It's hard to believe that we're already six months into 2014. Spring is well behind us and warm weather trends are blossoming, so it's the perfect time to pick up a summer suit. So, which trends are blisteringly hot, and which are just warm?
Here are six budget and high street examples of some intriguing catwalk trends...looking good has never been easier on the wallet.
1. White linen.
This summer is all about bright, clean white suits with crisp edges. It was the most noticeable trend to come off the catwalks, not least because pure white is pretty eye-catching. If you're prone to trips and spills then this daring look might not be quite right for you, but as long as you can hold onto a pint without spilling most of it then you really have nothing to lose. High street fashion chain H&M have a great range of stylish but relatively inexpensive white linen suits starting at just £64.99.
2. Light grey tailored suits.
A slim fitting grey suit should be an automatic go-to option for slightly cooler summer days. Light grey suits were all over the catwalks earlier in the year, and it's a good idea to go for either cotton (if you're feeling optimistic) or a light weight, fine spun wool if you want to carry the look over into early autumn. Leeds based firm Frank Tailor have a great light grey tapered wool suit for just £125 that would look great paired with a plain shirt for weekend fun and games.
3. Floral prints.
Yes, you read that right. It's flower time. It might have seemed a bit far-fetched when it first arrived on the catwalks, but floral prints are becoming more and more mainstream with a host of high street and online chains offering great value, summery, stylish suits and blazers in subtle (and not so subtle) flower patterns. Still not convinced? Check out this great floral cotton blazer by Noose & Monkey currently on sale at asos.com for £140.
4. Think pink.
It's not the most traditional menswear colour, but despite that fact pink suits are currently popping up everywhere. They were one of the main trends to watch on high fashion runways a couple of months ago, so it's not surprising that almost every high street menswear chain now offer at least one or two pink options to brighten up your summer wardrobe. And it isn't just one tone either: you can choose from almost any shade imaginable from rose to a pale pastel pink that's perfect for summer weddings, like this £129 slim fit suit from Moss.co.uk.
5. 1950s American influenced style.
Forties and fifties inspired suits are rapidly gaining traction this season, a trend that doesn't look like it's due to slow down any time soon. Loose cut, high waisted trousers are the starting point for this look, paired with a check jacket with sharp lapels. This Lambretta grey check suit on sale at Burton.co.uk checks (see what I did there?) all the right boxes for a Mad Men inspired style. All you need is a pair of horn rimmed glasses to complete the look.
6. Shorts suits.
Please don't stop reading! I promise you can pull off a blazer-plus-shorts combo without looking like a 1940s public schoolboy, especially if you take into account some of the other trends covered above. Firstly, a light linen or cotton fabric is a must: you want it to be light and breathable. Close fitting shorts that stop slightly above the knee add a tailored stylishness to the ensemble, and choosing a pastel shade- ideally with some fun elements too- keeps it from looking too formal. This Vito suit with a subtle animal print ticks all the boxes.
At £215 it's slightly pricier than the other suits on this list, but can you really put a price on looking (and feeling) cool this summer? (Answer:, yes. But it's still a good suit).