Tag / best t-shirts for men to wear now

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: Foreign Rider Co. Is Making Some of the Best T-shirts and Basics for Men

There are certain things in the menswear world that, once you’ve tried something one way, well, it’s tough to go back to the old ways. Take the quest for finding the perfect T-shirt, something we’ve talked about quite a bit on this style blog. The proper construction and fabrication makes an almost absurd difference — once you’ve tried a sturdy, well-built and yet supple T-shirt that’s made to go the distance, there’s no going back.

With a clean drape, an effortless sense of durability that wears well with a trucker jacket or on its own, and a just-right fit in a range of versatile colors, Foreign Rider Co. is checking off all the boxes when it comes to one of the best T-shirts for men — at least in my experience, that is.

Shop moto-inspired men’s T-shirts and more at Foreign Rider

They’re doing it using Canadian designs that take advantage of some of the best made-in-the-U.S.A. craftsmanship around. In fact, across these past few weeks, I’ve been bringing a range of Foreign Rider T-shirts in a wide array of fabrications — from Supima cotton to heavyweight 375 GSM combed cotton and vintage-style slub cotton — with me in my duffle bag as I head from Florida to Philly and the great ole Midwest.

Foreign Rider T-shirts take inspiration from moto culture and a good, old-fashioned rugged sense of style, with a tailored fit that still moves nicely in my size XL range of T-shirts.

The company is well and truly obsessed with the best fabric on the market, and each brings something different to the table, from the thick, durable nature of its hard-working heavyweight T-shirts to the everyday wearability of its soft yet substantial, everyday 200 GSM cotton tees in crisp colors ranging from black and white to navy and olive green.

They’ve even stood up to repeat wear, with substantial collars and trim sleeves that hold their shape over time (and crucially, don’t shrink in the wash, provided you follow the brand’s recommended care instructions.

Ralph Dunning’s 2009 founding of the company played off years of experienc in the industry, after all, Foreign Rider notes. “”With more than 30 years of experience in the apparel industry, Ralph founded the company to produce well-made clothing with a focus on quality materials, durable construction and classic design.”

It sounds to me like those are traits every guy can use when it comes to their wardrobe and the style industry at large — take your cues for your next basics refresh from Foreign Rider T-shirts, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: You’re Going to Want to Stock Up on New Mott and Bow Heavyweight Tees This Spring

When we talk about a menswear essential like the best jeans for men, it often follows that the best complementary pieces can prove mighty important as well, right? There’s a reason the “jeans and a T-shirt” pairing has earned its rightful place in the menswear lexicon: It’s casually rugged, it’s comfortable without being sloppy, it’s the choice of rock stars and iconoclast style icons and hard-working fellas the land over.

And when done the right way — when done by a brand that excels in both categories, like Mott and Bow — it can change the way you approach dressing for spring, summer and beyond.

Learn more now online at Mott and Bow

New York City-based Mott and Bow has, across the past dozen years, done a standout job at how guys (and gals!) shop for and buy denim online, using high-quality denim fabrication, helpful fits and easy exchange policy and a growing roster of supporting menswear staples — like one of the best heavyweight T-shirts for men as shown above.

Yes, you very well might know the brand for its exceptionally well-fitting, affordably priced denim (for the designer-level quality, at least in my experience), and Mott and Bow has expanded across the years into super-soft, durable hoodies, sweatpants, polos, T-shirts, underwear and even travel pants and chinos.

And the Mott and Bow Heritage Weighted Tee lineup is the latest marker of quality from the fast-selling direct-to-consumer denim brand (perhaps you’ve even seen their ads on TV and across social media as of late, ehh?).

If you haven’t yet taken the plunge with a pair of Mott and Bow denim, check out my Mott and Bow reviews here on this blog — and of course, consider starting things off simply by picking up the hard-wearing Mott and Bow Heritage Weighted Tee — in my own trials wearing these tees across the past few weeks, I’ve found the fit impeccable and the fabric supple but substantial. Could the Mott and Bow Heritage Weighted Tee be my new favorite T-shirt? Ladies and gentlemen, that’s certainly a possibility.

Made from durable yet soft cotton jersey fabric with a heavier-weight construction, this tee takes its cues from workwear, featuring a slightly relaxed but not too oversized fit (a size XL in the Mott and Bow Heritage Weighted Tee fits my frame nicely, with room to move rather than a restrictive fit). The hem is cut slightly longer without proving too baggy, while the garment-washed fabric is already getting softer with each wear, at least in my experience.

As with other Mott and Bow menswear staples, you can find the Mott and Bow Heritage Weighted Tee in a solo set, a 3-pack trio or a 6-pack offering, giving you stylish, rugged options multiple days of the week in your T-shirt rotation.

Colors like Vintage Pewter and Vintage Taupe, plus shades of grey and charcoal, deliver the ultimate in casual versatility when it comes to the Mott and Bow Heritage Weighted Tee – it’s everything you’ve come to expect in terms of quality Mott and Bow construction, but in T-shirt form. Your next casual #OOTD just got a leg up, thanks to your favorite denim brand.

by Beau H.

Style Upgrade: The Casual T-Shirt

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in an ongoing series covering quick and easy upgrades to style dilemmas a guy might face once in a while. For more entries in the series, click here.

Upgrading the humble T-shirt today. Rust V-neck by Pistol Lake (more on the brand in a bit!). Dark denim by Mott & Bow. Navy Rosen Runners by GREATS Brand. Sunglasses by Randoiph Engineering. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta.

Upgrading the humble T-shirt today. Rust V-neck by Pistol Lake (more on the brand in a bit!). Dark denim by Mott & Bow. Navy Rosen Runners by GREATS Brand. Sunglasses by Randoiph Engineering. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta.

It seems we’ve been heralding the start of spring weather here on The Style Guide for a number of weeks (at least if my spring style wish list is any indication), so that means a couple key things. Namely, a solid spring jacket and a stylish spring sweater are going to go far for you in the coming weeks (and on into cooler summer nights). Beyond that, what else is there to know? Quite a bit, actually. For one, plenty of us are going to find ourselves rocking more T-shirts and polos in the coming months than during fall or winter — likely on their own, or else after shedding a jacket or sweateer. For another, there are some definite ways to upgrade that T-shirt from a standard number. Perhaps you know the kind I’m talking about? A bit baggy, maybe a bit dirty, featuring an old logo (think the Abercrombie & Fitch tees of years gone by?). If that’s what you had in mind, know that there are far more wearable, far more stylish casual T-shirt options out there — and not a lot of them break the bank.

A neutral color, a trim fit and a not-too-deep V -- the hallmarks of a good V-neck.

A neutral color, a trim fit and a not-too-deep V — the hallmarks of a good V-neck.

By definition, you could consider a rugged short-sleeve henley part of the T-shirt category. But, we’re talking strictly tees here — things like a slim pocket tee, a heathered crewneck tee, or a reliable V-neck tee. You name a variation on a style within those three iterations, and it’s like that a great designer or brand has taken it upon themselves to perfect it. For you, my fellow T-shirt fan, that’s great news indeed. Take, for example, the surprisingly versatile V-neck tee. Pistol Lake crafts the particular tee you see at the top of the page, and its made-in-America ethos, slim fit and jersey fabric are all great qualities. The “V” itself in the right V-neck doesn’t dip too low (a la American Apparel), yet it still adds some nice visual interest as opposed to a plain crewneck. Mixing in some unexpected color here can be a good thing, too. I Keeping the fit slim is also positive. It’s definitely the most casual option of the bunch, but a good V-neck tee could even be rocked under a lightweight, unlined blazer on a hot (and not-too-dressy) workday. It would be wise to reach for an option that’s a bit more expensive — tees from retailers like H&M are often too flimsy (at least according to this menswear writer).

Just a white T-shirt? Think again. Slub cotton and a modern fit upgrade this Buck Mason number.

Just a white T-shirt? Think again. Slub cotton and a modern fit upgrade this Buck Mason number.

Designers and brands are also crafting variations on the crewneck, and packing in a  ton of simple style points in the process. Take Richer Poorer’s new pocket tees. They feature a workwear-inspired pocket, plus your pick of either a versatile Heather Grey or a just-different-enough Natural color. When you’re rocking a tee on its own (or even under a blazer), subtle changes in fabric and style details go a long way. Buck Mason is also a brand that’s taken on the tall task of upgrading the standard pocket tee — and they’re doing a great job at its. The White Slub Pocket Tee is cut to fit slim and trim, with exceptional-looking fabric. Either pick is a great option that can easily be worn on its own with slim stone chinos, dark denim or tailored sweatshorts. Of course, a heather pocket tee pairs perfectly with a rugged denim jacket, lest we forget.

One retailer, two solid T-shirt upgrades from JackThreads.

One retailer, two solid T-shirt upgrades from JackThreads.

But shelling out for the perfect tee doesn’t have to be expensive — even though some of the picks featured above lean a little pricey. JackThreads, as has seemed to be the case with its two seasonal collections, nails the price-quality equation in terms of knitwear. Namely, pieces like its Daily Vee in Heather Blue run for just $18 (or 2 for $30). Plus, the Daily Pocket Tee (pictured at left), offers the exact same deal and nice styling potential, to boot. If 30 bones strikes you as a lot for a T-shirt compared to a standard 3-pack of tees, know that the investment will pay off — this is a style upgrade we’re talking about, after all. In addition to reaching for deeper colors with some texture, mainstay brands like J. Crew turn out new T-shirt variations season after season. Take its textured pocket T-shirt, for example. Those bold stripes in an appropriately spring-like color make it a perfect tee to rock on its own.

An Affliction T-shirt, this is not. A sublte, stylish and sly effort from Todd Snyder.

An Affliction T-shirt, this is not. A subtle, stylish and sly effort from Todd Snyder.

Perhaps the most common stigma about the simple T-shirt is that, in this case, graphics should be thrown out entirely. While there’s a time and place for a loud graphic tee, this is …. not that time (sorry to disappoint). Luckily, classic (and classy) American menswear designers are turning instead to athletic inspiration to craft graphic tees that are decidedly more stylish than Ed Hardy tees. In particular, Style Guide favorite Todd Snyder is offering a cheeky take on the graphic tee as part of his collaboration with Champion, which mixes urban cool with vintage sportswear. Those are two very good things.

The biggest part about upgrading your T-shirt, however simple, might simply be checking out retailers (whether in-person or via online ordering) and trying on various styles. In particular, it’s worth a look into classic retailers like Old Navy, who can offer a huge (HUGE) range of options at really affordable prices with solid sizing. After all, you want a tee that fits modern (but not overly tight), and you want to pick up essential items that can be mixed in with other spring style classics. So, spending $170 on a T-shirt might not be the most economical or versatile for any of us. But, $30 for 2 stylish tees in versatile colors, for example? Now we’re talkin’. As we’re just into the start of spring, there’s plenty of time left for you to upgrade your T-shirt game. Let me know how your search goes over at The Style Guide’s Facebook page, or swing on through Twitter.

Stay stylish!

-Beau