THE JOURNAL

Summertime, and the living is easy. Well, not easy per se – have you seen the state of the world’s airports right now? But somehow things don’t seem quite as bad when the sun is shining. Plus, the rules of what we can wear get a little more relaxed when it’s warm: bright colours, breezy fabrics, looser shapes are all fair game. We’ll bet your wardrobe could do with a bit more summertime optimism, so we’ve put together the below edit of summer-appropriate clothing from brands that have both style and substance by the bucketful.
01.
The inspiring POLITE WORLDWIDE® hoodie

POLITE WORLDWIDE® is all about positive vibes. “Be polite to the planet, ourselves and one another” is the brand’s slogan, and it prides itself on a sustainable approach to fashion that involves limiting waste and creating small collections based purely on demand. This hoodie is case in point: crafted from a blend of cotton and hemp, it’s covered in charming pink clouds and comes with emblazoned with the message Light The Way. Lovely stuff.
02.
The cute and cuddly LOEWE tee

Cats always land on their paws, and toast always lands on the buttered side up, meaning that if you strap a piece of buttered toast to a cat’s back it creates something called “the buttered cat paradox”. Sorry, where were we… Ah, yes, this adorable kitten-covered T-shirt. Very soft, and made in Italy by LOEWE, it’s just the thing to wear outside this summer. You know, instead of inside, reading nonsense on Wikipedia…
03.
The summer-ready Rhude shorts

Mr Rhuigi Villaseñor (have you ever heard a better name?) reportedly founded Rhude in 2015 on his mother’s laptop, and it has consistently remained one of LA’s buzziest brands ever since. These bright blue shorts – emblazoned with the brand’s logo across the front and adorned with a long yellow drawstring – are eye-grabbing to be sure. But pair them with a white tee and some sneakers (we’ll get to those in a minute), and you’ve got your summer weekend uniform down pat.
03.
The irresistible AMIRI sneakers

With AMIRI’s modern-classic Skel-Top colour-block leather sneakers, it’s not so much a case of whether to invest in them as it is which colourway to narrow it down to. While the brand certainly doesn’t make the task any easier – fans of the LA-based label will attest they’re so wearable you’ll be tempted to pick up a pair in every hue – we’re spotlighting this bold green iteration that’ll transition seamlessly into autumn.
05.
The candy-coloured KAPITAL jacket

Alongside its predilection for smiley faces and a knack for reworking locally made denim in unconventional ways, KAPITAL’s penchant for quilting is a defining feature of its collections. Unsurprisingly, they’ve become pretty damn good at pulling together patchwork-style pieces that feel fresh and contemporary, but with a “this-old-thing” charm. This colour-bursting shell bomber, which nods to 1980s streetwear (albeit with a kimono-esque silhouette), is a case in point.
06.
The very pink Givenchy jeans

Brightly coloured denim is not for the shy and retiring. But pull it off with a bit of thoughtful styling and you can expect a style payoff that simply can’t be matched by your trusty true blues. The starting point this season is a pair of distressed candy-pink slim-fit jeans by Mr Matthew M Williams’ Givenchy. We suggest deliberately layering on equally bold hues and graphic prints for an outfit that reads as fun, fearless and apt for the summer.
07.
The hardcore STRAY RATS baseball cap

As the “Florida man” trope suggests, things tend to get a bit wild in the Sunshine State. So you can only imagine what Miami’s hardcore punk scene is like. This local variant of raw, fast, ramshackle garage rock first emerged in the 1970s, before Mr Julian Consuegra was even born. However, the South Florida native has had a hand in shaping the look of this subculture since 2010, when he launched his brand, STRAY RATS. And a head, given this fetching baseball cap with its collegiate typeface.
08.
The breezy mesh ERL shirt

Mr Eli Russell Linnetz is a true Zelig for the multi-hyphenate age. And sure enough, he’s worked for Mr Woody Allen (and Mr David Mamet). As a child, he voiced a character in Disney’s 2000 movie The Emperor’s New Groove. He’s produced music for Kid Cudi. He’s directed two videos for Mr Kanye West and designed tour sets for Lada Gaga. But today, he’s perhaps best known for dressing the likes of A$AP Rocky, who wore his brand ERL to the 2021 Met Gala. Fittingly, this varsity shirt is exactly the sort of thing you could imagine the hologram of Mr Tupac Shakur in.
09.
The statement logo WTAPS tote

In many ways, the history of WTAPS is also that of Japan’s streetwear culture. The brand was founded in 1997 by Mr Tetsu Nishiyama – three years after his schoolmate Mr Shinsuke Takizawa set up Neighborhood. WTAPS’ canny interplay of workwear and military surplus, plus its relative scarcity outside its home nation, made it the label to know. This tote bag is perfect for impromptu record-shop hauls.
10.
The whole-world-in-your-hand PARADISE long-sleeve T-shirt

Perhaps a bio that lists five core occupations isn’t so unusual in these days of side hustles. Only, by describing himself as “regular-footed” first and foremost, Mr Sean Pablo really sets out his stall. A pro skater heavily influenced by the style – both on the board and in the wardrobe – of the 1990s, which shines through with his own clothing brand, PARADISE.
11.
The transcendental Wales Bonner T-shirt

What sound does a spirit make? You know, the intangible thing inside you that houses all of your fears, ambitions, and deepest desires? We can hear yours from here, and it’s clearly crying out for this stylish T-shirt by Wales Bonner to be added to your basket. It must be fate.
12.
The unexpected Rick Owens jacket

The dark lord of fashion, or Mr Rick Owens as he’s more commonly known, usually makes clothes in black or varying shades of greige to convey as much grungy avant-gardism as possible. But lo! He’s recently been making more colourful design choices, one of which is this fetching leather jacket in a vibrant red.
13.
The too-cool Liberal Youth Ministry trackpants

Liberal Youth Ministry is a bone-achingly cool brand from Mexico that you probably haven’t heard of. Except now you have, of course, because you’re a devoted reader of The Journal. “Oh, these tapered bleached cotton-jersey sweatpants? They’re by Liberal Youth Ministry,” you will say with a knowing smile when you’ve inevitably asked about them by your many admirers. Well done, you.
14.
The Elder Statesman’s rainbow sweater

Cashmere is to The Elder Statesman as tweed is to Chanel, and this striped sweater is a case in point. Soft to the touch, with a psychedelic rainbow of shades that’s typical of the brand’s aesthetic, it’s casual enough to look good with pretty much anything. Want to wear more colour? Start here.
15.
The trippy Camp High tee

Camp High brings the fun to otherwise simple clothes, such this T-shirt, featuring a design of the adorable character Shroom Puppy. Hmm, we could’ve sworn we’ve seen him somewhere before…
16.
The keep-you-cool Neighborhood cap

Neighborhood, the popular Japanese brand founded by Mr Shinsuke Takizawa in 1994, is known for its indomitably cool streetwear, taking inspiration from London’s punk scene, Tokyo’s street culture and classic Americana style for its signature aesthetic. This baseball cap is perfect for staying shady in the sun, thanks to its soft brushed-cotton fabric and ivory hue, but it’s the embroidered gothic logo that really adds the cool factor.
17.
The Gucci logo-print shorts

Time to join that Gucci gang you’ve been hearing so much about? These shorts will do the trick. Lightweight silk twill and sunset hues make these shorts a winning number, and despite the fact that they’re quite busy print-wise, we honestly think it’s absolutely fine to pair with another busy print. Why ever not?
18.
The punk Enfants Riches Déprimés safety-pin chain

Mr Danny Boyle’s recent Sex Pistols miniseries reminded us of the cultural impact that punk had almost five decades ago, specifically the fashion. The spitting and swastikas – no thanks. But the safety pin is one style symbol that we can get with. Enfants Riches Déprimés is a suitably anti-establishment brand, with sticking it to the man coded into its DNA. This sterling-silver chain, then, adds a rebellious note to any outfit (with all the correct certifications and hallmarks, of course).
19.
The extra Dries Van Noten blazer

OK, we can admit that subtlety isn’t this blazer’s strong suit. But, if you’re making the effort to dress up, why wouldn’t you want to stand out amongst the sea of black, navy and grey? Patterned with a tie-dyed motif that channels Hawaiian hibiscus flowers, this kind of blazer was sorely missing from Mr Tom Selleck’s Magnum, P.I. wardrobe.
20.
The reimagined Marni denim shirt

We didn’t think the trusty denim shirt needed a reboot, until we saw Marni put Mohair go-faster stripes on this one and swiftly transport a timeless classic into 2022. If your shirt isn’t made of two contrasting materials, who even are you?