Casual essentials that aren’t so casual — and are actually, surprisingly stylish and well-made — are the name of the game this season, and that’s where American Giant comes into play. If you’ve been looking for upgrades to your laidback looks for cold-weather days and holiday-minded lounging, American Giant can help, and the American Giant Waffle Crew is one of the best men’s shirts to fit the bill quite perfectly. The brand has stepped up its game in recent months, expanding beyond its essential basics to now craft one of the best Oxford shirts for men, and they also do quite the job at crafting plenty of the very best American-made menswear beyond that, too. And if you want a long-sleeve shirt that’s much more than an average long-sleeve shirt, well, the American Giant Waffle Crew delivers on all fronts.

It’s made in Los Angeles, a burgeoning spot for some of the best men’s knitwear, plus denim and the best men’s long-sleeve shirts, to boot. The waffle cotton construction makes this both a distinctive base layer (underneath a rugged shawl cardigan, for example) or a shirt you can wear all on its own with some American Giant men’s pants or tailored joggers. It would also be a valuable piece layered under the American Giant Moto Zip Jacket, for starters. What’s not to love about that? There’s plenty more where that came from, too.

The color and texture of the American Giant Waffle Crew really sets itself apart, too. It’s got an ever-so-slightly lived-in look and feel that’ll only get better over time the more you wear it. And given the 100 percent cotton construction and comfort of the American Giant Waffle Crew, you’ll want to wear this shirt a heck of a lot. Use it as a base layer beneath your favorite waxed trucker jacket, or give yourself some added warmth by wearing it underneath a classic crewneck sweatshirt. You can also style it beneath a rugged flannel shirt for just the right amount of layering on a crisp winter morning. Just about any way you choose to style it, the American Giant Waffle Crew looks great and delivers functional comfort all the way through.

Color options like Evening Blue (shown here) and the deep, dusty red El Camino, deliver just the right amount of seasonal style, making either option practically perfect to pair with faded jeans, grey joggers or even tan chinos beneath an unstructured, garment-dyed navy blazer. It’s rare to find a long-sleeve shirt that can do all of that, but the American Giant Waffle Crew is that shirt, without a doubt. Try it on for size and see for yourself.