What I wear to the cottage

The question I get asked most often is what do I wear when I’m not in jacket and tie. As hard as it may be to believe, I do not own a pair of blue jeans or sweat pants and I don’t wear tshirts, except when I am doing house work. I believe that the approach I take to dressing – quality items that fit well – applies no matter what I’m doing, whether I’m at a business meeting or relaxing at home. That said, I also wear what is most appropriate to the situation. If I wore the same tshirt whether I was mowing the lawn, out for dinner or on the beach, those activities wouldn’t feel very unique. By having a separate warm weather casual wardrobe, it feels more special when I get away.

And last week I was away with my family at a cottage, which demanded my full casual wear arsenal. I even brought shorts.

Relaxing on the beach

Despite the summer heat, I prefer long sleeves and pants. Not only do they protect you from the sun, I believe they are more elegant. Loose weaves in linen and cotton, in light summer colours, keep me cool on the hottest days. Just roll up the sleeves and cuffs for added air conditioning. I also stick to classic footwear  and head wear that are both practical and dashing, in this case striped espadrilles and a panama hat.

Canoeing with the family

This white linen guayabera from Cuba is a couple sizes too big so I don’t wear it often. However, in the sun and on the beach it is perfectly relaxed and breezy. The long sleeves offer some sun protection while the roominess means it’s always airy and light. I’ve paired it here with Onia board shorts which I love because of their simplicity. They are swim shorts but lack any sporty features like extra pockets. Instead, they have regular pants pockets and a snap waist. Once they are dry, they transition perfectly to the patio or the cottage.

Grilling dinner

While technically a long sleeve tshirt, the Breton shirt has become a modern classic by combining casualness and elegance. Its history with the French navy and subsequent nautical associations make it a perfect choice for beach-side vacations. I’m wearing it with one of the only pairs of shorts I own. I usually avoid shorts because most of the options out there are long and full of pockets, which I find unflattering and child-like. These are simple khaki shorts that were a bit too long (ending on the knee) so I just rolled them up. And I used a woven belt which I think looks dapper yet more relaxed than a leather belt.

Relaxing on the patio

When I do want to look a little more polished on vacation, I go for a tailored guayabera. This one, by E Nelson, the only custom guayabera maker in Cuba, is a unique green linen. I rarely leave my shirts untucked, but guayaberas are made to be untucked, with their finished and straight bottoms. They are both tailored and relaxed. Paired with cotton/linen pants and boat shoes, I can feel comfortable going to a cottage-country restaurant that uses actual tablecloths on their tables.

Now, I can hear what you may be thinking: “It’s a vacation for god’s sake, relax and wear whatever you want.” But you see, I enjoy dressing well. I look forward to building and planning my wardrobe. And I enjoy the challenge of building a vacation wardrobe, finding clothes that are both casual and elegant. And since I like that feeling of being well dressed for an occasion in town, I enjoy it just as much on the beach. Comfort, for me, is not just physical.

Related posts

Packing for a mid-winter beach vacation How I wear and care for my shirts How to wear a tuxedo, and why How I wear and care for my accessories