That winter wardrobe needs an update if you want to keep cool and look hot

Gather 'round, men. This is a lesson in being cool.

Body temperature cool, that is.

Don't take on the heat in those same clothes you wore all winter. Today's fashions offer an array of options for men who want to stay stylish -- and also keep cool -- in the office and around town.

Kevin Miscik, owner of Lapels A Fine Mens Clothier, in Greensburg, warns those synthetic fabrics designed to keep you cozy in the cold weather can be uncomfortable on warmer days.

"Light-weight wools, with a finer weave, and silks are good for the summer," Miscik said. "They breathe better than synthetic fabrics like polyester and microfibers."

Clifford Soisson, sales associates for suits at Kaufmann's in Westmoreland Mall, east of Greensburg, said most of his summertime sales are suits made of worsted wool mixed with silk or silk blends to lighten them up and keep them cooler.

"Ninety percent of what I sell is worsted wool," Soisson said. "And usually in lighter colors, like a standard gray stripe or blue stripe, in a tan or olive."

Selecting a suit with too many blended fabrics, regardless of what they are, can have you in the hot seat again, according to David Deckard, assistant manager at Men's Wearhouse, also in Westmoreland Mall.

"When you start getting into too many blends, you'll find a lot of materials that don't let air pass through the garment," Deckard said. "You want something that is going to breathe, like cotton. What you put over top or underneath the suit is going to depend on how cool you want to be."

Looking for a cool alternative to those long-sleeve dress shirts•

Deckard said try a silk short-sleeve crew shirt underneath a jacket or shirt jacket. Paired with trousers, a nice belt and dress shoes, this outfit is great for the office.

"We carry them in a French blue. The shirt, paired with a tan suit, gives the outfit some flair, some flavor," he said.

Miscik reminds men that a short-sleeved dress shirt with a tie is a big fashion no-no, but a short-sleeve shirt in a knit fabric, usually made of silk and cotton, under a sports coat is becoming a big trend.

"We sell lots of the knit shirts," Miscik said. "It's taking a casual outfit and making it look dressy with a sports coat. It transforms your outfit and it looks fine for the office."

He said men need to understand that there is a difference between business casual and casual.

"In the industry today, we're seeing guys still wearing a suit to the office, but the business casual trend is really picking up. It is going toward wearing the sport coat, doing the knit shirt, or doing a button-up sports shirt, which is an alternative to the knit," Miscik said. "What we try to tell men is that a golf shirt is for the golf course. Business casual is different."

But that doesn't mean that men don't need to cool down on the course as well, and lots of options can help.

Tommy Bahama, a line that leans toward island wear, has silk shirts, shorts and trousers, all available at Lapels.

Miscik said the line is a great way to get some color into an otherwise drab wardrobe.

"They are vibrant colors. They are bright yellows, corals and lime greens," he said.

Deckard said a cotton camp shirt works well because it is so transitional, it can take you from a business casual look in the office to the golf course.

"Silk feels good for summer and it feels nice on the skin. It's a good choice, but nothing is going to keep you cool the way cotton can," Deckard said.

And that goes for the feet has well.

Miscik said a pair of dress socks made from mercerized cotton is the best choice in the summer heat.

Regardless of the season, Miscik said the other fashion no-no is socks that don't match the clothes.

"As far as proper etiquette goes, socks should always match the pants, not the shoes," he said.

With the right fabrics and a splash of color, men can look hot and keep cool right down to their toes all summer long.