Lifestyle expert Henry Conway shares his guide to surviving the summer social battlefield, drawing inspiration from the TV show 'Rivals' and the great British pastime of passive-aggressive snobbery. He advises readers to embrace 1980s bravado when dressing for events, while avoiding common pitfalls.
Men's Summer Wedding Guest Dress Code
Wedding suiting can be a trap. West London girls enjoy hems and lace, so men should stay classic. Choose lapels not too narrow, and opt for muted, breezy linen. If you want personality, use a bold coloured knitted tie. Avoid novelty shirts and tan brogues, which signal trouble. Keep it simple, polish your shoes, use collar stiffeners, and keep your jacket on as long as possible.
Casual Style Mistakes to Avoid
For off-duty clothes, swimming trunks are not city shorts. Shorts should be short like Paul Mescal's. At home or lakes, nude bathing is preferable to budgie smugglers. Flip-flops on the Tube or slides with socks are high treason. Birkenstocks are acceptable, but Crocs are for gardening and children. A simple sockless pump looks good on everyone with clean feet.
Summer Party Food and On-Trend Drinks
Summer event food is an assault course. One-bite canapés are kinder. Ban bowl food; small is beautiful. Hosting at home? Try one-fork wonders like coronation chicken or cold pesto farfalle. Hard liquor is back. Add extra gin to Pimm's, use ginger ale instead of lemonade. Jugged cocktails are trendy. Ice in wine is accepted. Champagne coupes are smarter than flutes. Spritzes are universal: Aperol in pubs, Campari in bars, Hugo at weddings.
Conversation and Confidence
Avoid controversial topics like religion or politics. Stick to safe subjects, such as flying budget to provincial French airports. Summer social success is about nonchalance. Trying too hard is vulgar. An iced coffee and a strong stride signal confidence. Be bold, never apologise, and remember confidence will get you through social pitfalls. Wear better shoes.
