Gentlemen, with the sun shining and the temperature increasing, now is the perfect moment to restock your wardrobe with the newest and trendiest spring clothing for guys. Therefore, if you're hoping to 'thaw' out of your warm-weather wardrobe (and get back into the swing of dressing up again), look no further than the carefully curated list of men's spring fashion essentials below, which has been hand-picked by your friendly neighborhood GQ editors.
The spring garms here will sing together in perfect harmony no matter how you play them. Consider them to be your wardrobe's Chick Corea Elektric Band: An eclectic blend of timeless classics and avant-garde items that together create an infinite variety of perfect men's springtime ensembles. These 42 springtime looks for guys include everything from sharp button-downs and psychedelic caps to close-up-ready sunglasses and bizarre shorts that we'll be sporting from now until June.
The Crisp Button-Up
This is a bit of news for you: It's not necessarily T-shirt weather from now on just because the temperature has finally reached 70 degrees. Think of the button-up as your stylish Swiss Army Knife in springtime. Straight forward versions, like the one by Alex Mill, work just as well as an office-appropriate outfit as they do for a beach-ready look. Oh, and a button-up can serve as a (very) light jacket in more situations than you may imagine.
Read also: 3 Piece Suits for Men: The Perfect Fit for Any Occasion
The Plain White Tee(s)
When the warm weather finally decides to stick around, T-shirts start to come out of hibernation in droves, emerging from their caves (sweaters) and into the fresh air. In other words: your tees are going to play a central role in your closet for the next six months, so you'd better make them good. That can mean investing in a decidedly luxe plain white T-shirt like CDLP's airy lyocell-blended version, or opting for a straight-up freaky alternative. It doesn't mean forgoing your roster of carefully curated band tees, though—keep those in the starting lineup.
The Sultry Polo
The best polos are inherently hot. Sure, even the most conventional of them should be heavy on the texture and designed to highlight your biceps, but the flyest of the genre skew even sexier. We're talking lace, mesh, crochet; if it's even slightly see-through, we want it. When the birds and the bees are working overtime, maybe your polo should follow suit…if you catch our drift.
The Throwback Chinos
Name a pair of pants more spring-ready than chinos. (Go on—we'll wait.) In 2024, though, the key to finding the right chinos for you comes down to fit (actually, the key to pretty much everything comes down to fit). Get your legs into a pair baggy enough to let the air circulate, ideally with a rise high enough to spotlight your tucked-in tees. J.Crew's Giant-fit chinos are a modern classic; Studio Nicholson's are just as big but a little more design-forward. Once you've got your pants sorted, your shoe options are wide open.
The Swishy Shorts
As long as Patagonia keeps making its legendary Baggies, we'll keep plugging 'em. Sure, their pleasantly swishy fabric is ultra-durable and takes to water like a fish, but they look right at home in less active situations, too. In the decades since they were introduced, Yvon Chouinard's masterpiece has cemented itself as a bona fide everyday staple that countless brands have riffed on (and ripped off). So if you thought your options were limited to chino versions or mesh, court-ready spins, think again.
Read also: The Best Sweatpants for Tall Men
The Dressy Shorts
That said, corp-core is on the rise—and that goes for your shorts, too. (Think swanky pleated trousers lopped at the knee and you've got the right idea.) Dressier shorts present an easy way to look put-together while staying cool. Lean into the vibe with a crisp button-up or give 'em a thorough dressing down with a lightweight sweater keep scrolling and sneakers.
The Air-Chilled Sandal
Breezy sandals are a must during the spring, whether you plan on heading to the beach or not. There's a grip of gorp-y options and plenty of typical indoor-outdoor slides, but these days we're more about the fancy leather joints that swaggy old folks have been on for ages. Huaraches and fisherman sandals from brands like Nisolo and Hereu look ultra-luxe with billowy linen pants and a camp shirt, and can quickly tap into cool-dad-at-the-BBQ vibe with washed-out jeans.