There are certain standards and certain menswear essentials I tend to reach for in my own wardrobe consistently, almost regardless of season. Perhaps you feel the same way — take the richly crafted appeal of the timeless plaid buttondown shirt.

While perfectly well-suited for fall and winter, one of the best plaid shirts for men can take on spring and summer-friendly character all its own when made by an under-the-radar brand you should know. All the better if that brand, like Hiroshi Kato, takes exceptional care in every stitch to produce some of the best USA-made jeans in a wide range of fits and washes — not to mention expertly crafted complementary pieces like the Hiroshi Kato Brace Vintage Nep Plaid Shirt.

Part of about a handful of different long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirting varieties produced by the made-in-America brand loved by denim obsessives for crafting excellent Japanese denim, the Hiroshi Kato Brace Vintage Nep Plaid Shirt doesn’t cut any corners in matters of production, fabrication, quality or material, as I’ve found out wearing one of my new favorite shirts over these past few weeks.

With the handsome Hiroshi Kato Brace Vintage Nep Plaid Shirt, the difference is truly one you can feel in every stitch and fiber of the 100 percent cotton  Japanese brushed plaid flannel fabric, one finished with triple-stitched shoulders for hard-wearing durability.

Cat eye buttons and an ultra-authentic chain stitch side seam run-off deliver the utmost in genuine construction and eye-catching good looks through the smallest details — as all stylish men’s shirts tend to offer, the Hiroshi Kato Brace Vintage Nep Plaid Shirt very much included.

It comes in two rich colors that swerve from typical plaid patterns (my favorite is the indigo-leaning Daydream Blue), while the weight is plenty comfortable enough to wear on its own or over a pocket tee on breezy days (for more brisk temperatures, a waxed jacket or a lightweight cotton sweater should prove a worthy top layer).

With standout construction you can feel every time you wear this versatile plaid shirt, there are differences aplenty around every corner when it comes to the Hiroshi Kato Brace Vintage Nep Plaid Shirt — your spring wardrobe deserves this go-anywhere addition.