The 47 Rules of Summer: Etiquette Experts Define the Boundaries of Holiday Behaviour
Leading style and etiquette authorities have published a comprehensive framework for summer conduct, addressing everything from public hygiene and garden noise to the etiquette of group travel and shared accommodation.
Etiquette experts have published a guide outlining 47 essential rules for summer behaviour, addressing topics such as appropriate attire, hygiene, and social interactions in public and holiday settings. The advice covers when it is acceptable to go shirtless, wear shorts or sandals to work, and use towels in public. It also details norms for drinking times, noise levels in gardens, sharing sunscreen, and conduct during group holidays, including cost splitting and guest behaviour.
The guide features advice from multiple experts, including Zak Maoui (Esquire), Jo Bryant (The English Manner), Myka Meier, Sara Jane Ho, Mariah Humbert, Grant Harrold, Laura Akano, Elaine Swann, and Jane Peyton. Specific rules include: men should generally only go shirtless by the beach or pool; shorts are acceptable in the office only if company culture permits; hats should be removed indoors according to traditional etiquette, though some fashion experts disagree; sunglasses should be removed indoors and when greeting strangers; and deodorant is considered essential for self-respect and respect for others.
Holiday etiquette advice covers noise limits (9pm for garden music/chat, before 9am for lawn mowing), sharing sunscreen (acceptable with acquaintances but not strangers), and group holiday conduct, including splitting costs via a kitty and allocating bedrooms based on cost and amenities. Travel etiquette suggests the middle seat passenger gets both armrests, and passengers should limit overhead locker space to the size of a standard carry-on case.
The article references advice from the RSPCA regarding exercising dogs in hot weather and reporting signs of heatstroke.
The article is published by The Guardian Fashion on 14 July 2026. The content is framed as a response to the "loosening of rules and norms" typical of summer, such as eating with fingers and near-nakedness, which the author describes as a "recipe for social chaos." The advice is presented as a mix of traditional etiquette (e.g., Grant Harrold’s views) and modern fashion perspectives (e.g., Zak Maoui’s views).