Three Summer Looks with Nico Lazaro

Summer’s less than a month away, which means graduation ceremonies should be in your rearview mirror, wedding invites are probably melting your brain over what to wear, and your summer style might be stuck somewhere between sweaty and uninspired. Instead of doomscrolling through a sea of Substacks, we did the heavy lifting for you. 

We tapped one of our favorite voices in menswear, Nico Lazaro, to style three summer-ready looks for the journal. Based in Los Angeles, Nico is the man behind The Bengal Stripe, a must-read menswear newsletter. He’s clocked time at Grailed and Buck Mason, and these days, he’s a stylist and brand consultant — a full-time style guru.

We caught up with Nico to chat about his personal style, why the oxford shirt has permanent residency in his closet, and how writing a newsletter helped shape and sharpen his taste over time.

SUMMER STYLE GUIDE

The Tie Bar: What was the first item that sparked your love for clothes?

Nico Lazaro: This is kind of embarrassing, but it was the first time I ever wished on a star. And it was for a pair of JNCO jeans — because this was the mid-'90s, and they were the hot new thing. All the cool kids at my school had them, and I really wanted a pair.

TTB: How would you describe your personal style today? 

NL: It's pretty relaxed. I think there's a quiet confidence in it. I kind of know myself — I know my proportions, I know the colors I like. I just stick to those things, and it usually works out.

I think that's the beauty of a uniform. But you can't really force it. You've got to figure it out — figure out what it looks like for you. It's a little different for everyone. Getting dressed is kind of an art, and when you master that art, you don’t really have to think about it anymore.

It’s like how Picasso could draw like a kid again — and it still looked amazing — because by then, he knew how to draw, right?

TTB: Do you have a go-to style uniform or outfit formula you return to often?

NL: I’d say straight-leg jeans are pretty much a standard for me, paired with either a polo or an Oxford. I usually keep it classic, but I’ll get a little funky with some of the smaller details.

TTB: What is it about an Oxford shirt that keeps it in regular rotation for you? 

NL: It's a little trite to say, but it's a workhorse. You know — you can dress it up, you can dress it down. It kind of looks good with everything. You could sneak into a fancy dinner or a country club wearing it, and you could also just throw it on to hang out with the boys, grab a drink, and get a little rough with it. You don’t have to be too precious.

I haven’t had any of mine long enough for them to become threadbare, but I do have a couple of vintage ones that are fraying at the seams. It’s definitely like jeans — it’s the kind of thing that just gets better with age.

TTB: Knitwear tends to get overlooked in warmer months — what makes a linen sweater a staple for you in the heat? 

NL: I think everyone knows that linen is a great summer fabric — that just feels like common knowledge. But the reason for that is because it's moisture-wicking and naturally cool to the touch. So if you want full coverage while also avoiding sunburn and dealing with the scorching heat, linen gives you the best of both worlds.

TTB: Are there any hard-and-fast style rules you always stick to? Any tried-and-true tips for dressing well in summer? 

NL: I’d say I usually don’t go too crazy. If I’m gonna get adventurous with an outfit, I’ll keep it to just one piece. That’s kind of a lesson I’ve learned over time. Like, I’ve started wearing more red lately, but I’m not gonna go red-on-red, you know? I’ll do a red polo or red shorts, and then keep everything else pretty subdued.

Khaki can start to feel a little Target uniform, so I’ll usually go with jeans or shorts instead — something like that.

TTB: As a brand consultant and copywriter working across the fashion space, how do you balance your own perspective with staying true to each client’s voice? 

NL: At this point in my career, if I'm working with a client, they usually have a pretty strong sense of who I am and what I stand for. So with any client, I always lead with that — I’m honest about how I feel and where I stand.

That said, there’s a phrase I like: strong opinions, loosely held. I think it’s important to come in with ideas and convictions, but not grip them too tightly. You’ve got to be open to compromise, willing to adjust, and focused on what’s best for that particular brand or situation.

TTB: Your newsletter, The Bengal Stripe, blends mood boards, personal picks, and style notes. How has that process shaped or evolved your own style? 

NL: I think it's easy to get inspired by things, but it's not always easy to understand why you're inspired by something — or how to break that inspiration down into core components or something tangible. That deeper understanding can really lead to a better sense of your own personal style and taste, and what informs it.

I started on Tumblr. I started on social media, where everything was very image-driven. But when I began writing about clothes, it helped me understand my own perspective. It helped me figure out why I was drawn to certain things.

It also helped foster a sense of community around me. The community was already there — I just kind of stepped into it. And being a part of it gave me a lot of different perspectives as well. Getting feedback on my own style, and seeing other people’s style that I think are cool has been a really organic way to learn, grow, and develop my own taste.

SUMMER STYLE GUIDE