Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
Linen fabric? Check. Short sleeves? Check. Been done to death? Check. That’s why we’re gonna kick things up a notch (BAM!) with some of the best patterns on the market. While I normally reach for plain clothes when I’m picking out an outfit in the morning, there’s something about a brightly colored short sleeved shirt that just feels right.
1) J. Crew: Slim-Fit Printed Linen Shirt
Say what you will about J. Crew, but the truth is they have a great range of clothes that cover a wide range of styles without breaking the bank. Their Slim-Fit Printed Linen Shirt is a great example. Not only is it a 100% linen shirt with an understated pattern, but it comes in a slim fit which is not always easy to find when it comes to linen shirts. Completed with a standard collar and front check pocket, this shirt is sure to become a summer classic.
Available for $120 at Mr. Porter.
2) Kapital: French Cloth Linen Bandana Aloha Shirt
Kapital might be known for pieces that are a bit out there, but their French Cloth Linen Bandana Aloha Shirt is, dare I say it, normal. Sure the pattern is a bit asymmetrical and the fit a bit baggy, but other than that it’s just a run-of-the-mill shirt with fantastic details. Completed with wooden buttons, split sleeves, and deep indigo dye, this is definitely one of the most compelling linen shirts of the season.
Available for $440 at Haven.
3) Freenote: Awning Stripe Hawaiian Shirt
Freenote has always been a fan favorite, but their Awning Stripe Hawaiian Shirt has certainly raised the bar. With its custom, mother-of-pearl buttons, pattern matched front pocket, Italian 50%/50% linen/cotton fabric, and fantastic construction, you’re getting a bunch of details that you normally wouldn’t at such a price-point. While I’m not sure I’d consider the awning pattern to fit into traditional Hawaiian shirt motifs, it’s certainly a great summer piece.
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Available for $180 at Freenote.
4) Blue Blue Japan: Sakura Hanaikada Cabana Shirt
There is something quite mesmerizing about Blue Blue Japan’s Sakura Hanaikada Cabana Shirt’s pattern, and it only gets better the more you look at it. Made from a 70%/30% rayon/linen blend, this shirt is dyed with natural indigo using the bassan method. I can’t say I know much about the technique, but even to the untrained eye, it’s easy to see the attention to detail that went into this shirt. Each garment is finished with a single chest pocket and mother-of-pearl buttons just to make them that much more special.
Available for $300 from Blue Owl.
5) Hartford: Slam Palm Linen Shirt
Hartford’s Slam Palm Linen Shirt is another great option for those who want a new shirt this season but don’t want to spend too much. This piece is made from 100% linen, features a slim fit, and has a great white-on-navy pattern. You aren’t going to get the same great details as you’d find on some higher end shirts, such as mother-of-pearl buttons or natural indigo dye, but you will get a shirt that doesn’t cut corners where it counts.
Available for $99 at End Clothing.
Plus One – Our Legacy: Box Short Sleeve Shirt in Acid Landscape Print Linen
Love it or hate it, Our Legacy’s Box Short Sleeve Shirt in Acid Landscape Print Linen is an interesting piece. Buy it to wear or as a way to give an impromptu Rorschach test to your friends, family, and colleagues, this shirt’s great details extend far beyond the audacious pattern. With the ever-so-popular mother-of-pearl buttons, Italian 100% linen fabric, and great cut, this might not be a shirt you wear more than a couple of days per season, but those are gonna be some pretty stellar days.
Available for $285 from Blue Owl.
