There’s never been a better time to re-up on the best short-sleeve shirts for men. Yes, it was a cooler, rainier spring, but with Memorial Day in the rear-view mirror, it’s only a matter of time before your tees start feeling a little too thick, and your shirtsleeves a little too long. And on that day, there will only be cure for it: the short-sleeve shirt.
Once mostly just a canvas for kitschy prints, florals, and retro stripes, today’s best short-sleeve shirts are anything but attention-seeking. These days, the real flex is in the fabric. Open-weave knits and textured constructions let you make a statement that isn’t just “Look at me!” Camp collars are still going strong with their boxy cuts and laid-back feel, but crisp point collars are rising in popularity. The look is a little more unexpected—and a lot less Assistant-to-the-Regional-Manager than you’d think. Regardless, from louche linen numbers to chest-pocketed work shirts, there’s no shortage of ways to wear one.
To that end, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite short-sleeve shirts, across all the categories that matter most. If you’re in the market for a superlative summer shirt, you’re in the right place.
The Summer Short-Sleeve Shirt Hit List
In This Guide
Button-Up Shirts
So you’ve OD’d on camp collars the past few summers and feel like sharpening things up. Time to pivot. Enter: the classic-collar short-sleeve button-up. No, it won’t make you look like Blake from Workaholics or Milton from Office Space—unless you pair it with pleated khakis and a Swingline stapler. Worn open over a tee on weekends or under a jacket at work (to then heroically reveal your short sleeves when things heat up), the standard short-sleeve shirt—in madras, seersucker, chambray, whatever—will complement most anything you’re wearing, and help you still present as tailored, even in the shirt equivalent of a tee.
Linen Shirts
Linen’s long been maligned for its wrinkles, but let’s be real: that’s a feature, not a bug. They’re the fabric equivalent of a five o’clock shadow, and truly, what’s more effortlessly (and literally) cool than a breezy, crinkled linen shirt catching the sea breeze on a scorching day? Whether you go crisp white, earthy neutrals, or something bolder, linen brings the shot of laid-back luxury every summer wardrobe needs. Of course, if you’re still worried about looking a creased-up mess, look for a cotton-linen blend. But I say relax, let go, embrace the wrinkle.
Camp Collar Shirts
Camp collar shirts have become an unstoppable force in menswear—not that we’re complaining. Easygoing and just bold enough to make a statement, they pair effortlessly with everything from tailored trousers to drawstring shorts, and lend themselves as much to breezy linen as luxe silk blends. The appeal is clear—the more open collar helps circulate more air around your neck and chest—but something less immediately obvious? This laid-back staple actually traces back to 16th-century Mexico, took its fuller shape in Cuba, and found its swagger in Miami and New York, through the Cuban immigrants who knew how to dress for the heat. All that to say, they’ve been around! And what began as utilitarian workwear is now the unofficial uniform of summer cool.
Knit Shirts
Big patterns are usually what we think of first for summer shirts, but with knits, the texture is doing all the talking. Even if you lean more muted than Emily Adams Bode’s maximalist originals, the vibe remains no matter the colors: Knit shirts are retro, tactile, and just the right amount of risqué if you choose to wear them sans t-shirt.
Work Shirts
I’ll be honest, with the exception of the Dickies shirt, these aren’t really meant for working in. But they’re all made in the work shirt’s image—one that conveys rugged capability and capable summer charm. Traditionally cut from sturdy cotton twill, canvas, or denim (to take a beating and keep on going), chest pockets, boxy fits, and tough stitching are all part of the deal here. Brands like L.L.Bean and Dickies, again, still sell them at prices that make sense for actual labour, but the fashion community has taken notice too. Which means these days, you’ll find reimagined versions in softer fabrics, looser fits, and refined details—more gallery opening than garage.
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