Like wearing white after Labour Day, wearing dark colours in the summer is considered by some to be a faux pas. This does, however, have some utilitarian reasoning behind it. Wearing a heat-absorbing black or navy blazer out on a patio in the sunshine might seem like a good idea – until you run out of deodorant. Of course, there’s always the option of wearing whites or pastels, but unless you’re a Cuban drug baron from the 1980s, that can be a hard look to pull off.

There are some great blazer options in Zegna’s High Performance Cool Effect collection. The colours for these blazers are traditional, but the design is anything but: their woolen fabric is specially treated, with the dark surfaces replicating those of their white counterparts. As a result, Zegna’s material reflects over 80% of the sun’s heat, giving it a distinct cooling effect. To boot, the process doesn’t affect the weight or texture of the clothing, so there is no discernible difference in feel from their standard-issue blazers. And the style? Well, it’s Zegna – so you can expect classic, Italian styling and traditional tailoring. Some things never change.

Ermenegildo Zegna Cool Effects Blazer, $1850 – $2050. Available at select retailers. Visit Zegna.com for more information, or call 1-888-55-ZEGNA.