Tag / best shirts for men

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This Pearl Snap Shirt from Criquet Shirts Is the Coolest New Shirt to Buy Now

It’s a heady time around these parts, what with the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals rolling into town fast and furious, and a busy few days of imbibing and dining on the horizon.

But it’s always a wise time to take stock of your menswear wardrobe heading into the hustle and bustle of the holidays: A well-stocked wardrobe, as we often talk about via this Brooklyn style blog, always has options aplenty, especially as far as shirting is concerned.

While stretch dress shirts often suffice at the office, and the classic Oxford shirt reliably teams with a shawl cardigan or a lightweight blazer in equal measure, what about if you want a subtle switch-up from the norm? A piece with some swagger and some stylish appeal, but with less of a rugged touch than a flannel shirt or a thick-knit shirt jacket? The same can be said for swapping in a crisply cut polo, like the one shown above from today’s spotlight brand — scroll ahead for mor, my friends.

Yes indeed, those are some tricky parameters to clear, but I’d wager you’ll want to peruse the effortlessly cool, dashing men’s shirting and apparel on offer at Austin-based Criquet Shirts.

You very well might recall them over the years from past Criquet reviews on this blog, but it’s worth checking in with the high-flying, old-school-meets-modern brand as they look to reinvent how guys dress, one eye-catching buttondown and stylish polo shirt at a time.

The brand was founded back in 2010 with an emphasis on making the classics modern: Think of the ultra-flattering polo shirts worn by the likes of Arnold Palmer, for instance, then retool that shirt for the modern day with an even better fit and fabric — and tons of stylish, easygoing swagger.

In the years since, Criquet Shirts has expanded into Oxford shirting, lightweight flannel shirts, Western shirting and corduroy shirts with a pearl-snap button twist.

These pieces have a touch of Austin-inspired flair, flattering collars, a fit that’s neither too tight nor too loose, and the sort of leisurely ease that makes a shirt from Criquet Shirts as wearable with chino shorts as it is with expertly faded denim or chino pants.

Learn more now at Criquet Shirts

Consider this your cue to start shopping this brand’s stellar shirts: In my experience, Criquet men’s shirts feature durable but buttery-soft fabric, helpful details like face-framing collar stays, a rich array of color and pattern options, and more diversity in the lineup than you can shake a clothes hanger at. Seriously, the array of stylish Criquet men’s shirts is nearly overwhelming, but tastefully curated all the while.

We’re talking options aplenty: Western shirts! Corduroy shirt jackets! Stretch knit buttondowns! Effortlessly cool long-sleeve polos! Cashmere pocket tees! I’ve tried the eye-catching, ultra-soft Corduroy Pearl Snap shown throughout this post, with more Criquet shirting reviews on the horizon.

Think of it this way: If you can envision yourself wearing it at the 19th hole, while whippng up an Old Fashioned or while flipping burgers at the grill — or sidling up to the bar for a cold one, no less — then there’s a good chance the best shirts for men from Criquet Shirts are up to the task in matters of form and function.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: Todd Snyder Updates the Western Shirt in Classic Corduroy

Updating a classic isn’t quite as tricky as it seems, at least in the hands of the right menswear designer, and since the Western shirt (and all things Western) are having a serious moment right now, it only feels fitting to focus on a revamped classic for the season at hand.

And that revamped classic, at least in the case of today’s feature, is the Todd Snyder Corduroy Western Shirt, a premium and refined-yet-rugged spin that pairs the classic nature of corduroy with the crisp look and feel of a hard-wearing Western shirt.

Shop new menswear favorites at Todd Snyder

You can count on Snyder to take old favorites and make them feel as stylish and as fresh as ever, be it the classic crewneck sweatshirt, the expertly cut and faded blue jean, the sturdy American-made T-shirt or the crisply designed Oxford shirt.

Of course, Snyder’s lineup also includes sweater polos, dress trousers, expert tailoring and sartorially inspired outerwear for all occasions, but there’s something easy to love about the Todd Snyder Corduroy Western Shirt.

The brand says this shirt, particularly in a rich ‘Coppertone’ shade, retains “all the rugged charm of a vintage Western shirt,” but this time uses a soft fine wale corduroy. Mother-of-pearl buttons give the shirt a handsome look and feel, while Western detailing like chest and back yokes adds to its authentic nature.

And there’s also a dressier quality than normal to the Todd Snyder Corduroy Western Shirt, which you can pair seamlessly with durable indigo denim or else pair up with light tan or even olive chinos.

Switch out your dark blue jeans for a lightly faded pair, then match up the Todd Snyder Corduroy Western Shirt with some Western boots, and you’ve got a look fit for work or play (but especially a date night where you want a bit of a look with some elegant attitude all the same).

Shop the best seasonal menswear now at Todd Snyder

This shirt also comes in a sleek all-black Caviar colorway, but if you ask me, the Todd Snyder Corduroy Western Shirt is at its finest in a rich, earthy shade of medium-brown. For classic style that feels decidedly modern, you’re going to want the Todd Snyder Corduroy Western Shirt in your rotation this season.

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Flint and Tinder Stretch Knit Flannel Shirt – Your New Everyday Shirting Essential

It’s hard to go wrong with a closet packed chock-full of style essentials you can trust day in and day out, but the challenge is building out that closet, like a menswear toolbox, is it not?

And yet, therein lies the fun of the menswear world: When you’ve carefully curated your wardrobe in terms of quality, style and effortlessly classic appeal, as with gear from my friends at Huckberry, the options are nearly limitless and the style potential keeps on going and going.

Shop the best seasonal style now at Huckberry

I’ve certainly found that to be the case over the years with Huckberry’s Flint and Tinder lineup, an offering focused on rugged menswear and gear that just won’t quit. And if you’ve read this Brooklyn style blog and my Flint and Tinder reviews, you know that the brand is famous for quality and timeless, enduring style — including its waxed trucker jackets, of course, and its new lineup of the best men’s flannel shirts.

The Flint and Tinder Stretch Knit Flannel Shirt is the latest and greatest shirt to join that rotation, featuring rugged good looks, modern fabric and that sense of classic style you can only get from the best flannel shirts for men. Call it a modern spin on a classic, as we so often love to write about and wear — at least in my neck of the woods.

And in my experience with Flint and Tinder flannel shirts, you’re getting rich quality, durability and classic good looks in one package — just in time for the holiday season, when the right flannel shirt can pull double or triple duty with expertly faded blue jeans, corduroy trousers and even a soft-shouldered navy blazer and charcoal flannel dress pants.

The hits certainly keep rolling when it comes to the Flint and Tinder Stretch Knit Flannel Shirt and its rich array of color options in terms of style points, while four-way stretch knit fabric and a contrasting collar and cuffs work together for the perfect balance between form and function.

The Flint and Tinder Stretch Knit Flannel Shirt also features dual chest pockets for a blend between a shirt jacket and a traditional flannel buttondown, and the weight of the shirt itself should prove hearty and prime for layering atop thermal henleys and chambray shirting alike.

The Flint and Tinder Stretch Knit Flannel Shirt also hits the nail on the head in matters of style points: Just one look at the eye-catching array of plaid colorways is enough to make you want to stock up. That’s what the season is all about, at least if you ask me: Finding the pieces you love to wear, then making ’em work for you, and the Flint and Tinder Stretch Knit Flannel Shirt gets the job done handily in that regard, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: The Relwen Quilted Flannel Shirt Jacket is Primed for Layering This Season

Best shirt jackets for men.

You tend to know right away when a design is so fit for the season at hand: Rugged layers aplenty, especially the best shirt jackets for men — like the kind seen above from our friends at Huckberry — get the job done and then some. And when the best of both worlds collide (like when a hard-wearing flannel shirt meets a durable shirt jacket), well, that’s the sweet spot as far as the best fall menswear is concerned.

Find out more and shop now at Huckberry

And if you read this Brooklyn style blog on the regular, it should come as no shock that gear from the good folks at Ohio-based Relwen tend to fit the bill quite handsomely.

What with the company’s penchant for durability, dependability and modern updates to Americana designs, staple pieces like the innovative Relwen Quilted Flannel Shirt Jacket deliver as much utility and rugged appeal as a Swiss Army Knife for upstate getaways, lakeside retreats, bonfires, dive bar outings and plenty more.

Huckberry notes that the upstart brand delivers a sense of modern-meets-Americana, and in the best way possible: Technical fabrication meets tried-and-true silhouettes, often with a hearty dose of military style inspiration. And for every outdoor fall and winter adventure you can muster, I’d layer up with the Relwen Quilted Flannel Shirt Jacket (among a host of other reliable Relwen style picks, that is).

The Relwen Quilted Flannel Shirt Jacket meets the moment as far as the good folks at Huckberry are concerned: The retailer notes that “when you wear a Relwen windzip jacket, blazer, or pants, you know they were made with quality, durability, and movement in mind,” and in my experience, I’d certainly have to agree.

Durable cotton flannel twill makes up the exterior of one of the best shirt jackets for men, while the interior is made up of one consistent piece of polyester ripstop insulation for added warmth. It’s also a positive that this durable shirt jacket comes in a series of classic and eye-catching color combinations, most of them based off your favorite classic plaid flannel shirting designs.

Spring snap hardware aids in durability and plenty of layering potential: Wear the Relwen Quilted Flannel Shirt Jacket atop a henley or even a chambray shirt from the good folks at Huckberry, then team it with canvas work pants for outdoor pursuits or inky blue indigo denim for casual evenings around the bonfire, dram of whiskey in hand. There’s no telling where an essential piece like the Relwen Quilted Flannel Shirt Jacket can take you, and that’s a great thing indeed.

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Billy Reid Plaid Western Shirt – An Elegantly Rugged Seasonal Shirting Move

Best Western shirts for men.

Is there any American menswear designer out there that does a better job at taking rugged staples and giving them an elevated, even luxe feel? There are certain names that come to mind (Todd Snyder among them), but Alabama-based Billy Reid and his namesake label tend to do a positively stellar job at taking the familiar and the rugged, and then blending them in a new, altogether fresh way. That’s lofty praise, while also saying a lot: What does it all mean for you?

Find out more now at Billy Reid

It means that if you want a rugged-yet-elegant flannel shirt, one that leans on both Western heritage and classic plaid patterns, you’ve found your match in the Billy Reid Plaid Western Shirt this season. From the angled Western-style chest pockets to the dusty, Southwest-inspired Brown/Dark Forest colorway (Billy’s signature shade of brown, to be exact), the details and the thoughtful design are evident in every single stitch.

The Billy Reid Plaid Western Shirt amps up the plaid pattern in a serious way (a large-scale way, as the name would indicate), and also offers a layering-ready standard fit, so you can style this handsome plaid flannel shirt on its own or atop a thermal henley or a pocket tee.

Smoke mother-of-pearl buttons add a refined touch, while the placket is finished with the award-winning designer’s signature ribbon stripe detailing. The effect is eye-catching and utterly classy, at least in my experience wearing top-of-the-line Billy Reid menswear.

You’ll also notice contrast diagonal stitching at the pockets of this newfound autumnal favorite, which Billy Reid says is “our modern take on an old-school style.” They’re certainly correct when it comes to that modern spin on a tried-and-true favorite, which just so happens to be the sort of pieces we love to feature (and wear!) here at this Brooklyn style blog.

The Billy Reid Plaid Western Shirt, particularly when styled with dark blue jeans or even navy chinos, puts a tailored spin on a rugged favorite, but it’s perhaps at its best when worn with light tan chinos or even dark tan, bourbon-hued corduroy pants. The custom cotton fabric should prove lightweight enough to layer, but not too flimsy in the fall and winter cold.

The best part about the Billy Reid Plaid Western Shirt is the fact that you can use it to dress down a charcoal blazer, or fall right in line with your favorite shawl cardigan — the options are practically limitless when it comes to this versatile, old-school-meets-new-school Western plaid buttondown. Layer up accordingly in the weeks ahead, my friends.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This Billy Reid Plaid Shirt Takes Luxury To a New Level This Autumn (And Beyond)

Best fall shirts for men.

Once you’ve tried out a premium upgrade to a sort of everyday basic — like a newer, better, more premium and precise take on the tried-and-true fall flannel shirt — then it becomes hard to go back to anything else. A lofty sentiment though that might be, the best fall shirts for men epitomize quality construction and a handsome, rugged, classic-meets-modern design.

Again, that’s a high bar to clear, but in my experience, Billy Reid (the Alabama-based designer of a slew of modern icons) delivers accordingly, and that holds true with new arrivals from Billy Reid, here just in time for autumn’s finest weather and foliage.

The Billy Reid Melange Grid Wilson Shirt updates the time-honored fall plaid pattern of a sturdy buttondown shirt, giving it a slightly faded effect that turns it into something as easily worn with dark blue jeans and a navy blazer as with, well, those same blue jeans and broken-in leather boots.

The Billy Reid Melange Grid Wilson Shirt manages to feel classic and yet modern at the same time, boasting all the proper details one might expect from a designer known for outfitting James Bond in the Bond Peacoat over the years.

In fact, the rugged-yet-refined Billy Reid Melange Grid Wilson Shirt is a prime layer to wear beneath the iconic Billy Reid Bond Peacoat, boasting the kind of design that can be worn untucked with Billy Reid denim or tucked in alongside wool trousers and a midweight V-neck sweater (at the office or out on a date, mind you).

There are plentiful stylish features built into the Billy Reid Melange Grid Wilson Shirt, from the hidden buttondown collar (which gives the collar structure and shape without looking overly casual) to the shirt’s heirloom ribbon detailing at the hem.

That last touch on the Billy Reid Melange Grid Wilson Shirt is a Billy Reid classic, one that helps make this shirt feel so much more than a buttondown to be thrown on at a moment’s notice (although you can certainly do that, too!).

Shop the best fall menswear now at Billy Reid

With its mother-of-pearl buttons and soft brushed cotton construction, the handsome and versatile Billy Reid Melange Grid Wilson Shirt speaks to the idea that even the everyday essentials can be made better — take heed and dress accordingly this fall, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: This Flint and Tinder Western Shirt is Nearly 50 Percent Off at Huckberry

It can feel dizzying at times to sort through the array of on-sale gear up for grabs rolling into a new season — what’s a guy to do as you look to refresh your wardrobe ahead of fall? The answer, my friends, is a simple one, and one that we talk about often here on this Brooklyn style blog: Head over to Huckberry, purveyors of some of the best Americana gear for men, including a style of shirt that’s having quite the moment.

Shop new style favorites now at Huckberry

That would be the Western shirt, an ode to the Great American West and its utterly functional, classically rugged roots. The Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt gets all those details correct as far as an homage to the past is concerned, yet it does so in modern fashion — and if you don’t yet have a stylish Western shirt in your rotation, then there’s never been a better time to buy one that’s on sale right now at Huckberry, my friends.

Best men's shirts for fall.

The Western shirt, especially the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt, is a style swerve from your traditional Oxford shirt or even a chambray shirt, adorned with detailing like V-shaped flap chest patch pockets and a Western shoulder yoke. That gives it a more rugged appeal, particularly in colors like a faded blue denim or black.

But you’ll notice it’s the Indigo Dot version of the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt that’s up for grabs right now via the always well-stocked Huckberry Sale section, and this twist on a classic manages to make it feel just a bit more like a casual buttondown shirt you’d wear untucked with tan chinos.

Best Western shirts for men.

What’s most important to note right now about potentially your new favorite everyday buttondown shirt is the fact that it’s on sale right now for about 50 percent off: If you haven’t yet tried out a denim shirt, now might be an ideal time to start. And the great news is, you can style the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt largely as you might a traditional chambray shirt: Try this one with dark blue indigo denim or even black jeans and tan suede chukka boots (yes, navy and black can be worn together casually, my friends!).

For 50 percent off, there’s hardly a better deal on a Western shirt at the moment than the one being offered up by Huckberry on the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt — that’s a guarantee this season, folks.

by Beau H.

The Sunday Sale: Save a Whopping 70 Percent On the Perfect Men’s Fall Shirt at Billy Reid

Best fall shirts for men.

If you follow this style blog on the regular, it might seem that we’ve been preparing for fall for weeks at a time — and, well, that’s largely true, since opportunities arise rather quickly to amp up your #menswear rotation for fall.

Starting with shirting (and starting with savings on shirting, no less) is as good a way to go as any, and the menswear masters at Billy Reid have precisely what you need to add a fresh outlook to your style roster heading into a new season.

It gets even better: One of the most versatile shirts for men is a whopping 70 percent off via the award-winning Alabama menswear designer, and although it might sound too good to be true, it’s certainly worth a closer look.

Find out more now at Billy Reid

A holdover from last season, yet every bit as wearable now and into fall as any offering from the designer’s namesake brand, the Billy Reid Shadow John Shirt is meticulously crafted and features a multi-season, linen-like weave. Don’t let that fool you when it comes to the Billy Reid Shadow John Shirt (marked down below $70 right now!).

Helpfully, the shirt boasts easygoing everyday construction, with the kind of fit that looks especially great untucked with expertly faded blue jeans — but the real kicker with the crisply cut Billy Reid Shadow John Shirt is its fall and winter-ready Honey Plaid design, with a tasteful faded melange look.

All the details have assuredly been accounted for when it comes to the reliably stylish Billy Reid Shadow John Shirt, which also boasts a split spade chest pocket in a contrasting variation on the shirt’s handsome plaid pattern.

And although it’s woven from 100 percent cotton, the weave itself is looser — that means it won’t prove too thick or too stuffy to wear beneath a shawl cardigan or underneath a classic V-neck sweater this fall and winter.

The company recommends wearing it alongside a pair of the brand’s stellar chinos and elegantly rugged leather chukka boots, and when it comes to the Billy Reid Shadow John Shirt, I’d tend to agree.

Shop the best fall men’s style picks at Billy Reid

And the best part is, I’d wager you’ll find plenty of ways to wear such an affordable yet stylish shirt, including atop a thermal henley alongside indigo selvedge jeans this fall and winter. With a shirt as well-fitting and well-crafted (and as affordably priced!) as the Billy Reid Shadow John Shirt, the possibilities in your style lineup are endless when it comes to one of the best shirts for men. Shop and save while sizes are still up for grabs, my friends.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This American Trench Field Shirt is as Durable and Dependable As It Gets

Best American-made menswear

We’ve been talking plenty as of late on this New York City style blog (by way of rural Michigan, remember that!) about how to best prepare for the season ahead while also dressing stylishly for the close at hand.

Curating a wardrobe of reliable stylish men’s basics that actually aren’t so basic is a curious proposition at times — how can a guy possibly be prepared for every circumstance out there? Well, start by looking at the fabrics and fashions you need for your day-to-day life — I think you’ll find that the American Trench Field Shirt as shown above might fit the bill nicely.

It’s hard work, folks, but brands like American Trench — and their selection of the best USA-made menswear — make it easier to dress in versatile, reliable, durable fashion, as my American Trench reviews have so often found here on this Web site (which started 12 years ago this month — how about that!).

Find out more now at American Trench

And that certainly holds true in today’s more casual times, where the right, rugged-yet-stylish buttondown shirt can go a long way — from a road trip weekend to a day in the countryside and perhaps even back at the office (if your office leans more creative and casual).

That’s plenty of boxes to check, but the American Trench Field Shirt might just meet the moment for all of those situations — as summer winds down and early fall ramps up, of course. You might say it’s one of the best American-made shirts for men, a tall order these days as so much production has been phased out of the country.

Find out more now at American Trench

But what’s made to last often stands the test of time in matters of style and function, and that’s what American Trench does very well, at least in my experience. In the case of this particular shirt, it all starts with sturdy cotton twill fabric, the kind that resists dust and debris out in the field while wearing stylishly back in the city.

The Pennsylvania-based American Trench says the substantial Japanese cotton twill, which is then fashioned in America into the shirt you see here, “positions the Field Shirt to take on the demands of everyday wear,” with military-style sleeve buttons, eye-catching angular chest pockets and a fit that wears well either tucked or untucked.

In my experience, the military roots of the American Trench Field Shirt should pair up nicely with faded blue jeans, dark indigo selvedge, black jeans or perhaps even chinos in a contrasting shade. And the American Trench Field Shirt is practically positioned as an overshirt atop a thermal henley or a pocket tee — starting now and rolling into fall. For reliable fashion you can trust, I’d wager that a well-made pick like the American Trench Field Shirt is ready to go the extra mile.

by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: This Line of Trade Madras Shirt is an On-Sale Style Steal to End Summer

Best madras shirt for men.

Summer’s last gasp, that sprint to the finish before Labor Day, still brings with it opportunities aplenty to style your favorite summer menswear essentials — and perhaps pick up a piece or two to keep handy when the time rolls around for a warm-weather getaway.

Preparation makes perfect, which is why I often scour the Bespoke Post Sale section for finds that work in the current season at hand, as well as future seasons — and that’s where the Americana-inspired designers at Line of Trade tend to come in handy with classics made modern, as you well know if you’ve read this New York menswear blog.

Find out more at Bespoke Post

The brand, originally started by Bespoke Post (and now also shoppable on its own Web site), takes throwback styles and updates them with better fits and fabrics, like the Line of Trade Wellfleet Madras Shirt. Madras is an iconic fabric with a history stretching back to India, one that eventually made its way into modern menswear as a New England prep style staple (as Bespoke Post so sagely notes).

You can now inject a bit of that style into your own late summer rotation with the Line of Trade Wellfleet Madras Shirt, and you can do it all for more than 50 percent off. That means certain colors and sizes of the Line of Trade Wellfleet Madras Shirt are selling mighty quickly at the moment, so take heed.

And yet, the good news is, Line of Trade menswear tends to be quite affordable in its own right, particularly if you scour the Bespoke Post Sale section for other in-season style staples made by Line of Trade. This stylish shirt was also part of a Bespoke Post subscription box offering earlier this season, as seen below, but this handsome madras shirt is all yours for the taking on its own right now — and from one of my favorite online menswear retailers, no less.

In the meantime, the yarn-dyed lightweight cotton of your new favorite summer buttondown shirt should prove plenty easygoing at the beach, at a BBQ or strolling the coastline — chino shorts and canvas sneakers or stylish leather boat shoes would prove worthy companions for this modern update to a timeless style.

If I were you, I’d jump at the chance to greet the end of summer in style with a fast-selling, easy-to-wear Line of Trade Wellfleet Madras Shirt.