When the shirts come out
Shirt recommendations for spring, and the brands getting them right this season.
Ah, the shirt. I think it’s fair to say that this is an item that everyone is trying to have on lock in their wardrobe right now. It’s a timeless staple that can be styled in bunch of ways and is worn by literally everyone.
Finding the perfect rotation of shirts that work harmoniously with your clothes isn’t as easy as one might think it is. You could make the argument that the difficulty levels are similar to finding the right pair of pants.
Luckily it doesn’t have to be all that difficult. Since we have so many options at our disposal, it really comes down to what you’re looking to get out of the shirt. Although they may feel similar, almost every brand has their own version of some shirting available right now.
In today’s letter I have curated a selection of brands that are making some of my favorite shirts right now. We have shirts that are great for work, your next summer vacation, and everyday living.
START WITH VINTAGE
We live in a world where we can get a shirt for $40 or $400, but is one truly better than the other? It really depends who you ask. I do believe that each price point offers something different, and that’s what makes shopping for shirting slightly more interesting.
Vintage options from brands like Brooks Brothers and Polo Ralph Lauren are a great places to start for those who want to spend under $50 for a good quality shirt.
For my tall people, Brooks Brothers will have you covered on a budget—as an example, this Supima Cotton shirt is under $20, but it’s going to feel and look like you spent way more than that.
You can follow this official fit guide to understand what models will be ideal for your body type. In general the shirts run long but that’s because they are meant to be tucked in—don’t want to do all that? Then run it to your tailor and have them alter it to your liking.
Polo is self explanatory and is currently having a huge revival in menswear right now. Some new Ralph is fun that’s for sure, but the real hits are buried deep at your local thrift and online.
The thing about Polo on eBay is the sheer variety that you can find. A quick search yields wild results like this awesome Polo Patchwork Blake Shirt, or this Polo Madras one.
Of course you can’t forget about the classic oxfords and simple styles that you can get from Polo as well. Back in the day cuts for shirts were traditionally slimmer around the body, so keep that in mind when shopping for vintage options. If you’re looking for flowiness that’s a bit more boxy, you might benefit from sizing up and then tailoring the length.
Can’t forget about one of the greatest oxfords of all time. Gitman Vintage is a sub-label that launched in 2008 that aimed to bring more casual styles that were still rooted in the tradition of its original label, Gitman Bros., which has been making shirts in America since 1978.
While you can shop Gitman on eBay to get deals on past styles, like this linen shirt for only $30, the real fun begins with their made to order shirts that are available to customize directly on their site—if you’re someone who has trouble finding that perfect fit, then maybe this is the answer you’ve been looking for.
You can also enjoy their mainline available directly on their site here.
All in all, Gitman is an awesome choice for a lot of people. They make products that are ideal for work and a casual hangout with friends. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a person who didn’t enjoy having a Gitman shirt in their wardrobe.
IS SPENDING A LOT WORTH IT?
I don’t think we can ever justify designer shirts being priced close to $2,000. That’s dumb. However, I do believe that there’s room for new shirting that costs a few hundred—of course I get that we can make the argument that a shirt shouldn’t cost more than $300 or whatever, but that’s just not the reality of what things cost anymore.
Anyway, so why spend so much on a shirt? Well, there are a bunch of reasons. Right now menswear is obsessed with loose fitting shirts in a straight hem, so you’re going to have a lot of options in this fit available—although slimmer cuts with rounded hems are starting to make waves again.
There’s also an exciting boom in fabric development happening right now. Brands are investing heavily in this space, and that causes prices to go up, but in the end you are left with shirts made out of extremely soft natural fibers in a cut that fits the current style zeitgeist. To put it simply, this is a level of quality that you won’t be able to recreate as easily from a vintage options.
Below is a list of brand that I believe are excelling in the fabric development space, giving us unique shirting that you won’t be able to find elsewhere: