Chambray shirt and red henley by GAP. Slim jeans by Bonobos. Watch by Invicta, Sneakers by Billy Reid for K-Swiss.
Editor’s note: For more Style Picks of the Week, see here.
This week’s Style Pick of the Week comes from a retailer that doesn’t necessarily get heaps of praise when it comes to guys’ style: GAP (or The Gap, if we’re going for that). Don’t be so quick to write them off — while they drew the ire of the media for their “Dress Normal” campaign this past fall, there are some key takeaways that can be gleaned from the brand. Namely, dressing “normal” isn’t such a bad thing — and great basics can be styled lots of different ways. The chambray shirt is the perfect epitome of that.
Just one of the many ways to style Gap’s clean chambray shirt. Watch by Invicta. Braided leather belt by Target Merona. Dark jeans by Bonobos.
Chambray is a fabric that’s as close to a four-season shirting option as a blue or white Oxford cloth button-down, especially in a medium-to-dark wash like the option seen here. The color pairs exceptionally well with deep blue denim and other four-season standards like khaki & olive chinos. It looks even better with other spring colors like washed-out reds, light greens, light grey and even darker shades of blue. It can easily be layered over lighter pieces, worn under a V-neck or navy crewneck sweater, or styled up with a wool tie and winter blazer. It’s also breathable enough to wear on its own or under a khaki or navy cotton jacket when it’s warm. It’s well within reach at full price and dips down into the $30 range on-sale. With spring well on the way, it’s prime time to snag one for yourself.
Do you have a chambray shirt in your rotation? Would you pick up this option here?
The Style Guide 
[…] larger than the Orient Black Ray, but at 42 mm, this should still work with everything on up from a chambray shirt to a […]
[…] styling give it the feel of a knit blazer that you could style with everything from a T-shirt to a chambray shirt. It’s a cotton-polyester blend, so it’s not the most prime fabric combination, but […]
[…] equally stylish jacket (made from cotton). In the right fit and with the right staples (like a chambray shirt), an outfit very similar to the one on the left could be worn to work and then right onto the […]
[…] in a business casual environment, they work just like slim khaki chinos worn with a blazer and chambray shirt. And the rest of the time, they’re a great go-to piece matched with a pocket […]
[…] in my shirts (somewhat) – a white Combat Gent Oxford, a blue Bonobos Oxford, my trusty GAP chambray shirt and my breathable and airy Stock Mfg. Co linen shirt should work well within a rotation. I plan […]
[…] The always on-point crew over at Dappered runs through the style essentials you need in an always-essential color — deep, dark navy. A great list (although I have to argue for a great chambray shirt). […]
[…] true of my unconstructed J. Crew blazer (get the scoop on other great blazer options here). My GAP chambray shirt, in breezier situations, and my Banana Republic khaki shorts (in hotter temps) have also […]
[…] anything however, I brought along one too many long-sleeve shirts – while I wore my GAP chambray shirt, I didn’t get the chance to wear my Gustin Spring Plaid Shirt, as I often found myself reaching […]
[…] and makes its way to office wear during the week — alongside a crisp blazer and a chambray shirt, for instance. My friend from Barron of Effortless Gent nails this concept perfectly. It’s […]
[…] and navy sneakers (a favorite combo) to a blazer and chukka boots. Throwing them together with a slim chambray shirt and brown leather loafers has also worked well for dressier situations. The fit on these is also […]
[…] to mimic some casual get-ups you might wear with dark denim. Think a crewneck sweater and easygoing chambray shirt plus navy runners. Or, style them as a pair of joggers in this post — with leather sneakers […]
[…] exposure and a platform for their work, culminating in a capsule collection run in partnership with GAP. Past selections have included now-iconic American brands like Saturdays Surf NYC and Todd Snyder, […]
[…] this olive option here, which will do well to dress down grey denim, wingtip boots and perhaps a chambray shirt and navy knit tie. If splurging on a crewneck sweatshirt isn’t your bag, Old Navy offers similar […]
[…] definitely a splurge, but it can be styled over everything from an olive henley to a nice chambray shirt. And it’ll fade over time as it gets broken in, lending a distinctive touch to a piece you […]
[…] wear quite a lot like chinos in terms of color combos – so bring on shades of navy and perhaps a nice chambray shirt. The hint of stretch built in is an added bonus. And it’ll be equally exciting to […]
[…] texture to it — enough so that you shouldn’t feel out of place rocking it under, say, a blue chambray shirt, or even as the top half of an outfit featuring navy sneakers. It features a modern but not too […]
[…] I might wear with a great henley and some slim denim on the weekends, or over a knit tie and chambray shirt to […]
[…] to still look good. However, if wearing just a tee makes you wary, I’d reach for a great chambray shirt […]
[…] shirt — like the Todd Shelton chambray shirt you see up top. This blog covered off on a great chambray shirt from GAP earlier this year, but the style is so versatile that it’s never a bad thing to consider […]
[…] solid price for a brand that takes care in crafting its gear (although a cheaper option from GAP as seen here wouldn’t go amiss either). It’s pre-washed and lightweight yet it should still be […]
[…] less blue — I’m a huge fan of the color blue, from dark denim to navy suede boots to chambray shirts — often in the same outfit, as you can see above. To me, it’s remarkably versatile and […]
[…] them properly and match them up with the proper style essentials (like sturdy chinos or denim and a refined chambray shirt). Like the Wolverine boots above, these guys are a definite investment – but as investments go, […]
[…] Shirt: GAP Clean Chambray Shirt, $59.95 — An old standby (as first seen here), the color plays nicely off the cords and the […]
[…] pair of boots excels — the versatility, erm, department. I’ve broken them out with a slim chambray shirt and a wool blazer, and I’ve rocked them with the aforementioned tan chinos, too. A trim pair […]
[…] In terms of other looks, the white buttons make it a bit dressier than the black buttons on my GAP chambray shirt, so it can be worn a bit more easily with a wool […]
[…] a few different chambray shirts here on The Style Guide, from the Todd Shelton Chambray Shirt to a classic GAP Chambray Shirt. There’s a very good reason for that, and it likely ties into the fact that a chambray shirt is […]
[…] geared toward both of those situations– but know that the same building blocks (a stylish chambray shirt, slim jeans and crisp chukkas) can be customized to any season, and with some tweaks (adding a […]