So this weekend me and my other half (aka hectic dad to be!) had a relaxing weekend break in Barcelona – our last treat before we become a family of three!! Aside from the fact that the five star hotel had the most amazing breakfasts (well I am eating for two now!) including free glasses of champagne – the highlight of my weekend had to be lounging round the pool yesterday with LL Cool J and his family!!!

LL was looking cool and chic in his white t-shirt and red shorts. He was in Barcelona to attend the U2 concert last week and him and his family were enjoying the fantastic weather before jetting home. Unfortunately we were too late to meet U2 and the rest of their celebrity fans, as they all checked out on Friday as we checked in!!!

Anyway, the fact that I spent most of the weekend sitting in the sun enjoying a nice refreshing soft drink (boring I know but I am pregnant) didn’t mean that I wasn’t working. Oh no, this fashionistas antenna are always working! I may have looked like I was just sunbathing but in fact I was checking out what the fashionable man on holiday is wearing so that I could pass on their style tips to you!

The most popular cover up of choice by the Barcelona Set this weekend was the Polo shirt. A good choice I agree because not only does it keep your man cool whilst sightseeing – the shirt collar also makes it look a little bit smarter than a normal t-shirt. Of course with this week being Wimbledon week there were a few shirts that gave a passing nod to the tennis trend but in a subtle way which means that they can be worn all year round of course. For those of you whose other half likes to be a bit bolder in their choice you could go for a patterned Polo with the advantage of being in our national colours of red, white and blue but in a more style conscious way than the traditional Union Jack.

For the bottom half, surprisingly the most common choice by the continental man is a pair of linen trousers. However, the typical UK male will tend to go for shorts – and that’s fine! You could try and influence their choice though by presenting them with a pair of cargo shorts – which always look slightly more stylish. For those men who are filled with horror at the thought of being separated from their jeans – these denim shorts from Jack and Jones are perfect.

To carry this look through from day to evening – or simply to ensure you’re covered for all types of weather – the stylish Spanish man wears his jumper tied casually round his shoulders. Go for a v-neck fine knit in pale blue or grey, or for the man with his finger on the fashion pulse the colour for this summer is pink.

For the evening, a short sleeve shirt is always a good bet. If your other half is anything like mine he will always like a blue check shirt – i think my husband has about five! Stripes are always a good investment too – either in Grey or Beige. For the less adventurous man go for a plain grey or blue with a bit of military detailing – bang on trend this summer.

Jeans are always a good holiday buy as 99% of us eat in a more relaxed way on holiday – we just drifted from Tapas bar to Tapas bar this weekend, sampling a few small nibbles at each place. A key look for jeans this summer is the distressed look so look for jeans with distressed fabrics and unfinished pockets. Another hot look is dark denim and there are even some jeans out there with gold stitching for the trendsetter amongst you.

Last but not least the feet!! What is the stylish man wearing on his toes this summer? Well the flip-flop is always a safe bet, but the modern man abroad is teaming his cargo shorts with boat shoes in either natural or dark brown. Boat shoes are comfy during the day but can also be worn with his jeans and shirt at night to give a smart casual look. And for those of you who cannot separate man from his trainers – what about a pair in white leather? Smart enough for you to be proud of him but he’ll still feel as relaxed as if he had his everyday pair on!

Holiday wardrobe sorted!!