The 14 best men’s supermarket summer clothes, including a £10 Sainsbury’s T-shirt

Menswear in summer should be easy – T-shirts, shorts, you know the drill. But when you strip away the jumpers, jackets and layering tricks that do the heavy lifting the rest of the year, most men are left choosing from the same clothes drawer. And when everyone’s dressed the same, you all blend into one. The fix? Cohesion; the key most men miss. If you stick to airy, elevated basics that work together in any combination – a white T-shirt, a striped Oxford, straight-leg jeans, navy chino shorts – you’ll look put-together wherever the season takes you, from the pub garden to a wedding. Look at the men who consistently get it right off-duty: Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, Harry Styles. You’ll see it’s rarely more than a handful of well-chosen basics, worn on repeat. Every piece has to pull its weight. Think of it as a summer jigsaw, where each item needs to slot into at least three other outfits, not just look good on its own. Keep the palette tight – navy, white, stone, the odd shot of light green or red – and almost everything will work together. It’s also why this approach travels well: five or six pieces will see you through a week away. Good style doesn’t need to be expensive, either. The supermarket stores’ summer collections are full of the kind of pieces I’m talking about. They might not win any awards for originality, but they’re doing the basics better than ever – and at a fraction of the price of the high street. These are my 14 top picks from Tesco (F&F), Sainsbury’s (Tu), Asda (George) and M&S. (Sure, M&S is more of a department store, but you can pick the clothes up while you do your weekly shop, so I think it still counts.) Shorts The denim shorts F&F RDA Pure Cotton Denim Shorts in Navy £20, Tesco Nowadays, there’s loads of shorts on the menswear agenda – from ankle-grazing tailored shorts to Paul Mescal-coded short shorts – but a classic staple every man should have in their collection is a pair of denim shorts. Though big, oversized silhouettes are trending this year, a straight-leg knee-length is more of an enduring investment that won’t look like you picked it up in 2026. The white T-shirt F&F Pure Cotton Relaxed Fit Short Sleeved T-Shirt in White £15, Tesco Everyone needs a solid white T-shirt to hand during summer – it’s the one piece Marlon Brando and James Dean got right decades before the “capsule wardrobe”. The relaxed fit is a modern update that will keep you cool, even if you’re contending with the Central Line in a heatwave. Look for natural fibres – like F&F’s pure cotton take – and you can’t go far wrong. The jeans F&F Cotton Rich Straight Leg Jeans in Blue £25, Tesco Jeans are a real summer staple. They’re the trousers you’ll turn to when the temperature drops but you still want to sit outside. Though skinny jeans are back on the up – just look at Gucci and Dior’s recent menswear shows – when it’s warmer, you don’t want anything that feels clingy. Instead, go for a proper straight leg. And a light-wash denim gives a beachy vibe that feels right in the sun. F&F RDA Pure Cotton Denim Shorts in Navy, £20; F&F Cotton Rich Straight Leg Jeans in Blue, £25; F&F Pure Cotton Relaxed Fit Short Sleeved T-Shirt in White, £15; F&F Cotton Rich Chino Shorts in Navy, £15 The long-sleeved polo Tu Navy Stripe Print Long Sleeve Polo Shirt £18, Sainsbury’s Stripes are huge this summer, shown everywhere from Hermès to Prada, Louis Vuitton and Dries Van Noten. Luckily, you don’t have to shop from the luxury designers to get in on the action: the supermarket stores have a huge range to choose from. My top pick? This long-sleeved polo by Tu, which could be worn simply with shorts or tucked neatly beneath a blazer for summer-in-the-city. The striped T-shirt Tu Brown Stripe Print Relaxed Fit T-Shirt £10, Sainsbury’s An even easier way to work a stripe into your summer warobe is with a simple T-shirt. The trick here is keeping it relaxed – a stripe pulled tight across your chest reads less “riviera” more “novelty mime artist”. So look for a relaxed fit, like this one from Tu, and it’ll go from beach to bar without you having to think about it. The swim shorts Tu Green Stripe Print Seersucker Swim Shorts £11, Sainsbury’s Swim shorts are the one holiday essential worth getting right, and you don’t need to spend much to do it. This seersucker pair from Sainsbury’s is proof: proper summer green, a mid-thigh cut, and at £11, it looks sharper than high street pairs charging double. If green’s not your colour, any seersucker pair will do the same job. The sandals Tu Neutral Suede Footbed Sandals £22, Sainsbury’s Let’s be frank: every guy loves a Birkenstock sandal – but not every guy loves the price tag. Fortunately, you can get something pretty similar from Sainsbury’s for just £22. Like Birks, you can wear them with everything from straight leg jeans to shorts. And they come with the same built-in personality: off-duty architect on a Greek island, guy at the farmers’ market who definitely owns a record player… you get the picture. George Cream Textured Trophy Knit Polo , £10.50; Tu Green Stripe Print Seersucker Swim Shorts, £11; Tu Navy Stripe Print Long Sleeve Polo Shirt, £18; Tu Neutral Suede Footbed Sandals, £22 The polo shirt George Cream Textured Trophy Knit Polo £10.50, Asda The texture is what sells this polo – a raised, ribbed knit that looks more like an old cricket or tennis jumper. It’s got the air of something you’d dig out of a crate on a market stall in Rome, mixed in with vintage university sports kits – except this one’s brand new, cream, and only £10.50. Wear it on the beach as it comes, or put it to work under a blazer for a casual wedding abroad. The blue striped shirt George Light Blue Striped Poplin Shirt £12, Asda The blue striped shirt is the piece that makes the whole “14 items, endless outfits” idea actually work – as at home over swim shorts as it is buttoned up for work. Just make sure you buy one that’s erring on the casual side, rather than officewear, otherwise you’ll look like you packed for the wrong trip. This poplin option by George strikes the perfect balance. The linen shirt Marks & Spencer Pure Linen Garment Dye Shirt £45, Marks & Spencer If you want to look like the kind of guy who summers on the Amalfi coast and has never once checked his emails before noon, linen’s the fabric for you – think Jude Law in The Talented Mr Ripley and you’re on the right track. It’s airy enough to survive a long lunch that turns into dinner, and it holds up in the heat far better than cotton ever will. So, though this shirt’s a little more expensive at £45, it’s well worth it. The lightweight knit Autograph Pure Extra Fine Merino Wool V-Neck Jumper £40, Marks & Spencer I never go on holiday without a lightweight knit. Sling a Ralph Lauren-esque one over your shoulders in the afternoon, then actually pull it on once things cool down in the evening. Merino wool is naturally moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating, so it won’t overheat you the second the sun’s out – which is more than you can say for a normal jumper. M&S Cotton Blend Coach Jacket, £49; Marks & Spencer Pure Linen Garment Dye Shirt, £45; M&S Slimline Leather Trainers, £50; Autograph Pure Extra Fine Merino Wool V-Neck Jumper, £40 The chino shorts F&F Cotton Rich Chino Shorts in Navy £15, Tesco Like denim shorts, chino shorts are a versatile summer buy. Navy’s the one to go for – smart enough for a barbecue but without the “I’m on holiday” energy that comes with cream. Just avoid anything labelled “stretch” because the added elastane tends to make the fabric go thin and shiny, and it shows almost instantly. Aim for a hem just above the knee – long enough to wear to the office on a hot day, short enough that nobody mistakes you for being on your commute in tailored trousers. The retro sneakers M&S Slimline Leather Trainers £50, M&S You’ve probably noticed more retro trainers around recently – ever since Adidas Sambas made a comeback in 2022, 80s-inspired silhouettes are showing no signs of slowing down. If you’re experiencing Adidas fatigue, though, you could try a similar pair from M&S . Whether you like a pop of colour, like this blue pair, or you’d rather keep it clean with all white, always look for leather details and a low-profile silhouette. The jacket M&S Cotton Blend Coach Jacket £49, M&S Though you might not think it after our two-month-long heatwave, it’s worth having a lightweight jacket in the wings. Beige is a nice touch – it’s got a natural summery feel and will go with almost everything else you own. Still in need of a steer? Check out Steve McQueen’s tan harrington – the Baracuta G9 – in The Thomas Crown Affair. Somehow, it’s still the coolest outerwear in the room over half a century later. This coach jacket by Marks & Spencer is a nice second best.