Summer is a perfect time to catch up on some reading. Time spent on the beach or near the pool provides a great setting for a good read about men's fashion.  If you've ever wondered where the polo shirt originated, why the leather motorcycle jacket is so popular, how Italian dress shoes are made or just have an interest in men's fashion, you'll appreciate these books.  These are some of my favorites and I think you'll enjoy them too. They are smartly written, full of information and easy to read. Enjoy.

Icons of Men's Style by Josh Sims

Behind nearly every item in the modern male wardrobe is a definitive item, often designed for a specific, utilitarian purpose but has influenced all subsequent versions. Icons of Men's Style examines, garment by garment, the most important and famous of these products their origin and history, the stories of their design, the brand or company that started it all, and how the item influenced the way men dress today. 

True Style: The History and Principles of Classic Menswear by G. Bruce Boyer

True Style is a guide for cataloging the essential elements of the male wardrobe and showing how best to use them. Boyer writes in a witty style to describe classic items and traditions in menswear, detailing the evolution and best uses of fabrics like denim and linen, accoutrements like neckties and eyeglasses, and principles for combining patterns, colors, and textures. Boyer provides essential wardrobe guidance for the discriminating gentleman, explaining what true style looks like— and why.

The Gentry Man: A Guide for the Civilized Male by Hal Rubenstein

InStyle editor-at-large Hal Rubenstein collects the very best of Gentry magazine—perhaps the most high-concept, high-quality men’s magazine in history—in a gorgeous, timely anthology perfect for the twenty-first century man. The innovative style magazine broke new ground with its amazing graphic design and the timeless men’s fashions it presented in every issue. This elegant collection puts the best of Gentry at your fingertips—a perfect resource for anyone interested in fashion history and for today’s well-dressed young professional, as well as an excellent gift book for anyone with a stylish man in their lives. 

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments below. Stay stylish friends...