In the good old days, we didn’t need those fancy colours and patterns, did we? No, sir, we did not. That’s what this shirt from crafty New York brand BODE seems to be saying, with its crisp white cotton fabric, transparent construction and list of honest-to-God manufacturing details printed on the front. It’s a straightforward, no-nonsense shirt, just like momma used to make – OK, that’s probably enough – and it’s being worn in an appropriately straightforward (might we even say, a little puritanical?) style here with a pair of slim black trousers and a simple gold bracelet. The marked contrast of the monochrome palette brings out the dazzling quality of the shirt. We imagine the phrase “peroxide bleached” is an excellent conversation starter, too.

We can’t pinpoint precisely what it is that makes this ensemble so refreshing and summery, but it’s something to do with boats. The white stripe on the shirt closure and collar echoes the piping of a rowing blazer. The overall palette of white, cream and navy also has a nautical feel. This chap could waltz straight from the European street setting onto the decked roof terrace of a yacht club, order a cocktail with an umbrella in it and that would be the most natural thing in the world. It almost seems a shame that, shortly after this picture was taken, this man probably just went to a fashion show and sat in the dark while a series of 19-year-old gym bunnies walked up and down the runway in wool leggings and leather jackets. But that’s the fashion life. At least with this outfit, he is selling a different dream.

Leather may not be the first material you think of when pondering short-sleeved shirts, or even the 10th, but you have to give it to this guy for giving it a go and making it work. Those looking for a, let’s say, more accessible tip from this particular ensemble, which could easily be replicated by wearing a similar shirt in linen or cotton, are encouraged to note how the three-quarter-length sleeves make for a slightly more refined look than your average short-sleeved shirt, as does the addition of high-waisted, pleated trousers. The wearer has continued this somewhat formal theme by tucking in the shirt (you have to worry about chafing) and buttoning it up right to the collar (after applying talcum powder, let’s hope). The overall effect is of airy sophistication and grim determination. Which is something we can all aspire to, no?

This shirt is something of a hybrid, not just in its patchwork composition of green leopard and bandana-print fabrics, but in its style and construction. Is it a camp-collar shirt? Is it a deconstructed blazer? Or might it be a westernised version of the Japanese jinbei jacket, which fastens at one side? The answer is probably all of the above, but the take-home here is that a short-sleeved shirt doesn’t always have to be bog-standard. In this case, the wearer has tempered the more adventurous nature of this garment by keeping the rest of his outfit plain and simple, choosing a pair of navy trousers and a bright white T-shirt as accompaniments. There’s also something inherently elegant about the wraparound style itself, which, unlike a traditional buttoned shirt, won’t gape as you sit or billow as you move, if either of those things is a concern.

Going back to the colours and structures of military gear is always a winner and this picture provides a perfect case in point. The short-sleeved shirt, a safari shirt with epaulets and handy 3D pockets, is a perfect match for the army-issue T-shirt and khaki shorts. A buzz cut also feeds the Mad Max desert storm feel, you can replicate this look without going to such drastic measures.

The short-sleeved shirt was born from function and necessity. Which is why it makes a lot of sense that, 100-odd years since its invention, we’re seeing a souped-up version such as this one from stylish technical and outdoor brand And Wander. We’re sure, were you to read the product description, you would find out all sorts of technical details about this bit of kit – waterproof zip pockets! Breathable tech fabric! – but here we’ll simply pause to admire the all-black look, even down to the smart watch, which is sleek, slick and appropriately ninja-like. This man is clearly on a mission.

And finally we come to the printed shirt. As you may expect, this one is full of potential pitfalls and wearing a print that would perhaps be more at home as wallpaper in the living room of an eccentric interiors editor is not perhaps the most obvious route to dressing well. This example, however, proves that taking a risk with a bold print can pay off. The clear key to success here is keeping the rest of the outfit minimal (note the sensible addition of a white T-shirt worn underneath) so that nothing else is jostling for attention with those ferocious-looking tigers.