What to wear for an afternoon drink

[Gruto]

You are spending a week by the seaside. It's sunny. A couple that you've met invite you together with some other people for an afternoon drink outside their cottage. Everything is quiet relaxed. What would you wear?

[luk-cha]

depending on the weather i'd wear a pair of light colored linen trousers, a baby blue polo shirt and a pair of chestnut full brogues (BS G&G)

[storeynicholas]

I'd start with just a smile...
NJS

[Gruto]

depending on the weather i'd wear a pair of light colored linen trousers, a baby blue polo shirt and a pair of chestnut full brogues (BS G&G)

Luk-cha, if you should chose a shirt, what type should it be?

I'd start with just a smile...
NJS

"A smile is the shortest distance between two people"

[Guille]

Another option is to wear dark coloured trousers with a light coloured jacket and a shirt, as it is often depicted on the AA illustrations or in Will's last entry: http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com/200 ... lance.html (you can vary the formality by removing the waistcoat and/or necktie, or even substituting the shirt with a polo or short-sleeve shirt, although many think these look odd with a jacket over them, I don't). You can also substitute the bluchers with spectator shoes, and top it with a panama hat.

[luk-cha]

depending on the weather i'd wear a pair of light colored linen trousers, a baby blue polo shirt and a pair of chestnut full brogues (BS G&G)

Luk-cha, if you should chose a shirt, what type should it be?

I'd start with just a smile...
NJS

"A smile is the shortest distance between two people"

again a powder blue BD shirt or some other pastel shades lavender or even a gingham check again in blue or pink maybe

[Gruto]

You can also substitute the bluchers with spectator shoes

again a powder blue BD shirt or some other pastel shades lavender or even a gingham check again in blue or pink maybe

Thanks, no loafers or deck shoes?

[Guille]

Thanks, no loafers or deck shoes?

Those would be another option, but slightly more informal, though if it is the occasion for them, why not. Only that I would go with loafers, I reserve my deck shoes for the deck (and boats).

[Manself]

One hesitates, in the current climate, to suggest an outfit that doesn't feature a tie but on holiday my favourite pieces of clothing are shirts with a lido collar, which are made to be worn open. I'd wear deck shoes, white duck trousers, a pale blue or pink lido collar shirt, a SB casual blazer (patch hip pockets) and a panama.

If other members like lido collar shirts where do they get them? It took me a long time to find a London shirtmaker who could make one. The man in question is Robert Whittaker at Dege & Skinner.

[mek]

If it is not a very formal invitation I would wear a light linen suit and linen shirt, no tie but a square possibly with a little colour. For shoes I would put on something like Tods or a light loafers. It is my experience that my formal shoes that fit me very well feel tight in a hot climate so when on holiday I like something like Tods even with linen suits. The idea is to relax when one is on holiday and if the call is not for formality then why not relax and have fun at the same time.

[Sator]

I must say that I have a severe allergy towards the modern compulsion which dictates that just because one isn't required to wear morning dress and top hat, that this immediately necessitates a complete degeneration into something utterly ghastly ie boat shoes, sneakers and the like (outside of going boating or playing sports).

I see casual dress as an opportunity to dress, but without having to wear understated dark colours, and other such constraints required to look professional. For summer dress you can wear what you like - cream coloured linen coats, Panama hats, spectator shoes, and bow ties for example. It's a chance to enjoy yourself.

[luk-cha]

You can also substitute the bluchers with spectator shoes

again a powder blue BD shirt or some other pastel shades lavender or even a gingham check again in blue or pink maybe

Thanks, no loafers or deck shoes?

for me loafer's maybe, deck shoe no way!

[storeynicholas]

My first reaction was to wear a big smile but I haven't accepted the invitation yet. What sor t of a 'do' is this - a picnic, a barbecue, a pit roast for which they are having me? Having seen them in their swimming costumes, for all I know, the men will be dressed in those ghastly nether garments which can't quite make up their minds whether they are long shorts or short longs and dither between knee and ankle - plus ankle socks and deck shoes, all combined with a tee shirt emblazoned on the front with something bland and mildly artistic whilst the back screams a four letter word; the girls (apart from the blonde in orange hot pants and a halter top) will all be weariing low-slung hipster jeans and cropped tops; I will arrive just fashionably late to discover that the blokes have each guzzled seven cans of Theakston's Old Peculiar starting at noon, whilst the girls are nearly unable to stand in their Convers All Stars on account of the Smirnoff Ices which, in pari passu with each can of TOP, they have put down their necks. There will be a small child in a nappy just by a precipice in the garden and another two older boys knocking seven bells out of each other with plastic swords: no butler is going to intone 'Vespers are served' as the sun reaches the rim of the horizon, no sprung birds'eye maple dance floor is going to appear on the lawn and no small band is going to arrive to play a selection of smoochie numbers from the great American Songbook... instead they will be lucky if, when the Queen album bursts into song, to raucous accompanniment of the British on Holiday, for the sixth time, the neighbours (who have been noticeably banging closed windows and doors all afternoon) do not call the local authority noise control officers and this is all before the smaller boy with the plastic swords suffers a small flesh wound just by his left eye, to the the further accompaniment of the very small abandoned child in a nappy who, tired, hot, thirsty, hungry and soggy lends his voice to the refrain. And here am I in a two piece db cream tussore suit and co-respondent shoes and green Charvet tie against a light blue poplin T & A shirt with cocktail cuffs and Super Fino Monte Cristi Optimo Panama. singing softly to myself: 'Show Me The Way To Go Home'.
NJS

[RWS]

Move the scene from the tropics, and we'll place ourselves in a set piece we've all suffered through. Thank goodness for the rest of society!

[storeynicholas]

The thing is, sometimes, we know what it is going to be like and we don't want to suffer it again but we always go because we're concerned about what we might miss...
NJS