The Directory: Your guide to male fashion

Planning a summer getaway? Toby Bateman, the buying director at uber-stylish men's online fashion store, Mr Porter, tells you how to do it in style: Few are the places the weather can be relied on so completely that no thought need be given to rain protection. When you are travelling, though an umbrella is elegant, it is easier to pack a coat. What is key here is weight and portability, so something that can be stuffed into a briefcase is ideal. Leave board shorts to the surfers, and trunks to the professional swimmers. Grown men need neither hide nor expose themselves. The two acceptable ends of the spectrum are brightly patterned shorts, cut loose enough to feel modest and falling about two-thirds of the way to the knee, and neat-fitting boxer shorts redolent of the 1950s. Holiday season refocuses one's attention on luggage, the selection of which can be a near-obsession for frequent travellers. The best of it combines extreme durability with a sense of character that simply cannot be built into black ballistic nylon. Heavy drill cotton in navy, tan or khaki, or thick, soft brown leather are the best options. Be sure to have a smart work bag and a lightweight tote for taking to the beach in your arsenal of accessories too. In summer, black leather belts look a bit severe and heavy, so we give them a break, unless we're wearing black leather shoes. Plaited leather or suede belts in shades of brown or tan are more chic and feel more casual. With jeans, shorts and chinos we are just as likely to go for colourful fabric belts, which also have the advantage that they can often be worn through airport metal detectors without setting them off. The most important thing with a pair of sunglasses is that they suit your face and your colouring. That said, the classic styles endure, which is why most of the iconic shapes are nearly half a century old. We find brown easier to wear than black, avoid mirror lenses, and take them off when we put on a hat. A sun hat is not just a fashion accessory, it is also a skincare essential, being much the best way to protect the face from damaging sun rays. Panamas also keep you cool, because the air passes through the woven straw and, in moments of need, you can fan yourself with one. The width of brim should correspond with the size of your head. For most men a mid-size fedora balances style with utility, and can be worn with any summer outfit. Boat shoes are an unimprovable summer shoe, not least because, unlike flip-flops and sandals, they cover your feet — something that decency demands unless you are beside a swimming pool. The boat shoe is better than the flip-flop in every way. It is more comfortable, it looks better and it doesn't fall off.