The Cabana Shirt Is . . . Cool

Some may think short sleeve sport shirts are dorky  . . . and while a plaid short sleeve shirt with a button down collar might conjure images of the lovable guys though socially awkward guys in Revenge of the Nerds it doesn’t have to . . . the short sleeve camp or cabana shirt is having a resurgence. It’s part 1950s nostalgia look combined with modern-day hipster.

Generally, the cabana shirt looks better on the fuller side – don’t wear them too fitted. And the fabric will breathe better this way as well. You can wear shorts obviously, but the cabana shirt is also great with a pair of RRL or Fortela jeans and a James Perse or Citizens of Humanity t-shirt underneath. This way you leave the cabana shirt open almost as if it’s a jacket or outerwear piece.

The heavier the fabric, the better for wearing as an overshirt. Take, the Gitman Vintage navy and red jacquard shirt, it is perfect for wearing with a t-shirt whether you’re at home or by a campfire in the mountains (or by the beach). You can roll the sleeves if you want – but that might be a little too 50s looking. You better have some ink, Bryl cream and horned rim glasses to pull it off. The summer seersucker short sleeve shirt from Hartford fits a little trimmer than the Gitman Vintage shirts so size up accordingly if you want it to be fuller.

Massimo Alba offers their cabana shirt in a quasi-seersucker white cotton that’s a little shear so either wear by the pool or layer again. Massimo Alba is cut relatively true to size. The sleeves are a little longer as is the body. If the shirt is too long in the body, we can shorten the length for you.

Gitman Vintage also offers two cotton blends in stripes. These are lighter fabrics perfect for summer.  So, whether Kiefer Sutherland as Ace in Stand by Me or John Goodman as Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski is your muse, give the cabana shirt a try. It’s a nice change of pace. . .