It's Finally Hot in Toronto — Here's What to Wear Beyond a T-Shirt
Knit Polo and Cuban/Camp Collar Shirt
It's finally consistently warm in Toronto. After a colder than usual winter and spring, seeing reliable 20°C days feels genuinely earned.
The way I personally know it's time to shift my wardrobe is when two things happen: I turn on the AC and I swap my thick sleeping blanket for a thin one. Yes, I actually change my blanket with the seasons. I know most people don't — but here we are 😂
The obvious warm weather answer is T-shirts. And honestly, for casual comfort, nothing beats them. Everyone should have at least a plain white and a plain black tee in their closet — full stop. They work for almost everything.
But when the occasion calls for just a little more presence — not formal, just a notch above — here are the three pieces I reach for.
The Knit Polo — Back for Good Reason
Knit Polo from Ben Sherman
The knit polo has been making a steady comeback and it deserves to stay.
Pictured above is one of my favourites — a dark navy knit cotton polo with stripes. Classic, but with enough visual texture to give it a genuine pop. The reason I gravitate toward knit over piqué — which is the standard polo fabric you'll find on most Lacoste or Ralph Lauren styles — is that knit provides a textured depth that just looks more interesting. I can't fully explain why, but my best guess is that it gives off a retro vibe that piqué simply doesn't have.
This particular polo is from Ben Sherman, which I don't believe is widely available anymore. If you're shopping for alternatives, look for knit polos that offer a full button-up front rather than just the standard three-button placket or Johnny collar style. That detail alone elevates the piece significantly.
The Camp/Cuban Collar Vacation Shirt — Maximum Casual Done Right
Camp Collar Shirt from SPIER & MACKAY
This one is not for formal occasions. At all.
I wear the Cuban collar shirt primarily on vacation or on those genuinely hot days when I'm heading somewhere that calls for more than a T-shirt — think casual dinner, a bar, somewhere relaxed but where you want to look like you made a decision about what to wear.
I also own this shirt in a Hawaiian print, which my wife occasionally questions 😂. But the one pictured here is the version I actually love. It's navy — and yes, half my wardrobe is blue, but that's entirely the fault of denim and I refuse to apologize for it 😂. The bicycle pattern is what makes this piece — it's specific enough to be interesting without being loud.
This shirt is from SPIER & MACKAY, one of my favourite menswear brands — you can check their current selection here. Unfortunately this exact pattern is no longer available, but they do carry some great options. The blue stripe seersucker is worth considering if it's still in stock.
The Pink OCBD — The Unexpected Summer Move
Pink OCBD from Gap x GQ collab
Pink in menswear has gone in and out of trend for years and honestly I couldn't tell you where it sits right now. I don't wear it regularly and I never wear it in winter. But in summer, an unexpected colour that pops is always worth having in the rotation.
The OCBD pictured is from the Gap x GQ collaboration with designer David Hart — a collab that Gap ran for a few years before discontinuing it. It's a shame, because the pieces were genuinely distinctive and the good ones sold out fast. This particular shirt has a unique tab button at the collar — not functional, purely visual — that gives it a small detail that sets it apart from a standard OCBD.
What I love most about it is the shade. It's bright pink, no question. But on oxford cloth, it reads as mature rather than loud. The fabric does the heavy lifting — it takes an assertive colour and grounds it.
One strong recommendation for summer: roll up the sleeves. Partly because it's too hot not to. But also because rolled sleeves on a button-down just look right in warm weather — more relaxed, more intentional.
And for those of us with darker skin tones — a bright pink that pops against darker skin is a genuinely great combination. I find it works especially well as a summer contrast. Try it if you haven't.
Final Thought
In reality, I'm in T-shirts most of the summer. But when the occasion calls for something different — a virtual client call, dinner with my wife, a boys night out — these three pieces cover the full range without ever feeling overdressed.
One knit polo. One Cuban collar shirt. One unexpected pink OCBD.
Simple, versatile and all of them work harder than a basic tee.
What's your go-to warm weather piece beyond a T-shirt? Drop it in the comments below.
