When I travel, my default these days is a blouson over shirt and trousers.
It makes a nice switch from tailoring during the working days – perhaps a little more comfortable, but more importantly just a change that feels as good as a rest.
The weight of the blouson can be varied for any weather. A heavy fur-lined suede in winter, something reversible when it threatens rain, and in summer a featherweight piece like the linen/cotton ‘giubbino’ pictured here.
The advantage of a casual jacket to travel in, of course, is that it’s easier to fold up and store than an overcoat, yet also has the pockets that knitwear would lack.
The example pictured is from Connolly, and its material is so light that it was comfortable in the 40-degree baking, valley-trapped heat of Florence.
I like the slubbiness of the material, the high but floppy collar, and the fact the hem can be cinched in or not – turning it from a tight-waisted blouson into something longer and straighter.
There is also a covetable version in red corduroy.
The thing I wanted to focus on in this article, however, was the fully fashioned T-shirt underneath (also from Connolly).
I’ve written before how much I like T-shirts like this – short-sleeved but fully fashioned like knitwear, in a fine cotton or wool.
But I don’t think I’ve ever used images to illustrate. So I thought I’d use these shots from Pitti in June to do so.
Wearing the neckline of a T-shirt under something, rather than a collared shirt, has an immediate and significant impact on how smart or casual it looks.
I think the effect is similar to wearing trainers rather than welted leather shoes.
Swap leather loafers for white trainers under a suit, and the impression is hugely different. It’s greater, I’d argue, than similar changes like swapping a jacket for knitwear, or flannels for jeans.
This effect, of course, is why so many like the idea of a T-shirt under a suit. Like trainers, it immediately dispels any stuffy or business associations the suit might have.
T-shirts under tailored jackets don’t suit everyone, however. Personally I think they require a certain physique – stronger shoulders, perhaps slightly shorter neck. A beard helps; age and wrinkles do not.
Magazines write too many articles about ‘how to wear’ a T-shirt under tailoring. The fact is, it just suits some body types – and therefore some people – more than others. Not something magazines are usually happy telling you.
As a result I tend to wear T-shirts under things with higher collars: shawl-collar cardigans, safari jackets and blousons.
The advantage of a fully fashioned T-shirt rather than a cut-and-sewn one is that it looks a few degrees smarter.
(Normal T-shirts are also knitted, just like sweaters. The difference is in how they are put together: cut into panels and sewn along the edges, or knitted together into the seams you see on knitwear.)
A regular T-shirt would certainly have been OK with this outfit. But the neckline would not have been as clean and sharp, and nor would the small amount you can see of the body.
Given the cream-cotton trousers are fairly smart, as are the brown-suede Sagans and the blouson, a smarter T-shirt felt more complementary.
A regular tee would have been better with jeans, a chore jacket and canvas trainers, perhaps.
This T-shirt is a better substitute for a collared shirt – and indeed, that’s one reason fully fashioned ones like this are useful when travelling, as they tend to work with more of the tailored wardrobe I’m also carrying.
Connolly’s tees are luxurious but also expensive. More affordable (and in a greater range of necklines and colours) are those of the ever-reliable John Smedley.
I’m wearing one in this piece on layering knitwear here.
The bag is from Acate Borsa – a Japanese brand I visited in Tokyo earlier in the year, which sells high-quality pieces made in Italy.
The leather of this one, for example, is a real shrunken calf, where some just copy the texture (made popular by Hermes) by printing a standard calf leather.
The work, including inking and small points of hand sewing, is well done, and it’s lined in a lovely Alcantara.
I’ve always loved this warm-grey colour, and don’t find it effeminate as some do. It looks particularly nice against navy, such as a worsted suit.
The only thing I’m not sure of is the tassels. But they can easily be taken off and on as my mind switches back and forth.
The sunglasses are 1950s Ray-Ban Caravans in filled 12k gold-filled wire, from Retrospecs.
More on those here – and of course Retrospecs will now be at the pop-up in September, so anyone can come and see their range there.
The made-to-measure trousers are from P Johnson, in Loro Piana denim.
Photography: Jamie Ferguson @jkf_man
Hi,
Blouson looks great! Is the red cord version available in the Connolly store do you know? I spent ages trying to find a “perfect” fitting T shirt and never really succeeded. Recently I’ve had them from Saman Amel so the fit has been just right – for me. Have you tried them?
I think it is, yes. Not sure in all sizes though.
I haven’t tried Saman Amel T-shirts yet, no.
One thing, I believe, that influences whether people can wear (or not) t-shirts and still look smart, is certainly the amount of hair around the neck. Unfortunately, for the more hairy types among us, a collar is a must in order to look smart. In a t-shirt, you get the “Yeti trying to be smart” look.
Could you explain a bit more what is the difference between a normal t-shirt and a fully fashioned one?
As always, thanks for your lovely posts!
Thanks, yes good point. I can imagine that making as much of a difference as the shape and length of the neck.
A fully-fashioned T-shirt has material and seams that look like knitwear. It’s basically a fine sweater with short sleeves.
The ‘fully fashioned’ refers to the seams, which are very different on a sweater than a T-shirt.
Sorry for my ignorance, but what is a fully fashioned t-shirt? I’m struggling in understanding the difference from a regular t-shirt.
It’s basically a T-shirt with material and seams that look like knitwear.
The ‘fully fashioned’ refers to the seams, which you’ll see are very different on a sweater than a T-shirt.
Simon
Where can I find affordable garment washed rugby shirts? Desperate for one!
Ta
Gregory
Rowing Blazers – available from The Rake or directly.
Hello, have you tried the T-shirt from Mr Porter own brand ? I reckon they fit pretty good too.
Simon – general comment but could you use a slightly more distinctive coloured text for your hyperlink anchor text? I read at work normally, and I only notice them when I mouse over, feels a bit like a hunting for clickable pixels in an old point and click adventure. A slightly brighter blue or purple would probaby do it!
Nice idea, thanks Sam. I’ll look into it.
This is a great look, and to my eye the impact of the outfit flows from two aspects. The lovely contrast in the colours – the cream trousers against the darker top prevent it looking a little sombre – and the loose weave texture of the blouson and trousers which go together very well. Even after your explanation of “fully fashioned”, I still don’t get the importance of the t-shirt since all I can see of it is the neckline. You’d achieve that same line with a standard boat neck t-shirt such as those from Armor Lux or St James (albeit striped).
I am very keen on this approach for travel – for example a marinière under a linen shirt is a classic and very practical combination with similar appeal.
Overall though, excellent.
Thanks.
Compared to a standard T-shirt, the neckline will just look smarter and finer. Obviously it depends on the normal T-shirt that is the alternative, but if you consider that wearing fine knitwear under something like this will usually look smarter in the neckline, and perhaps in the body too a little, then that’s the difference.
What you’re talking about here really has everything to do with the fabric rather than the construction. The Merz B Schwanen t’s I wear don’t have side seams at all and don’t have the drape/texture advantages you’re citing here.
I’m not a big fan of the recent trend of woolen t-shirts. It seems impractical to have wool be the first layer to touch the torso, esp. since I hand wash my woolens. It also looks a bit affected if worn on its own. Primarily cotton t’s with a bit of spandex or polyester mixed in will give you a cleaner drape without these problems, but their texture is obviously different from that of woolens.
Your observation about physique and going collarless is a keen one. A scarf can also help if you’ve a slighter build.
Thanks Ben. I think it’s both fabric and construction, personally. The side seams don’t come into it given you can rarely see those, but you’re right the fabric between fully fashioned pieces also makes a difference – a Merz piece is not using fine wool or cotton as a piece of high-end knitwear would be.
It doesn’t have to woollen – can be cotton just as easily. Personally I like fine wool, and I wash it in a machine on a gentle wash and then dry without using a tumble drier, so it’s the same process as a shirt. But cotton ones, eg from Smedley, look just as good and might feel nicer against the skin.
I agree on the shirt worn on its own – that’s not easy to wear. I’m not sure it often looks affected, but it’s certainly less forgiving than a normal T-shirt. As indeed is long-sleeved fine knitwear worn on its own often.
Would a Sunspel t-shirt, the riviera model for example, also work in this situation?
What do you mean by “less forgiving?” I like wearing short-sleeved merino tees on their own with denim and suede loafers or other casual shoe; sort of a 50’s / early 60’s elevated sportswear vibe that I can dress up slightly if it gets cold with the right shawl cardigan or casual coat. I’ve found that a similar option for summer is the cotton knitted tee from Anthology with heavy ribbing, and vintage-inspired short boxy body. The Anthology tee is definitely suitable for wear on its own, or with denim. I’d appreciate your views on this.
I think that sounds nice. The only element of risk in it all is that a merino tee like this is a little smart for denim. But if you think it works with that in mind, that’s great.
By less forgiving, I mean that it compliments fewer body types. If the collar sits low on you, for example, and you have a long neck, it can make you look a little gawky. Or if you have a bit of a paunch, etc. It doesn’t hide anything like that as well
I appreciate the input, and I agree as to the “less forgiving” perspective. I’m curious, how casual would you tend to go, as a general matter, with the fully-fashioned tee? Dressier chinos (e.g., Incotex or Trunk’s in-house)/cords?
Personally no, not chinos like Incotex. Stoffa maybe, at the most casual
Would dark wash jeans look good with knitted tshirts?
Yes they could do if other things, eg the shoes, were smarter
a wool base layer is the best material to have against the skin if warmth is a priority
Do you have a link to the blue blouson you’re wearing in this article? Is it still available?
It is still available I think, but Connolly do not do their own e-commerce, and there is limited wholesale through other shops. I recommend giving them a ring.
The blouson looks terrific but would you know of any cheaper options? I find Connolly’s range to be excessively pricey, compared with other brands like Trunks or Private White.
They are pricey, quality is at the very top end – more comparable to Anderson & Sheppard than the other two probably.
I don’t know anything in this specific style, but there are plenty of blousons in general, of which PWVC does options and Trunk has the Valstarino
You’re certainly right, but I find even A&S to be more reasonable in price and Connolly at times frankly outrageous.
Will have a look, thanks Simon.
Would you ever do a V neck t shirt? In what context if any?
Not really, no. I just don’t find them that flattering, but I’ve never spent much time considering why
Simon, might I venture a guess? I imagine it’s the v-neck’s neck-lengthening effect. People who have slightly longer necks (such as you or me) might not find it very appealing.
I like the outfit, it’s intelligently put together with each element combining with the whole but individual in its essence (not too ‘matchy’). However, as the T is the feature there is not one clear image of it to properly show texture, shape or drape. The ‘fully fashioned’ element has stumped a few readers – how simple to do a few close-ups (all too rarely used on PS…) of seams/edging to illuminate and describe the feature?
Sure, I could do a few. And can try to do more in future. It’s exactly the same as you’d get on any piece of knitwear, which is probably why I didn’t think to.
Agreed
There are several photos of your face, but nothing at all that does the subject justice.
I have a longer than average neck and I think I look good in the tshirt/blazer combo, however I also have shoulder length hair and that fills the awkward void between head and shoulders.
If you are wearing a tshirt under a jacket no one can see any of the seams except the collar seam so IMO that is the most important thing to focus on after the quality of the fabric and the colour. I often wear a hemp tee in the summer and a merino or thick cotton in the winter – Christian Kimber did a nice navy/cream stripe tee in 2018 with a mini boatneck that looks great with a jacket.
I’m curious about sleeve length; given the comparison to knitwear would these T-shirts be long-sleeved?
No, normally not. In fact that’s really the principle thing that separates then from knitwear – you could just as easily call them a short-sleeved sweater.
Having a short sleeve can be annoying on a jacket, as the wrist can look a little odd, but under a blouson or chunky knitwear it’s fine as there’s usually a narrowed or ribbed cuff
This also answers superbly my question about what to wear for flying in your recent Holiday Snaps post.
I shall have to investigate which Blouson/t-shirt combination works best for me!
…only it’s not knitwear, it’s ‘fully fashioned’ cotton…in a blog that is about fit, craft and style fashion oriented images (i.e. those that attempt to show a veneer of ‘lifestyle’) are not always helpful in reflecting the substance of the text. It also reflects a lack of forward planning (or pre-production) wherein the images aren’t planned with sufficient detail to reflect the article’s intent (demonstrating the advantages of fully fashioned construction vs. an ordinary T construction). I’m not having a go just outlining the reason for my previous comment.
Appreciate this article but for me it raises several questions .
At the risk of being misunderstood ( why I’m toning down how I come across !) let me state I ask these questions politely and with no ill will .
Firstly, the t shirt in question , is something similar available from the high street as Connelly seem to only sell through a select few channels ? What particular technical points should one look out for when buying something similar ?
Secondly , why is such an item more expensive ? I believe something like this is over £80 .
Is it a case of cost of production ,(with profit margins staying the same ) ?
Or is it a case of marking up to give the impression of high quality ? Similar to what fashion brands do .
For me such an article on the t shirt works if it clearly demonstrates how it’s different from other more mainstream products (close up photos of neck, side seams etc) and then readers can appreciate the cost of such an item .
Although I appreciate PS may not want to go in this direction which is fine but just giving my ‘cents worth ‘.
These are great questions Robin, thanks.
The piece is more just about the style of wearing a T-shirt like this, rather than the different options for buying one, but it’s nice to have follow-up questions like this in the comments to have an opportunity to expand on things readers want more on.
Connolly doesn’t really do e-commerce, as they prioritise the experience in the shop so much.
However, as mentioned John Smedley is a solid option for anything in this area and decent value for money.
In terms of technical points, the differences will be fineness of the wool or cotton (so Connolly uses a finer wool than Smedley, for example) and small points around the fineness of finishing. You can see read examples of the finishing on my post on Finest Knitwear here. There’s a good chance you won’t care about those or need to top-end fibre.
Value for money is a big area, but in general the key thing to watch out for is advertising, fashion shows, sponsorship and so on. That’s what the big brands spend the extra money on. Their margins aren’t necessarily much higher, they just spend on different things. See post here that has a bit on that.
Here, £80 is not that much to spend on what is basically a very fine sweater, but with the sleeves cut off. Don’t compare it to a regular T-shirt – the work in being fully fashioned etc and the material is very different.
I hope that helps a little in filling in those gaps
Hi,
Beautiful T-shirt, had no idea fully fashioned one existed !
Have you had any experience with sonofatailor ? They do MTM T-shirt and they look quite good, was thinking of giving it a try.
Yes I tried them a few years ago Mael. They might have changed, but my experience was not great I’m afraid. See article here:
https://www.permanentstyle.com/2016/02/brands-review-iii-son-of-a-tailor-dalembert-saal-aether-sunglasses.html
Archibald London make a good T shirt. Actually a very interesting business overall.
Hi Simon,
What do you think of merino tees (slim fit with ribbed sleeves, waist, and neck) for layering in winter, maybe under a cardigan (I think you had a similar post about wearing a cream cardigan over a gray fine-knit crewneck sweater) or even under a blouson or a light coat in the fall?
I think it looks really nice – and yes I did wear that in the post ‘How to layer knitwear’ The only issue is whether you like the look of the tee without anything over the top as well. Not everyone does, but it makes the look more versatile
Does it look affected and therefore not like by everyone?
A little
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT BLOUSON IS WEAR BY DANIEL CRAIG IN THE NEXT BOND FILM ¨NO TIME TO DIE ¨
It is indeed…
Great pics and words.
May I ask what size you are wearing in the Jacket?
I believe it’s the medium. (It’s stored.away till summer at the moment). The small was neater, but I needed the medium for length
Much obliged for the prompt reply, Simon.
Hi Simon,
The Connolly blouson in this article is certainly a stand-out piece! The slub linen texture is beautiful. I’m curious, what size are you wearing in the photos above? And may I ask, what size do you commonly wear? As this blouson is meant to be worn relaxed, I’m interested to hear how best to size this.
Medium. Same as I usually wear pretty much
thanks for your reply.
Simon, would like to know what your experience has been with this giubbino jacket? Thinking of getting one myself. Thanks.
I think it’s nice, but not as flexible or wearable as I had thought.
The draw string and short cut make it unusual, and actually the collar I find works better with a shirt than with a T-shirt as here. A T-shirt looks ok if the collar stays up, but not as soon as it begins to bend. A shirt is better.
It’s a nice thing to get if you already have a nice bomber, a nice A1 etc. But I wouldn’t say it’s a very useful substitute for either of those. I hope that makes sense
It does, thank you very much! I was actually weighing this against a linen Valstarino that The Rake has in stock, and your thoughtful opinion has made my mind. Thanks again!
Oh good, pleased I could help
Interesting on wearability. Is it comparable to a (linen) overshirt in terms of weight and structure, or closer to a blouson like the summer wool/linen Valstarino? What do you think of the latter?
Not quite as light as the linen overshirt, but closer to that than a Valstarino I’d say.
I haven’t tried the wool/linen Valstarino
Would you say linen looks off made up as an A1 jacket?
No, not necessarily. Perhaps more suited to softer, more open linens, but that’s about all
Hi Simon
Could you recommend a t shirt with a close fitting neck?
I don’t know any T-shirts like that, no. Sorry Jon
Warehouse 4601 (which Simon now has)
Simon: Is a blouson the same thing as a shacket? If not, what’s the difference? Thanks.
No, very different.
A blouson is held tight at the waist, and often elasticated. See the Valstarino, other flying jackets, or the Harrington. It is held at the waist and then expands – like a blouse – in the waist and chest.
A shacket is a modern term and doesn’t have much of a clean definition, but is basically between a shirt and a jacket, and a shirt is long, finishing on the thighs not the waist. So a shacket is longer and straighter usually. Is more likely to have a collar like a jacket or shirt too (folded back) and won’t have any elastication or a zip
Thanks for clarifying. Based on your description of a blouson, it seems a lot like a bomber jacket. Any differences? Perhaps just a slightly different vibe?
Very similar. It depends what you mean by a bomber jacket really – a specific military design (which many are) or a general flight jacket.
But a blouson is a more general term to describe any short jacket like that really, even if in no way inspired by those old flight-jacket designs. It just needs to be held at the waist, then be generous in the body.
To follow up my previous response, it looks like blousons (like shackets) tend to have a collar, and some are buttoned as well, which gives them a slightly dressier and less edgy vibe than your typical leather bomber.
For someone who is relatively short (at 5.8), it’s a good look. One problem with shackets is that they have the length of a sports jacket but not the shape, which can give them a sloppy (or if you prefer, a laidback look). A laid back look is probably the point, but I don’t think it’s very flattering for shorter people.
PS, sorry about the iterative posts; feel free to delete my earlier reply.
No worries.
I can certainly see how a shacket could be less flattering on you if you need that shape.
A blouson basically cuts the body in half, with a sharp line at the waist, so it can be better on shorter guys, yes.
Hi Simon,
Interesting article.
For a casual weekend wardrobe, do you prefer Sunspel (cut and sew) or Smedley (fully fashioned) as your base t-shirt to wear on it’s own or under knitwear / jackets?
Also, does the quality and style of Trunk Clothiers t-shirts compare to Sunspel?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Under knitwear, always cut-and-sew. A fully fashioned T-shirt should be thought of as knitwear, and you wouldn’t wear knitwear fully covered by other knitwear. So my default would always be the cut-and-sew, with the fully fashioned an alternative more a smarter look, to wear on its own or layer under something like a jacket or overshirt.
The quality of the Trunk ones is good, very similar to Sunspel. Slightly thicker cotton, slimmer fit
Thanks Simon.
I assume that is why you recommended white and grey Sunspel (cut and sew) t-shirts as part of your core casual wardrobe (April 2019 article) alongside your bespoke Levi’s, chinos, blue oxford/denim shirts and navy crewneck knitwear.
It seems as though they are more versatile than a fully fashioned t-shirt as they can be worn separately as well as under knitwear and other items.
Regards,
Exactly, yes Vinay. They are much better in a casual core wardrobe like that
Great. Thank you.
Hi Simon,
Which would be your pick out between the Sunspel and Trunk t-shirts for a core staple of a casual wardrobe? Unfortunately I am unable to try either in person so I have to make a guess as to my size.
Also, is the Riveria Sunspel t-shirt just a slim version of their classic t-shirt or is the fit completely different between the two?
Thanks again for your advice.
Probably Trunk.
The Riviera is a little slimmer and a little shorter I believe
Hi Vinay, I have a few Riviera t-shirts from summer 2019 and they keep their shape much better than the polos (mine are in L and I got them darted along the side seams but they do stretch out a little more quickly given the waffle fabric). The Riviera tees aren’t too slim fitting and don’t have the waffle texture. I have a 42-43 chest with a diminishing gut and they still fit beautifully with no bellying out/stretching.
I can’t believe no one has spoken on that bag!
It is amazing Simon! Do you still have it?
BTW, just got the Bridge coat, it is amazing! the details, the feeling.
Purely Perfect.
That’s so cool to her, cheers Peter.
Yep, still have the bag, doing well – from Acate
Two years on, any update? What model is yours?
To be honest Hannes I don’t find I use it as much as I thought I would. It is nice, but I always reach for the more straightforward totes more often
I picked up a few of the John Smedley Sea Island tees in willow green, charcoal and navy earlier in the summer and they are very smart under a safari (nice one from Private White still on sale via the website) or shacket/overshirt. I see JS is now making the tees in a merino/Sea Island in a very limited colourway for AW 20/21.
Hi Simon,
I hope you are doing well. Just curious, who is your favorite fully-fashioned T-shirt maker nowadays and what is your preferred model? Looking through the archives, it seems you recommend both John Smedley and Sunspel, thank you!
I might be wrong, but I don’t think I’ve ever had any from Sunspel. Just regular T-shirts.
The Smedley ones are good, but a little stiff in the seams. A good basic. The best I have are from Connolly, though mostly they do cashmere/silk ones now, which I don’t like as much as the merino ones.
And The Anthology ones are great too, but cotton and chunkier, so a bit more casual and retro
Hi Simon,
Thanks for your sharing your thoughts! I will check out John Smedley and Connolly.
I do have a few Anthology shirts and would have to agree about them being chunky and retro, cheers
Hi Simon,
Do you know of any fully fashioned t shirts which are meant to be worth with higher rise trousers? John Smedley is nice but they are a bit too long, thanks!
No, sorry Bernie. There is the Anthology ones, but they’re much chunkier than Smedley, very different in feel
What distinguishes a blouson from a shacket? Both usually have a collar and buttons down the front. Would you wear the two in similar situations?
Line and proportion. A blouson sits on your hips, and is big in the chest. A shacket is cut like a shirt, so below the bum and straight through the body.
But they are both casual options, yes
Would it be fair to describe the shacket as slouchy in style (e.g., due to the length and lack of shape) and more suitable for taller and slender people? Perhaps for a person with an average height and athletic frame, having something that rides on the hip (like a bomber jacket, or like a blouson) might be more flattering.
Not necessarily. Unless you’re one extreme or the other, I think both could flatter you
Hi Simon!
I am a bit skeptical about knitted t shirt and polo after watching these images as I feel it is looking kind of oldish. What is your opinion?
Here is one more image.
The way to think about a fully fashioned T-shirt like this, Paul, is as smart, summer knitwear. It’s a replacement for a shirt with tailored trousers. Not a replacement for a regular T-shirt.
And yes it can look a little older, but really just in the way that it looks smarter
Simon might you wear a short sleeved knitted t-shirt in the winter under a tailored jacket / blouson? Or do you save them entirely for summer?
I wouldn’t find them warm enough in winter, but if you do then there’s nothing necessarily wrong with them.
Hey Simon, I saw a comment you mention it is the same giubbino “No Time To Die Giubbino Jacket”? In your pictures the color of the giubbino looks different (and better).
Does Connolly sale it in a different shade now or is it just the pictures on their website?
If you’re asking yourself, who is this guy who comments on old posts, I’m in the middle of a reading binge of all of your posts (which are a great resource). I know moderating the comments takes time, and I don’t want to waste any of yours with thank you for each question I have. I appreciate you taking the time to answer, and I want to say thank you at least once in advance.
Hey Henry,
No it’s the same colour.
Please don’t worry about commenting on old posts, it’s absolutely fine, because readers like you still go through old posts, and the comments, and these comments fill in any gaps in the article itself
I’d like to find the nicest-looking t-shirt that’s suitable for technical outdoor pursuits. The brands that target that use (e.g. Smartwool, Patagonia, Arcterix just to name a few) tend to have a crude make, dead-looking fabric, and unfortunate designs.
An example scenario might be a trip where I’m in a city for a week and then hiking for a week, all out of one carry-on backpack. Or perhaps a seminar or class where I’ll be spending a lot of time with other people in an outdoor setting — climbing, horseback riding, canyoneering, or whatever it might be. In any case I want to feel dressed OK for the airport, trains, and so on. I want to have just a few clothes that can be re-worn a lot.
The characteristics I want to retain from the outdoor side are odor control, wide temperature range, shape retention, and durability. It shouldn’t feel too precious to wear under a backpack, stretch a bit too far, slide across some rocks in, or to get it wet and then dry it draped over a tree branch. Also looking not-out-of-place with other athletic and technical items.
The characteristics I want to retain from the clothes covered here are drape, nice seams, an eye-pleasing fabric, classic colors, good features of the cut (e.g. high neckline, defined waist), no weird design features, and so on.
I love John Smedley t-shirts for example but would hesitate to take them into the desert or the mountains.
Understanding that this will be a compromise, what brands might be my best bet?
Yes, you definitely don’t want something fine like a Smedley knit.
My first thought is that workwear does this well – there’s no need to be that technical for most of what you describe. It’s what most of these activities were done in, and can easily be done in now too. Heavier weight tees, jeans, boots. Obviously it’s mostly cotton, but it doesn’t have to be – there are wool undershirts and thermals as well, for example. And you get a good, cohesive and classic style.
If you want to be more technical that’s a little harder, but you could, for example, wear a technical base layer underneath a more stylish oxford or flannel shirt. And wear a more technical outer layer for actual rain. It’s the essence of Gorpcore style, this combination. And of course there’s the western side/style which was always designed for this kind of activity.
Jack Wolfskin are a brand which have a relatively smart ethos. I wear their trivent shirt over a technical tee when teaching photography outdoors (with a ventile harrington(PWVC) on top ). Smart enough for transitions into the classroom (or pub). I like to be slightly smarter than my students. For smartness,I would look at trekking specialist clothing ,so Jack Wolfskin,Rohan etc rather than the climbing,mountain brands.
A PS beanie works well!
Thanks Peter. I’ll look at that, though there are few things from those specialist trekking brands that I would like the style of. Personally I prefer to have the minimal technical aspects, like that undershirt, and wear nicer things where the technical side is less needed – unless doing something much more strenuous
Yes,sadly,there a very few natural fabrics in the outdoors world. I wore my old cotton trousers until they fell apart and then turned them into shorts. The great advantage is how quickly modern fabrics dry,which I suppose ,is the main requirement, not style.
Ventile smocks are valuable .There is a sand coloured varient of your Mk 3 aircrew jacket which is significantly lighter then the winter varient and great for outdoors.
Nice, thanks Peter
Hi Simon,
Are you able to advise on a few stockist in London for Retrospecs?
Thanks
Hey Rupesh,
They don’t really advertise places that stock their frames, they just supply vintage to hundreds of stores around the world. Unless they’re doing an occasional trunk show, you usually have to buy through those stores, who also usually won’t say they use Retrospecs. Sorry, it’s a confusing retail/wholesale area
Can this type of knit t shirt be worn with workwear chinos and jeans?
Really hard to tell from an image, but I’d say it might be a little smart. I’m also a little put off by the website name!
Would a knitted t shirt in such a color like toffee brown look good and versatile?
Perhaps, it could look look but maybe wouldn’t be that versatile
Could a white knitted t shirt look good as I have never had a white sweater?
It’s an interesting question, Joshua.
The T-shirt part screams ‘yes’, you just substitute for a classic white T-shirt
The knit part suggests ‘no’, because, like yourself, many of us have never had a snow white sweater.
My instinct would be to go for something just off-white/ivory – like Scott Fraser’s Chet knit
Let us know how it works out if you do go for a white knit 🙂
Cheers
Then I will give white a try and would give my take on it. Also would you wear a knitted tshirt like this with jeans?
Thanks Joshua.
Yes, I would. And if I wanted to make everything a little smarter I might balance the knit t-shirt with a loafer.
Hi all,
Hoping Simon or Manish could give some advice here, and interested in thoughts from any readers Also.
So I have one of the ice cotton knit tees from Thom Sweeney in white. Lovely tee to be fair. However, I’d noticed after the first 2 (hand) washes, that the collar shrunk to the point that, when I then tried to get it over my (very normal sized) head, it didn’t spring back fully and looked a little loose and mis-shapen. Having just gone through this process a third time today, the result was way worse- like the collar is now a baggy mess and, in my view, the shirt is essentially done-for if it’s intention is for a ‘smart’ look.
I actually just got the same one in navy, tags still on, so reckon I’m returning that!
With the one or two other fine-knit cotton t-shirts I own, I’ve noticed the collar lose shape over time as well (though nowhere near as quick/bad as above).
Now, for the ‘fully fashioned knitted tee’, the other option from cotton is merino wool. I understand wool is naturally going to be better at keeping its shape and ‘bouncing back’.
So, on to my question- would you think it’s fair to say that, generally, any fine wool tee of this kind (assuming it’s from a decent maker) is necessarily going to have a more sustainable collar than cotton ones? Or will it still be fairly subjective and leaving the possibility of baggyness either way? I suppose it’s obviously down to the actual construction of the neck as well, but let’s assume that’s theoretically not what’s causing the problem with keeping shape….
There’s the colhay sports merino ones that look great, but sold out in most sizes for the ‘cream melange (the only colour in the realm of whites).
Anyone any other recommendations?
Has anyone heard of Blugiallo? –
https://blugiallo.com/tailored/knitted-t-shirt-merino-off-white/#openBGMS
From a quick look on styleforum, Swedish based and seem reputable. But would love to hear feedback if anyone has tried these merino tees! They are mtm-fit tees like the 40-colori set-up.
Speaking of 40-colori-
https://www.40colori.com/collections/polos-t-shirts/products/cream-cotton-cashmere-silk-knit-t-shirt
Any thoughts on whether the addition of cashmere and silk along with the cotton is likely to make the material better at keeping shape (or maybe even the opposite given they are both finer materials than cotton)?
Appreciate anyone and everyone’s thoughts on the above!
Cheers,
Eoghan
Hey Eoghan,
My first question is, have you tried ironing the collar of the cotton tee? That might help a lot to put it back into shape.
In general, yes wool is going to be better, but there are other factors as well unfortunately – eg a more knitwear-like collar as on Anthology’s knitted tees has more elasticity.
I’ve never tried Blugiallo but the style doesn’t really appeal to me. On the cashmere/silk, this would be between the wool and the cotton, again all other things being equal.
Hope that helps