How To: Elevate Your Casual Shirts
Linen and lightweight, loosely-woven cotton are known for their casual qualities, but we’re flipping the script this season. One of the easiest ways to get that extra mileage out of your casual linen and summer-weight cotton shirts is to dress them up. “But how am I supposed to wear a linen shirt with a sport coat,” you ask? It’s easy — be confident, and remember this foolproof formula for versatility. Sport your casual shirt tucked in with a belt, sport coat and optional tie for an office-ready look. Then untuck the shirt, lose the tie and roll the pant cuffs when it’s time to clock out.
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Regardless of where you’re headed this season, our linen shirts, lightweight cotton and cotton-linen blends fit the bill. We’ve chosen a few of our favorite seasonal shirts to show just how easy it is to dress up traditionally casual fabrics.
THE PETERSHAM PLAID
If our years in the shirt business have taught us anything, it’s that linen is a polarizing fabric — you either love it, or you don’t. Without a doubt, we lean towards the “love it” category. The essential, breathable summer fabric has been keeping men comfortably stylish and literally cool for centuries. The Petersham Plaid is made of 100% linen with a button-down collar and a shortened body. It looks great on its own, paired with a pair of washed twill 5-pockets (coming soon!), and even better when layered with a sport coat.
THE BOUGHTON LINEN COTTON
The Boughton Linen Cotton is made of 65% linen and 35% cotton with a button-down collar and a shortened body. The cotton-linen blend gives the look of linen while staying crisp and clean, making it ideal for the office during spring and summer months. Add some pattern to your look by layering with the Glenbeigh Plaid Sport Coat in classic or slim fit.
Summer-weight cotton is a crowd-pleasing fabric that is easily dressed up or worn casually. Loose weaves give this warm weather fabric a breathable quality while the cotton contents feel polished enough to pull on a sport coat when you’re ready to elevate your look.
THE DORRINGTON PLAID
Spruce up your warm-weather rotation with this tonal blue spring plaid. The Dorrington Plaid has the perfect mix of color and pattern on an ultra-lightweight poplin fabric that feels as light as a linen, but stays as crisp as your favorite dress shirt.
THE DRAYSON PLAID
The Drayson Plaid is an easy win for the season. Its chambray-like fabric lends itself incredibly well to casual looks, while the color and pattern is perfect for making a subtle statement when dressed up with a sport coat. Try pairing it up with light grey chinos and a soft blue, textured linen sport coat for a sharp, business-casual look. Check out our offering of seasonal sport coats here.