We'd all love to be sitting on a patio sipping a cold beverage or on a beach drinking from a coconut, but the reality of living in Canada is that we have 4 seasons. Each season brings its own challenges from a style perspective but when the winds pick up in fall and the temperatures hit the negatives in winter, there are a few shirts we always reach for. Here's our guide to 4 shirts to get you through to Spring.
1. The Flannel Shirt - Most people associate a flannel shirt with the manliest of men - a fully bearded lumberjack hacking down a giant tree while chugging a beer. Which is weird because in reality, flannel, if done right, is one of the softest and warmest materials around. That softness comes from fine metal brushes running over the fabric to create a 'nap'. Flannel's warmth comes from the lifted material trapping air and heat, making it the ideal counter to plunging temps. No one, and we mean NO ONE does flannel like the Portuguese. Specifically, Portuguese Flannel, a family run business now in its 4th generation, headed up by two brothers. The Lordelo features a navy and green check pattern, making it the perfect colour palette for Fall.
2. The Henley - A Henley is characterized by a longer placket beneath the round neckline, usually having 2-5 buttons. Essentially a collarless polo shirt, it gets its name from the traditional uniform of rowers in the English town of Henley-on-Thames. Henley's can come in a variety of materials, including wool, cotton and thermals. They are a great laying option as they can be worn over any button-down shirt but is a step up from a t-shirt when worn on its own. 18 Waits makes the Harlem Henley in a very soft black French Terry material this season.
3. The Twill Shirt - Don't be fooled into thinking a Twill shirt is just a regular shirt. No, they're thicker and therefore warmer. Twill is weaved in a subtle diagonal or herringbone pattern and its threads are more densely packed, resulting in a style that’s work place-appropriate but also delivers ample insulation. 18 Waits offers their classic Neuwirth shirt in an Indigo Twill this season, with its hidden button collar and cuffs.
4. Oxford - The Oxford is a wardrobe staple if there ever was one. The name oxford comes from its weave, which has a basketweave structure and a lustrous aspect making it a popular fabric for many dress shirts. Plain Oxford or pinpoint Oxford weaves are popular as casual fabrics, so are generally used in combination with a button-down collar, while royal Oxford is versatile enough to be used on both sporty and formal shirts. Oxfords can come in a variety of weights, and in the Sprint/Summer, they tend to be lighter while in the Fall/Winter, the tend to be thicker. Outclass makes a great Fall-weight blue Oxford which features a hidden button-down collar and a welt pocket on the front.
