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Style & beauty

What is it with British men in hot weather?

(180 Posts)
Casdon Wed 18-Jun-25 18:47:14

I was driving through town this afternoon, and as the traffic was queueing, I noticed what everybody was wearing on this beautiful sunny day. Most women looked smart, and as if they had dressed for the weather, but oh dear, the men. Some with no tops and their belly over their trousers, some with too tight nylon sports tops, some with what looked like their football shorts on with a long sleeved shirt. Suit wearers had taken their jackets and ties off, and had their long sleeved shirts loose. I didn’t see even one who looked half decent, no chinos, short sleeved shirts, tailored shorts, polo shirts, or sandals without socks to be seen. I think I live in a male style desert.

NanKate Thu 19-Jun-25 21:02:35

My DH is always smart but conventional in his clothes. Sadly I can’t get him to wear a short sleeved shirt in the summer.

Whilst having coffee in Next today 3 very elegant women walked by from the same family. D H said one was like a professional model.

Last time I mentioned the ethnicity of someone I was complimenting, I was roundly criticised by someone on GN.
So with regard to the 3 women from this morning, I will only say their beautiful clothes were certainly not purchased in the U.K. but much further away. The jewellery was exotic too.

Norah Thu 19-Jun-25 21:05:52

Allira

Musicgirl

@Norah, since when has 5’9 been considered very short for a man? I would have thought it was average height. My father, born in 1940, was 5’8 as a young man and this was the average height at that time. Of course, he shrunk as he grew older, as we all do and as my husband, who was a full 5’6 in his stockinged feet when he was younger and is now 5’4. This is what I consider fairly short. We have two sons and a daughter. The older son is around 5’5, and his younger brother 5’6/5/7. All three men take size 7 shoes, which is great in the sales.

5'9" is average height for British men (5' 7½" is the world average height for men).

DH was astonished to find he's lost 3" in height. We hadn't really noticed because I'm shorter too.

I'm shorter than 20 years ago, osteoporosis.

However, I do have a short thin husband, he does look wonderful in his clothes, dresses smartly - men's clthing was topic.

Allira Thu 19-Jun-25 23:33:05

I'm shorter than 20 years ago, osteoporosis
Apparently not in my case confused so I don't know why!

Nannan2 Fri 20-Jun-25 02:51:30

No Diffuser thats just the postmen😆😂

WithNobsOnIt Fri 20-Jun-25 04:41:50

Still see old men from tine to time wearing ankle socks with "Jesus Boots" when it is hot. You know open toe sandals.

Not a good look.

The Jimmy Five Belly, type wobblers seem to their display their awaful physique with momentous pride.

They love slapping their belly"s with affection usually while pungently farting and say things like "It is bought and paid for this is"

They treat and love their bellies like a child or a pet. Poor rhingd

All part of our man culture in this England.

How lucky we are girls!!
🍟🍕💪🌭🥪🌮🥮🍻💪😻

Calendargirl Fri 20-Jun-25 07:04:37

I would not be seen dead in a shirt with short sleeves - I wear long ones rolled up

I found this so odd. Why? What is the problem with SS shirts?

My DH has several and looks good in them. Why on earth would you wear a LS shirt in hot weather, only to roll the sleeves up?

Daft.

IOMGran Fri 20-Jun-25 07:29:43

escaped

^Handsome Milanese men in linen suits^ …
Ralph Lauren.

I think Ralph Lauren is American. The RL models in that collection have been working for years with the company, not sure about the Milanese connection?

Here in France, 33 degrees today, not seen one man without a top. DH wore a white Charles Tyrwhitt polo and beige shorts.

Also in France and I saw two topless overweight men on our journey from Cherbourg to Limoges but they were driving tractors. It's very hot here.

escaped Fri 20-Jun-25 08:14:35

Yes, it will unusally be 38° here in South West France today! I think it will be a case of everything off!

WhiteSwan63 Fri 20-Jun-25 08:15:33

I saw a man on his mobility scooter the other day on a busy road he was quite a big man and he was topless. 🤦
My DH cleaned the cars on the front drive yesterday and he kept his t shirt on which I was very pleased about.
Like CanadianGran I’ve got my DH wearing Linen shirts and linen trousers or long shorts on holiday now instead of t shirts and he looks very smart he’s realised how much cooler he feels. He wears that lovely colour combination of light blue shirts and beige trousers.

Maggiemaybe Fri 20-Jun-25 08:36:00

WithNobsOnIt

Still see old men from tine to time wearing ankle socks with "Jesus Boots" when it is hot. You know open toe sandals.

Not a good look.

The Jimmy Five Belly, type wobblers seem to their display their awaful physique with momentous pride.

They love slapping their belly"s with affection usually while pungently farting and say things like "It is bought and paid for this is"

They treat and love their bellies like a child or a pet. Poor rhingd

All part of our man culture in this England.

How lucky we are girls!!
🍟🍕💪🌭🥪🌮🥮🍻💪😻

Come on now, this is all getting a bit out of hand. grin Goodness knows where you’re all seeing these wobbly-bellied, pungently farting, hairy, smelly monstrosities. Round here it’s more just people in comfortable clothes going about their business and generally minding theirs. Then again I live in a Yorkshire market town, not central Milan or even central London, so I don’t expect a catwalk show when I’m wandering round Tesco’s.

I’m not a fan of the bare-chested look, away from the beach. But at least British men are rarely seen in g-strings or budgie smugglers. envy

eazybee Fri 20-Jun-25 09:46:12

Went out to a country pub for a meal last night, and noticed some of the people arriving, all ages had not bothered to wash or change (shorts and T shirts,)or even brush their hair before they came, and were hot, sweaty and in some cases, smelly. Not pleasant.
We go to pieces in this country when it is hot.

Maggiemaybe Fri 20-Jun-25 09:58:18

After my last comment, DH appeared in his appalling Cargo Shorts, ultra-baggy three quarter length shorts, usually in a drab and washed out khaki, with pockets all over. Very much favoured by distinctly out-of-shape blokey's, the waistband either balanced on top of their beer gut or tucked underneath, with hairy little legs poking out and topped off by the scruffiest trainers. and a Northern Soul tee.

Despite the fact that he’s also wearing his best Adidas Originals and has an unremarkable stomach and rather good legs, I’ll expect the fashion police to scoop us up on our trip to town.

Especially as I myself am sporting a 10 year old Boden striped sundress.

HeavenLeigh Fri 20-Jun-25 22:25:41

To be honest it doesn’t bother me what anyone wears tops off shorts on, I certainly ly don’t get my knickers in a twist about it, why would I. Wether they look scruffy are overweight etc

petra Fri 20-Jun-25 22:41:14

Can we get away from the idea that all of Italy are beautifully styled. Yes, in the big cite is they are.
But just like France, travel outside Paris, Lyon etc and it’s a very different picture.

Elrel Fri 20-Jun-25 23:08:59

Thank heaven for HeavenLeigh! Today I was so happy to be going out to lunch with friends in a smart summer dress I had been too fat to wear for a couple of years. Then I realised that some Gransnatterer might spot my Bingo Wings and be deeply offended. Later I found a useful Jacques Vert jacket in a charity shop to spare their embarrassment.

escaped Sat 21-Jun-25 06:09:30

petra

Can we get away from the idea that all of Italy are beautifully styled. Yes, in the big cite is they are.
But just like France, travel outside Paris, Lyon etc and it’s a very different picture.

Indeed.

escaped Sat 21-Jun-25 06:10:34

And even Macron dresses down occasionally.

Casdon Sat 21-Jun-25 08:19:33

petra it certainly isn’t just city based Italian men who dress well - on average I’d wager that an Italian man looks better turned out when he’s out and about than a British man, whatever his age and where exactly he lives - you only have to people watch in any small town or village.

RosieandherMaw Sat 21-Jun-25 09:32:07

I sometimes wonder if the insistence on (school) uniform in childhood plays a part, being unheard of in most mainland European countries?
We do not do “smart casual” well in this country , on workdays there is mostly a uniform of sorts, whether corporate business suit or Greggs tabard with expectations of a type of “uniform” at all levels in between, so men don’t have to think about what they wear until the holidays or at weekends.
Too many seem to resort to the year before last’s ’ baggy shorts, a nylon football shirt and sandals with socks or (usually black) trainers.
I case you think I am being sexist - maybe I am as there are lots of casual dress disasters by some women - just fewer!
No prizes for guessing where these pics are from!

Oreo Sat 21-Jun-25 09:38:36

Maggiemaybe

After my last comment, DH appeared in his appalling Cargo Shorts, ultra-baggy three quarter length shorts, usually in a drab and washed out khaki, with pockets all over. Very much favoured by distinctly out-of-shape blokey's, the waistband either balanced on top of their beer gut or tucked underneath, with hairy little legs poking out and topped off by the scruffiest trainers. and a Northern Soul tee.

Despite the fact that he’s also wearing his best Adidas Originals and has an unremarkable stomach and rather good legs, I’ll expect the fashion police to scoop us up on our trip to town.

Especially as I myself am sporting a 10 year old Boden striped sundress.

😂

RosieandherMaw Sat 21-Jun-25 09:45:30

This was the other one

Norah Sat 21-Jun-25 12:48:11

He does dress down and looks great.

Imagine he wears leather loafers and no silly socks.

Norah Sat 21-Jun-25 12:49:01

escaped

And even Macron dresses down occasionally.

Attempted to quote escaped.

Allira Sat 21-Jun-25 12:51:35

I sometimes wonder if the insistence on (school) uniform in childhood plays a part, being unheard of in most mainland European countries?

Thst's another bone of contention!!
Why do some Head Teachers insist children wear their blazers in this weather?

Allira Sat 21-Jun-25 12:54:37

RosieandherMaw

This was the other one

Half of UK adults have some degree of vitamin D deficiency, data shows
Over 55s with low levels of vitamin D twice as likely to die prematurely
Vitamin D is made by the body under the skin when exposed to sunlight

Same publication!