Summer, to any menswear aficionado, means Solaro. How could anyone not love a fabric that contains the essence of summer in its name?
Because of the neutral tone of the cloth, a Solaro suit is quite easy to wear, and you probably already have in your closet the right garments to complement it. Let’s explore a few options that will make the most out of your sophisticated Solaro suit.
Shirt
Because of the summer nature of the Solaro fabric, chances are you’ll want to wear a light shirt that will keep you cool. I would opt for an ivory/white shirt in linen or light cotton, with no pattern. Light blue works just as well, but be mindful not to add too many colors: the beauty of the Solaro lies in its red iridescence, and you shouldn’t wear any color that overshadows it.
Since Solaro suit pants look good even when separated from their jacket, your outfit will look put together even in case the heat will force you to remove the top part of the suit. You can even unbutton the first two buttons of the shirt, roll up the sleeves and prepare to look as close to Gianni Agnelli as you’ll ever be.
Spezzato
I grew up in a country where men hardly wear suits with matching pants and jacket. Okay, this is an exaggeration, but I assure you that it’s not uncommon for Italians to play with their suits and mix & match their parts according to their mood and taste.
Because of the light tint of the fabric, a solaro suit will give you plenty of options should you decide to wear the pants and jacket separately. White is, again, an excellent pairing, as well as warm tones that flatter the red hue bleeding from the weave. If you’re feeling brave, you can even wear a pair of blue jeans, like style icon Lino Ieluzzi.
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- Spezzato with Solaro jacket, linen pants, and unlined loafers.
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- Spezzato with Solaro pants, burgundy linen jacket, and light blue cotton shirt.
Accessories
A burgundy tie and an earth-toned pocket square will complement both the red and tan hues of the cloth, like the ever-impeccable Fabio Attanasio shows in the picture below. Naturally, since the Solaro is a light color fabric, you can go tie-less – as most people seem to prefer.
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- Tieless look at Pitti Uomo. Photo by @dresslikea
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- @fabioattanasio in a Solaro suit and straw hat.
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- @linoieluzziofficial wearing a Solaro jacket with jeans.
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- @mostexerent wearing Solaro pants and an unbuttoned shirt.
Usually solaro suits are made bespoke, but you can find ready-to-wear options such as this suit by Eidos for No Man Walks Alone. You can also get a made-to-measure, made in Italy Solaro suit by Lanieri.
Let us know if you’re the proud owner of a solaro suit or if you are considering stepping up your summer game and buying one in the near future. Don’t forget to share your pictures in the What Are You Wearing Today? thread on Styleforum!
If you would like to read more about Solaro, click here to learn about its history and why it makes a perfect choice for a summer suit.
For more inspiration about Italian style, check out the 5 Rules To Dress Like an Italian.
Arianna Reggio
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Trousers or coat from a Solaro suit should not be worn as separates. Proprio non si puo’ vedere. It’s a convention thing, but also, quite simply, the iridescence is bound to clash with just about any other cloth.
I see Solaro’s iridescence as an opportunity rather than a limitation, but of course that’s my own perception and may not be shared by everyone.