Fashion Monday with JJ Lee

The challenge is simple: Find seven stunning, summer must-haves for men. No problem. Right? Not really. There's a hitch. The total ensemble has to cost less than $250. Holy economic downturn, Fashion Man, I need help and inspiration. This leads me to rendezvous with local designer Genevieve Graham, who recently finished fourth on this season's Project Runway Canada. Graham's advice is to keep it simple. "I love the look of a man in summer with a nice, really good pair of jeans and a white T-shirt," she says. "And a nice pair of flip-flops. I love jeans and flip-flops on men." Then she flashes a bit of leg and dangles a Havaianas thong (ahem, it's a sandal) from her right foot. "They're the best flip-flops out there," says Graham. "And they never give you blisters, which is nice." In the past, men's Havaianas have been hard to find, but this season Club Monaco is selling them for an affordable $18. While you're there, p...

Well, that would be June 30th. With images of the lovely Philip Gurney.

JOE MIMRAN OF JOE FRESH STYLE ON HIS SECRET TO SUMMER STYLE: "I think it's really easy in the summer. You're dealing with natural fibres..." "You can get away with a lot less clothes...so with so few pieces, how do you make something out of it? It's about colour and cut. If it's not right, there's no style." "It's all about slim lines to look modern today." ON SUMMER SCARVES FOR MEN "If you're of a certain age, you can do it. You'll look like you're in a band if you wear too many scarves and too many little hats." ON SUMMER SUITS (KHAKI, LINEN AND SEERSUCKERS) "Dress it with a polo shirt and flip flops or some anchor. Brown Church's oxfords or two-tone spectators." "Seersucker is one of the most versatile summer suits. You can break it up. With the jacket you can break it up with white pants..." Say it's so, Joe: Mimran suggests a man can muscle-up a summer wardrobe with a pai...

I visited Bruce Eyewear to get some simple tips on buying sunglasses and to look at the beautiful frames in the shop. Nada Vuksic, the owner, showed me a couple gorgeous frames and let me know what's in for this season. Plus Stephen Quinn of CBC's On the Coast and I talk about what you need to know before you buy cheaper, plastic shades.