With a well-chosen basic wardrobe, you have a foundation of clothes that you can create lots of wearable combinations with. The idea of the basic wardrobe is that these clothes should be a kind of stylistic framework, which you can wear with almost any other type of garment, and thus work with, for example, garments with strong patterns or colours. On hot days, it's easy to dress mostly for practicality to endure the heat. With a good basic wardrobe, you also maintain your style level. No matter which of the garments below you choose to combine with each other, you will have a timelessly stylish outfit.

Linen shirt

Linen is a breathable fabric to wear. A long-sleeved shirt has the advantage of providing sun protection when you need to cover your arms. When it gets too hot to wear long sleeves, simply roll up the sleeves and unbutton the required amount of buttons on the collar, thus creating a garment that is both more stylishly versatile and more breathable than a short-sleeved t-shirt or shirt. Linen wrinkles, it's part of the process. Good quality fabrics also wrinkle significantly less than more inexpensive fabrics with short fibre lengths.

Read more: Five linen shirts to wear this summer

Sunglasses

Your sunglasses are perhaps the most visible part of your style. So choose them carefully. Allow the colour of the frame to harmonise with the clothes you wear. Brown, but also blue, green or transparent frames create soft contrasts with clothes in lighter, summery colours. Black generates a little more attitude. Remember, in this case function is as important as aesthetics. Sunglasses with polarized lenses may be worth considering if you spend a lot of time by the water, as they filter out harmful UV reflections.

Read more: Which sunglasses suits me

Linen trousers

Summer trousers should preferably be made from lighter fabrics, which are more breathable to wear than darker versions. Linen trousers are ideal in the warm summer months. Thin cotton fabrics are also very useful, but immediately become noticeably warmer to wear. Again, linen trousers can be wrinkled - that's part of the charm.

Summer shoes

When it comes to stylish summer shoes, loafers or car shoes are probably the most versatile option in terms of styling. Paired with a white shirt and linen trousers, they are wonderfully casual and dressy enough for a restaurant visit. At the same time, they work just as well paired with shorts when at the beach. You should always wear them without socks. Espadrilles are very casual and comfortable shoes, which always remain informal no matter what they are combined with. Sneakers are an option that many people feel comfortable wearing, and are never wrong in casual settings. Keep them classically white and understated in design.

Shorts

Shorts are always a steadfast in the wardrobe of the stylish man. Sure, there are situations where you should stick to long trousers, but to generally say that shorts are not compatible with good style is simply wrong. However, be sure to make a distinction between swim shorts with an elasticated waist, and shorts made to be worn on other occasions. With well-fitting, high-quality and well-designed swim shorts, you can attend a multitude of different events, make sure you're beachside. Use common sense when deciding whether or not shorts are suitable for the occasion. The optimal length for formal shorts is the hem being just above the wearer's knee.