Short Sleeved, Patterned Linen Shirts – Five Plus One

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

Short-Sleeved,-Patterned-Linen-Shirts---Five-Plus-One 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

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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

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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.

Available for $180 at Freenote.

4) Blue Blue Japan: Sakura Hanaikada Cabana Shirt

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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

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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

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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.