If you follow me on Twitter, you might have seen that I wore each piece in my new collection MAB by Dan Trepanier for a week straight before we released them – testing the quality, comfort and versatility of my new designs.

This one, the “Khaki Whipcord Suit”, is a lightweight and breathable cotton in a brown/cream micro-seersucker stripe. This is my take on the everyman’s essential khaki cotton suit.

As with all the pieces in the collection, the cut is slim and updated without being too tight or skinny for “regular” guys. (As a former athlete, at 6’1 190lbs, I hate to be be swimming in Brooks Brothers, but also don’t want to be busting-out of Dior.)

Here, I styled the khaki whipcord for three different occasions.

3. Weekender

The beauty of a cotton suit is how easy it is to to dress down. The texture of the whipcord looks just as appropriate with a polo or t-shirt as it does with a spread collar.

Bonus Tip: Not all sandals are flip flops. Pick up a pair of quality leather strap sandals, like these handmade Italian versions, and you’ll find yourself wearing them all summer. The tiny heel and leather sole give them the sophistication of a genuine leather shoe, but with a more easygoing and “summer chic” vibe. I get compliments on these from women all the time – it’s not often you see a man in a well-made sandal.

Bonus Tip II: The trick to keeping the sleeves up: push (don’t roll) them up over the elbow, balance the fabric bunching at the bicep, then turn in/under the sleeve hem at the bottom so that it holds itself up (it’s like the opposite motion of a traditional sleeve roll).

Bonus Tip III: $2 “pocket square” from the local vintage store.