Online Shopping Picks: The Best Men’s Chambray Shirts

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It might come as a shock to you that this here blog hasn’t rounded up the best chambray shirts for men — ever, really. Now, we’ve talked about how to wear a chambray shirt for fall, and we’ve even reviewed an American-made chambray shirt from Todd Shelton — but a complete rundown of essential chambray shirts to buy now? Not so much.  With its textured cotton fabric and roots in American workwear, it’s a piece that — much like a rugged henley — has been turned into a four-season piece with the versatility to rival a classic blue Oxford.  You can thank brands like J. Crew for that, and you can thank Style Guide favorite Todd Snyder, too — his time at J. Crew helped cement, among other things, the popularity of the shirting style. Which brings us to the present day — hopefully in your neck of the woods, it’s truly and properly fall. If that’s the case, there might not be a better time to layer up a new chambray shirt. Hopefully, you’ve knocked a few pieces off your fall style wish list, but if you’re still searching for a few more staple items to fill your closet — *cough, cough* a new chambray shirt — today’s post has you covered. Chime in on the below picks, if you please, in the comments, and follow along on Instagram for more fall styling tips.

#1. Taylor Stitch Everyday Chambray Shirt $98

Taylor Stitch

It just doesn’t get any better than the Everyday Chambray Shirt from Taylor Stitch.

As much as J. Crew has turned the chambray shirt into an essential casual (or dressy) piece for all guys, Taylor Stitch has done just as much in a short period of time. The Everyday Chambray Shirt is a stone-cold Style Guide favorite for a multitude of reasons. With a slim fit, premium Japanese chambray fabric and double needle construction, it’s a wonder that the fine folks at Huckberry can even keep this thing in stock. Wear it with slim chinos and high-top sneakers on the weekend, then pair it with brown wingtips and a navy blazer during the work week. As with most Taylor Stitch pieces, you won’t be able to stop wearing the Everyday Chambray Shirt — at least, I think so.

#2. J. Crew Slim Indigo Japanese Chambray Shirt — $88

The shirt that (arguably) started it all. Buy it now, wear it a bunch.

The shirt that (arguably) started it all. Buy it now, wear it a bunch.

Ahh yes, here we are. The shirt that spawned copycats and helped men the world over dress a bit better (if not more so). Just as with Taylor Stitch, J. Crew has perfected casual, easygoing basics  that are versatile, well-fitting and reliably able to be dressed up or down in a pinch. Made with premium Japanese chambray, this indigo chambray shirt might just be your new favorite chambray — other than the Everyday Chambray Shirt, that is. If you hang around, you can likely snag it for a steal using a J. Crew sale code. But in the meantime, it’s a nice deal for the price.

Beckett Simonon

#3. Todd Snyder Chambray Patch Pocket Shirt in Light Indigo — $168

A rich indigo color and the sort of details one would expect from a designer that specializes in rugged staples.

A rich indigo color and the sort of details one would expect from a designer that specializes in rugged staples.

It should come as no surprise that the designer who helped put J. Crew back on the map now makes a heck of a chambray shirt in his own right. The Chambray Patch Pocket Shirt is the sort of piece at which Todd Snyder excels — it mixes a dash of heritage style with rugged vibes and easy wearability. It’s the type of chambray shirt that you could reliably pair with everything from dark denim and the designer’s famed Timex x Todd Snyder Mod Watch to a classic fall blazer as you head to the office. For the price, you’ll certainly want to get a lot of wear out of it.

Frank & Oak

#4. Ben Sherman Chambray Shirt in Navy Blazer — $85 (Available via East Dane)

Simple, stylish and nicely done via Ben Sherman.

Simple, stylish and nicely done via Ben Sherman.

From the brand’s classic Harrington jackets to slim chinos, Ben Sherman specializes in classic pieces with a dash of mod, British edge.  This slim chambray shirt uses a nice medium blue color that would look right at home with slim, American-made chinos and brown chukka boots at the office, while also blending in nicely with, say, a first date ensemble.  It’s fairly priced considering the quality and history of the brand, and it’ll work just as well this coming winter under a slim cardigan as it will come spring time with your favorite pair of shorts.

#5. Gitman Vintage Chambray Oxford Shirt — $124.80 (Available via East Dane)

Gitman Vintage

Inspired by a chambray shirt and featuring classic Oxford detailing.

Are you familiar with Gitman Vintage? Maybe? Maybe not? Either way, this brand does the classics the right way — its premium shirts are infused with a dash of classic prep style and a slightly irreverent modern edge. And as it were, this chambray Oxford shirt gets a lot of things right, from the trim fit to the blue chambray color and the Oxford styling details. It’s a hybrid shirt that you can wear as you would a normal Oxford — say, with a wool tie and a herringbone blazer — or a regular ol’ chambray shirt (perhaps atop your favorite henley this season).

And, well … that’s it for the first-ever Style Guide rundown of the best men’s chambray shirts. It was admittedly pretty tough to narrow it down to just five — heck, in addition to the crisp blue Everyday Chambray Shirt, even Taylor Stitch makes a terrific grey chambray shirt. But the above picks represent quality, versatile style potential and the type of easygoing wearability that’ll work just as well this coming winter as it will when the weather warms up. There aren’t that many shirts you can layer under a slim cardigan in one season, and wear with your favorite swimsuit in the spring, but the chambray shirt is certainly one of’ ’em. Get to shopping for your new favorite chambray shirt and let me know how it goes, will ya?

Stay stylish — and thanks for reading!

-Beau

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#OOTD: How to Style a Chambray Shirt This Season

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD series will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

Ahh, yes. The hallowed, essential chambray shirt. With its textured cotton fabric, workwear roots and both short-sleeve and long-sleeve iterations, it’s a Style Guide favorite through and through. Now, you might be thinking “Another chambray shirt, Beau? Really?” … really. While we’ve talked about how to style a chambray shirt for spring and we’ve reviewed a great Todd Shelton chambray shirt, it’s high time to circle back around to a style essential that works in all four seasons — especially fall. Those much-welcomed fall breezes certainly have taken their time showing up in NYC, but if the season is finally changing where you are, there’s no better time to style a chambray shirt. And the one we’re talking about today just might be the best out there. Folks, it’s the Taylor Stitch Everyday Chambray Shirt — a piece you might recognize from our Style Pick of the Week series — and it’s made with top-notch Japanese chambray fabric and sturdy double-needle construction. There’s no getting around it, the Everyday Chambray Shirt is the one to buy this season (well, not the only one … but perhaps the best). How exactly to style this thing? With rugged-refined #menswear essentials, of course. Read on for more.

The perfect chambray shirt, worn just the right way for a perfect season in menswear.

The perfect chambray shirt, worn just the right way for a perfect season in menswear.

The Shirt:Taylor Stitch Everyday Chambray Shirt, $118 — Well, you’ve already got a bit of the rundown, but Taylor Stitch made this site’s Approved Brands page for a reason, and this shirt is a huge part of that. With a pleasing blue color, visually interesting front-button chest pockets and the ability to be worn casually or a bit more dressed up, you don’t want to mess with the Everyday Chambray Shirt.

The Henley: Flint & Tinder Marled Long-Sleeve Henley, $62 — If you caught this site’s piece on how to style a henley for fall, you know exactly why it’s here. The mid-weight marled jersey fabric is of excellent quality, the fit is modern and the color is versatile.

The Denim: Dickies X-Series Slim-Fit 5-Pocket Denim Jean, $29.99 — Since when did Dickies start making slim denim? You’d best pay attention, and snag a pair or two for a great deal and nice comfort.
The Boots: Thursday Boots President Boot in Cognac Suede, $199 — The team at Thursday Boots hits another home run with the Cognac suede being used on a few varieties of boots this season, and the sleek President is the perfect boot pick for a rugged ensemble.
The Socks: CHUP Missouri Socks, $38 — Colder weather calls for heartier textures and a shot of seasonal pattern – the Missouri Sock is your answer.

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The Watch: Timex x Red Wing Waterbury Chronograph, $158 — There’s no question that something as tough as a Taylor Stitch chambray shirt needs a watch that stands out in rugged fashion — the Timex x Red Wing line is your best best.

The Hat: Carhartt WIP Key Ribbed Beanie, $35 (Available via East Dane) — If it’s getting chillier out, you need a hat to fight the chill. Carhartt — and even its fashion-oriented WIP line — knows a thing or two about that.
The Weekend Essential: United by Blue Trail Weekender in Olive, $97.98 — Sometimes, you need a functional, durable bag that just gets the job done; that’s where the Trail Weekender comes in.
And in a nutshell folks, there you have it. A rugged piece like the Taylor Stitch Everyday Chambray Shirt is just the kind of ideal finishing touch for fall — it’s got hearty texture, workwear-inspired roots and sturdy construction. All those keys lend it to pairing with like-minded pieces, like a durable henley. The look is grounded with slim grey denim and sleek suede boots, and tough accessories are always a great way to go — particularly when you need to stand up to the chilly weather. The excellent thing about the Taylor Stitch Everyday Chambray Shirt is that it can be kept in your rotation year-round, as we always preach at The Style Guide. For a bit over $100, that’ll make it an essential part of many a fall #OOTD — and plenty beyond.
Snag the Everyday Chambray Shirt while it’s still around at Huckberry.

Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.

Style Pick of the Week: Buck Mason Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt

Editor’s note: Expect these posts weekly detailing one standout item coveted by yours truly. Sometimes, these fit within budgetary restrictions and other times, they’re expensive splurges worth saving for. For more Wish List items from Beau, head here, and to see other Style Picks, head here.

Savor the last weeks of summer with a chambray shirt that can tackle anything. Flowing locks and well-kept beard not included.

Savor the last weeks of summer with a chambray shirt that can tackle anything. Flowing locks and well-kept beard not included. Photo courtesy of Buck Mason

So you’ve got your slim chinos and your classic white sneakers, but you don’t quite have a shirt to wear with ’em — or do you? The Buck Mason Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt, my friends, is that shirt — and if that’s not the one, I’d suggest the Buck Mason Oxford. But as to the Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt: It fits in quite well with the brand’s line of durable, essential basics, which run the course from crisp blue denim to perfectly washed slub tees. And it fits in very well with the sort of menswear you should be looking to rock to finish out summer. We’re talking pieces that can handle a beach walk or a day by the pool, and then drinks out on the town. And we’re talking just as much about pieces that can be fun to wear. If you’re on the hunt for a unique alternative to a classic summer polo or a slim pocket T-shirt, the short-sleeve chambray shirt is the way to go — as  a matter of fact, you can rock the style at least five different ways (wink, wink). The light wash is casual, the workwear-inspired front pockets are a nice visual touch, and the styling potential is certainly tough to beat. Yes indeed, the Buck Mason Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt can be worn with everything from a pair of stylish swim trunks and slip-on sneakers on Saturday to linen trousers on a casual Friday — no jacket required. And with Buck Mason, you’re getting every bit you pay for — and then some.

Subtle details like front-button chest pockets switch things up from the standard navy polo.

Subtle details like front-button chest pockets and fish eye buttons switch things up from the standard navy polo.

The brand’s story began with a conscious decision to return to American manufacturing, and that commitment to quality and effortless style shines through here. While “heritage style” can sometimes have negative connotations (as seemed to be the case after the trend blew up in the mid-2000s), there’s nothing overly costume-y or dated about a very well-fitting, very well-made short-sleeve chambray shirt. Critically, this shirt is made with a lightweight indigo-dyed chambray — that means it’s breathable and moves easier than heavier shirts cut for fall or winter. Another big benefit? It’s made in America, so it’s right in your wheelhouse if you like to know where your #menswear comes from. And although this particular Buck Mason chambray shirt has short sleeves, know that you can still team it up with, say, a lightweight cotton sweater after a day on the water — it’s even better for layering in that regard. But the benefits don’t stop there — it’s got a bit of an edge to it, to the point where it wouldn’t look out of place worn with an iconic jean like the Levi’s 505C at a rock concert. The tricky part is going to be keeping this shirt in your closet once fall and winter really hit — so if you’re blessed enough to live near Buck Mason’s Los Angeles home base, do us all a favor and continue to rock it year-round.

Click here to get the Buck Mason Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt.

Do you own any Buck Mason gear? How would you style this chambray shirt? Weigh in at The Style Guide!