The summer is rapidly approaching, and that means you have two choices. One: You can roast for three or four months while you suffer through the hotter seasons in your suit and tie. Or two: You can learn how to wear a suit in the warm weather and look fantastic, feel fantastic, and not be stuck replacing all your white dress shirts because you sweat through them. Summer suits for men can feel like a whole new level of suit knowledge that you may feel overwhelmed trying to tackle. But you know we here at The Manual would never let you navigate that on your own.

And we’re not alone in that endeavor. There are people in the tailored clothing industry who thrive on helping men understand their world. They are the ones with their feet on the ground. They work with you to figure out what fits best, and they put you in the right suits for the right occasions. Your suit guy is a wealth of knowledge, and one of our suit guys is Jeffrey Appelson of Jeffrey Scott in Princeton, New Jersey. We reached out to him to allow him to walk us through some key rules to nailing that summer suit look.

GET THE RIGHT FABRIC

The first and most important aspect of your summer suit is the fabric. While wool is your usual go-to for suits, there are other fabrics for warm weather and cool weather that amplify your suit wardrobe and allow you to adjust to the season. Cold weather has flannel and cashmere, and warm weather has linen and cotton. There is one aspect of the suit, whether it is a wool suit, a cotton suit, or a linen suit, that is more important than anything else. Breathability.

“Fabric should be breathable,” Appelson says. “This can be a wool, linen, or even a wool/silk/linen blend. My preference is an open weave, high-twist wool that is both breathable and wrinkle-resistant. Dugdale Brothers has a collection called Tropical Air that is the perfect choice. Most people think linen is the only breathable option in summer, but their high-performance wool is the perfect choice and a better option than linen, surprisingly. Lastly, the weight of the fabric…lighter weight can be more breathable, yes. However, a heavier-weight cloth in an open weave will actually be more breathable than a lighter-weight cloth in a different weave, like a twill. Plus, the heavier cloth will provide a better drape”

WHAT TO DO WITH THE LINING

Ok, so you have picked out the suit fabric, and you are ready with something breathable and comfortable. Now, there is a little matter of the suit lining. In every suit, there is an inner construction that helps the jacket keep its shape when it drapes. Of course, when the temperatures rise to the triple digits, every layer becomes more and more important. Appelson gives a little insight on how to make the lining work for you.

“The lining isn’t as important as the type of fabric when it comes to breathability,” he says. “However, a half-lined jacket where the back has no lining or a fully unconstructed jacket (completely unlined) will provide slightly more breathability, given the lining is removed.”

BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY

You know we love color here at The Manual. Whether we are telling you to ditch the blues and grays or convincing you to adopt a socialite archetype, color is an expression of your personality. Of course, not every color works perfectly in every season, but the warmer months of spring and summer bring with them brighter hues. But don’t just go brighter; there is a mentality that is vital to finding the right colors.

“Summer means brighter colors, so have fun with it,” Appleson commands. “Baby blue, yellow, white, and cream are a few of my favorites. A cream trouser is an essential piece for a summer wardrobe. Stay away from darker colors like black and charcoal unless you’re attending a formal event that requires it.”

STYLE YOUR LOOK FOR SUMMER COOLNESS

Finally, you have to put these ideas together into something that will look amazing. Whether you are dressing up something casual or dressing down something formal, the right accoutrements are vital to scoring the perfect look.

“My go-to look for summer is some nice linen trousers with a camp collar short sleeve button down, tucked in, of course,” the professional advises. “This is a great casual look that is still more stylish than most gents wearing shorts and a golf polo and will keep you cooler than a full suit. If you’re wearing a suit, I like to opt for no tie and at least two buttons undone. Showing off a little chest is sexy. No undershirt, or go with a tank underneath that has a lower-cut neck. This is the way.”

Some of the best add-ons to these looks are the right loafers or drivers, cufflinks to spice up the ensemble, or even a summer hat to keep the sun at bay. In any case, take these tips and make your summer one of style.

March 15, 2024

Jeffrey Appelson

Canvas Rebel Interviews Jeffrey Appelson

March 15, 2024

Jeffrey Appelson

From the Canvas Rebel Website:

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeffrey Appelson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

JEFFREY, THANKS FOR JOINING US, EXCITED TO HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTING YOUR STORIES AND INSIGHTS. WE’D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT A TIME YOU HELPED A CUSTOMER REALLY GET AN AMAZING RESULT THROUGH THEIR WORK WITH YOU.

This success story happens often, which is the most rewarding part of what I do however it was very powerful for one specific client. This client struggled for several years with confidence issues as well as bad experiences when it came to suits. His weight played a huge role in how he felt and the lack of success with having suits fitted properly really took a toll on him, to the point that he never wanted to wear suits again. They weren’t comfortable or flattering. However, he trusted me with making a suit. The final product fit so well that he finally felt confident, and comfortable to the point that he cried during the final fitting. It gave me chills. It’s a blessing to be able to give my clients this level of comfort and confidence.

AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS AND WE’VE GOT A FEW MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO ALL OF THAT CAN YOU TAKE A MINUTE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GIVE OUR READERS SOME OF YOUR BACK BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT?

I have always had an interest in men’s style and suits however, my passion for it grew significantly after working at a men’s suit retailer 13+ years ago. I was looking for a part time job while attending college and this was the perfect place. From that point on, I knew that this was something I wanted to pursue I just didn’t know it would be through my own business. After 2 years, I left that store and worked other part time jobs until I finished school and started a career in corporate sales, 9 year ago. At that same time. my colleague from the clothing store, who I had stayed connected to, started a custom clothing business. I helped him out on the side while working sales. Fast forward 3 years…I learned so much about the business world that I felt comfortable pursuing my own business. At that point, I asked my colleague how he would feel about me being a part of the business. He said absolutely and gave me half the company. This was 6 years ago. A year later, I bought him out and the Jeffrey Scott Brand was born.

For me, the most interesting aspects of the bespoke suit process are the attention paid to detail, the ability to be creative with fabrics, buttons, styles, etc., and the ability to solve the problem of not being able to find a suit that fits! A bespoke suit will fit and feel perfect because it’s created based on your measurements, posture, shoulder slope, roundness of back, and several other factors. It is truly a science and an art.

We are a bespoke clothier. We make suits, tuxedos, sportcoats, trousers. overcoats, shirts, ties and pocket squares for Gentlemen and Ladies completely from scratch. What sets us apart is the attention to detail (I am a perfectionist so I will not let one thing slip by when it comes to the final product), the quality of the fabrics, and the quality of construction inside and outside of the garment. Every Jeffrey Scott suit is fully handmade and full canvas which provides the highest level of comfort, fit, and quality.

We stand by our clothing and promise to deliver a perfect fitting garment that our clients love, otherwise their money back. We also cover alterations for the life of the garment, as we understand sizing may change.

ANY INSIGHTS YOU CAN SHARE WITH US ABOUT HOW YOU BUILT UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE?

Social media is a full time job. My main platform is Instagram. I have about 50,000 followers and have been building my account for a good six years. Initially, I had two accounts. One for my personal style, and the other was for the business. I had spent years building up my personal account, which gained a lot more followers, because people were able to relate better since they can see the face behind the business. I brought that account up to about 30,000 followers while the business was only at about 5000. Then, my personal account was hacked. I had to start over building my business account, but in a short amount of time was able to bring it to the 50,000 follower mark that it is at today. I grew the accounts to this point by posting twice a day every day with hashtags related to my business. It’s very important to stay consistent, as well as post quality content. That is both educational and tells a story. It has to catch your audiences attention. Also, make sure that you are engaging with everyone that comments and messages here.

Instagram is one of my best sources of business.

WHAT’S BEEN THE BEST SOURCE OF NEW CLIENTS FOR YOU?

My two best sources for clients has been google and referrals from existing clients and partners, such as wedding, planners, and Stylists. Google was challenging and scary at first as I invested $600 per month for a full year and saw no results. However, after that year of building up my presence on Google, it has become my top source. My business now shows up on the first page consistently when Potential clients are searching in my area. I highly recommend investing in SEO as well as asking every client for a referral.