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What to Wear for Memorial Day and the Official Start of Summer

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memorial day outfit
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Wondering what to wear on Memorial Day weekend (Monday, May 27)? Take our tips, tricks, and suggestions, then make them all your own for a worthwhile and fun long weekend as we kick off summer. A three-day weekend can be about travel or a weekend at the beach just as readily as it can be about a bar crawl or hours in front of the grill. That’s why you need to be ready in versatile style for all situations. For 2019, we’re suggesting the outfit below. The picks are optional, but the basic premise should be followed: a short sleeve collared shirt, a good pair of shorts, a nice watch, and some cool accessories.

What to Wear for Memorial Day

Buy at Life After Denim
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Keep things light, free, and fun with a subtly patterned short-sleeve shirt that can be worn casually (as in this outfit) or with a little bit more tailoring (throw on slim tan chinos if the shorts don’t do it for you). Manning the grill just got a lot more fun.

Buy at Life After Denim

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Buy at Huckberry
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The key with Memorial Day is not to overdo it – if you know you’re going to be grilling, tossing the football and throwing back a few beers in the process, go with some functional and stylish shorts that allow you to move, be comfortable. These are made with two-way, moisture-wicking fabric to keep you cool while playing that 10th game of cornhole.

Buy at Huckberry

Buy at Tretorn
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Subtly stylish, low-key sneakers that keep you looking crisp and sharp are the way to go. This pair from Tretorn can be worn for summer travel to your Memorial Day weekend destination, and then worn right out to the bar for some brews.

Buy at Tretorn

Buy at ToddSnyder
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If you can find a pair of sunglasses like this for under $70 someplace else, go for it. The Le Specs Bandwagon Sunglasses are laid back-yet-refined and are ready to wear with a stylish printed short-sleeve shirt like the one above.

Buy at ToddSnyder

Buy at Boarding Pass
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Memorial Day is a casual holiday by its very nature, so reach for a casual backpack that provides durability and ease of transport for when you need to lug a few extra beers to the beach. We love the waxed canvas and bridle leather touches on this handsome Boarding Pass number.

Buy at Boarding Pass

Related: 
Here’s what you’ll actually want to wear for the rest of the summer
Buy at Jack Mason
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The long weekend could call for any number of activities that require a versatile, tough watch, from a bar crawl to a round of beers by the pool. The Jack Mason Diver Watch can do it all.

Buy at Jack Mason

Now that you’ve got your Memorial Day outfit planned, it’s time to start thinking about the drinks.

Beau Hayhoe
Beau Hayhoe
Former Contributor
Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has…

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