Let’s face it: it’s easy to lose grip of one’s sense of style in the summer. When the weather gets sweltering, all that tasteful layering and trusty outerwear goes out the window in favour of wearing, well, as little clothing as possible. But fear not: dressing for summer doesn’t have to be such a big task.

MR PORTER scoured the globe and found five stylish men, from actors to athletes, who always manage to look put-together – humidity be damned. We asked them what their secret fashion hacks are for tackling those tricky summer month fits, so you can replicate them in the following months. Consider it a mood board.

Mr Birkir Bjarnason, an Icelandic football player for Aston Villa in the UK, says his personal style has developed from some of the fashion-heavy places that he’s lived in. “It’s a mix of my Nordic upbringing with my more understated approach to fashion, my appreciation for tailoring that I picked up while playing in Italy for years, and a nod to British casual elegance,” he says. His go-to pieces in the summertime? “I would say invest in a few light trousers and neutral T-shirts to mix and match,” he says. “When it’s warm, I like wearing lighter trousers in navy blue or khaki with a plain white T-shirt and fresh white sneakers. Keep it simple in the heat.” One thing he won’t be doing in the heat, however? “For me, it’s white trousers,” he says. “I can’t stand them.”

As an actor on hit series such as Empire and Dynasty, looking good is just part of the gig for Mr Rafael de la Fuente. “I’ve always a considered a good fit and perfect tailoring key components to good style,” he says. For the summer months, the actor embraces fun with bold, high-octane colour – something he says men shouldn’t be scared to experiment with. “If style and fashion should be fun, then summer is the pinnacle of that,” he says. “I go all-out wearing colour.” He often wears short-sleeved, button-down shirts in bold colours and patterns – including leopard print – and pairs them with shorts and sneakers, or breezier chinos and linen trousers. “Last summer, I went through a full-on 1990s retro vibe, where I wore a lot of pastels and oversized T-shirts and sneakers. It was loud, but I had fun.”

Mr Eli Motsay’s personal style is devoted to all things Americana. His Instagram page shows him in everything from wool vests and leather jackets, to tortoiseshell sunglasses originally from the 1930s. “I source my clothing from vintage dealers, flea markets, as well as reproductions from small companies in US and Japan,” he says. (This autumn, he is also launching his own jacket line, inspired by the 1920s and 1930s.) Mr Motsay describes himself as more of an autumn-winter type of guy – he’s a real outerwear fanatic – therefore he finds navigating the tricky summer months difficult. “Living here in Southern Cal, a hat is one way I protect my face,” he says. “That and moisturiser with SPF – I’m not getting any younger. From a fedora to a Hamburg or a cap, you won’t see me without a hat too often.” His one tip for collecting some stellar headgear, though? “Every man has his preference, [but] avoid cheap-quality hats and any polyester,” he says. “That’s year-round for me.”

As a professional model, Mr Randy Gowon splits his time between Nairobi and Milan. “I get to travel a lot and I take advantage of that,” he says. Mr Gowon favors a wide range of pieces, from clean staples at Cos to items sourced from vintage stores, or luxury items from labels such as Gucci, Versace, and SAINT LAURENT. “When I’m back home in Kenya, I get a lot of inspiration from the diverse cultures and environment,” he says. “I find myself combing this with the more modern and clean aesthetic from Europe.” In the summer, Mr Gowon favours easy, no-fuss silhouettes, putting emphasis on the outer details instead. “During summer I enjoy playing around with textures and colours. I put it into practise by combining both smart and casual pieces, putting together basic and statement pieces,” he says. Another tip? Taking a definite less-is-more mentality when heading out the door. “I personally avoid layering during summer.”

Mr Jake Edward Grantham is one half of the stylish duo behind tailor Anglo-Italia, which he co-founded with business partner, Mr Alex Pirounis. “Our mantra is Italian tailoring [with an] English palette, thus I opt for our soft handmade tailoring, but in understated tones,” he says of his own style. “Naturally my wardrobe is entirely from our own store in Marylebone.” Come summer time, Mr Edward Grantham sticks to his suited-up vibe, though eases things up with a more casual twist. “Stick to the basics and wear them confidently,” he says. “All my heroes wore subtle, conservative tones,” he says. “It’s a talent to give simplicity character.” Mr Edward Grantham adds that he will often go for one of his unlined jackets in a light canvas: “Tailoring you can put on and forget all about.” And one thing he won’t do? “I would avoid being seduced by Crayola colors and shiny fabrics,” he says. “Understatement should still reign in summer.”