Best Men’s Shirts to Wear in Summer 2026: Melbourne Style Guide
As the weather heats up, keeping cool - particularly in the city - is a top priority. And while tailoring isn’t automatically where the mind goes when it’s hot, Oscar Hunt’s range of tailored shirts are specifically designed with consideration for the Australian climate.
This week, we’re giving you our very Melbournian style guide for exactly what summer shirts men in Australia need in their collections and how you can style them to the best effect. Let’s dive in.
Fabric
When shopping for men’s shirts in Melbourne over Summer, the first thing to think about is fabric. What you choose makes all the difference between staying cool and feeling like you’re wearing the fabric version of a tupperware container.
Our recommendation is to opt for natural fibres that let the skin breathe and maximise airflow. A personal favourite is linen or cotton. The looser weave of these fabrics helps to draw moisture away from the skin while also feeling lightweight.
Cut
A lightweight men’s shirt is defined as much by the cut as it is by the cloth. As we head into 2026, we’re seeing looser silhouettes that lend themselves perfectly to warmer weather. Boxy without feeling baggy, this style of shirt looks just as good with short sleeves as it does with long sleeves and ensures that you’ve got room to move.
Styling
The best way to style breathable shirts for Summer is to think about contrast. Whether you’re pairing a slightly more cropped shirt with longer shorts, a loose-fit long sleeve shirt with tailored trousers that define the waist or you’re layering your shirt over a tighter fitting tank, this gives your outfit dimension.
One of our favourite ensembles of the season is pairing a buttermilk Oxford and a white tee with either a pair of jeans or a longer pair of shorts. Elegant and easy in equal measure, this is a Summer look that can take you from the bar to the beach and back again in one fell swoop.
If you’re seeking something slightly more dressy, there’s no beating the classic combination of a white linen shirt with a pair of tan or navy chinos. To make this feel more contemporary, we suggest opting for a looser fit shirt tucked into the chinos and paired with either a loafer or an espadrille.
To discover our full range of Summer shirting, we invite you to swing by your local showroom or to give us a bell today.