for sloppy dressing. Lightweight fabrics, thoughtful tailoring, and smart choices in cut and construction allow you to stay cool while maintaining a polished look.

In fact, a well-chosen summer suit can elevate your style, especially in environments where others might be dressing down. When everyone else is opting for shorts and polos, showing up in a sharp, breathable suit makes a statement—you’re someone who values professionalism, even in the heat.

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Why Good Tailoring Beats Shorts In The Summer Heat

By Michael Pascalis • October 24, 2025

Smarter tailoring, breathable fabrics, and better cuts keep you cool and professional—without resorting to shorts at work.

Eight Things to Consider for Your Summer Suit

October 22, 2025

The conversation about summer dressing too often circles back to gimmicks. Shorts in the office, polo shirts in the boardroom, but these are symptoms of a deeper problem: we have forgotten how to make and wear proper clothing for the climate we live in. A summer suit, chosen with care, remains the most elegant answer. But not all suits are created equal. If the heat leaves you dreaming of linen drawstrings, it’s not the suit’s fault. It’s the wrong suit. Here are eight considerations that turn summer tailoring from punishment into pleasure. 1. Fabric First The single most important decision is fabric. Natural fibres are non-negotiable. Polyester and other synthetics trap heat and suffocate the skin; they are cheap in every sense of the word. Tropical wool, with its fine yarn and open weave, has been the quiet hero of summer tailoring for decades. Linen, either pure or in a wool blend, brings unmatched breathability and texture. Cotton offers a crisp alternative for the more casual office. The principle is simple: fabric should breathe. 2. Lightness of Weave Weight is not enough; weave matters too. A dense cloth, no matter how fine, will feel like armour in January. Fresco, hopsack, and other open-weave constructions let air circulate without sacrificing drape. They prove that you don’t need to bare skin to keep cool. 3. The Case for Unlined Jackets Every layer in a suit traps heat. A fully lined jacket in the peak of summer is as unnecessary as it is uncomfortable. Half-lined or unlined jackets offer structure without insulation. Stripped back to its essentials, the jacket still frames the shoulders, flatters the waist, and gives shape, only now it does so without suffocating the wearer. 4. Rethinking Fit The tyranny of the skinny suit has done more to ruin summer dressing than the thermometer ever could. Narrow lapels, shrunken jackets, and trousers cut like leggings may look sharp in shop windows, but in the real world they cling, sweat, and stifle. A summer suit demands room to breathe: a touch more fullness in the chest, pleats in the trousers, a slightly longer rise. These small concessions to airflow make all the difference. 5. Freedom of Movement Tailoring was never meant to be restrictive. The best summer suits allow ease: side vents that open as you walk, trousers that fall cleanly without gripping the thigh, shoulders that move without resistance. Comfort is not the enemy of style, but rather it is its foundation. 6. The Role of Colour Summer is no time for charcoal and midnight navy. Dark cloth absorbs heat and looks heavy against the season’s light. Pale grey, beige, sky blue are shades that reflect the sun and signal ease. Seersucker, with its puckered surface, even lifts the fabric off the skin to create tiny channels of air. If ever there was a fabric designed for August, this is it. 7. Care and Longevity Summer is unforgiving. Suits face sweat, humidity, and relentless sun. The careless solution is cheap rotation: buy more, wear them out, throw them away. The wiser approach is investment. A well-made summer suit, rested between wears and hung to air, will last for years. Quality not only looks better, it endures. 8. Dressing with Intent The final consideration is not technical but philosophical. A summer suit is more than cloth and cut. It is a statement that professionalism need not wilt in the heat, that respect for the occasion is not seasonal. To wear one well is to prove that elegance adapts. Shorts may make headlines; tailoring makes an impression. There is nothing radical about suggesting that a summer suit can be cool, comfortable, and dignified. It has always been possible. The knowledge is there, in the choice of fabric, the looseness of cut, the restraint of lining, the play of colour. What is required is not reinvention but remembrance: a return to tailoring that understands climate rather than fights it. Eight considerations for made to measure suits for summer, then, but really one principle: good clothes work with the body, not against it. And in the heart of summer, a well-made suit is not a contradiction. It is liberation.