Like the optimum length of short inseam, what constitutes the perfect summer shirt is a topic of great contention. At least it is in the Highsnobiety office.
Collar, color, and the just-right amount of “awkward sleeve” were all factors that weighed heavy upon our search for the ultimate summer shirt, conducted on an international Highsnob zoom recently — you know, back at the important stuff.
What that perfect shirt looks like, well, that’s still in dispute. But below is our editors’ attempt to find it. From Bode button-downs to ruffle moments via the “holy trinity of dress shirts,” you’ll find our thoughts on some of this summer’s best shirts.
Scroll for our editors' thoughts on some of this season's standout summer shirts for men.
Cotton Shirt
Prada
Prada
Christopher Morency, Editor-at-Large: "This is a beautiful shirt. This is a classic. You could pair this with shorts, you could layer this, you could pair this with black pants, with sandals, with sneakers. This is a good purchase."
Bowling Shirt
Highsnobiety
Highsnobiety
Louis: Bowling shirts are an eternal summer essential. This one comes with a bandana.
Pleated Polo
Homme Plissé Issey Miyake
Issey Miyake
Jake Indiana, Senior Features Editor: "It's beautiful tailoring. But you can't wear that color in the summer without it just being covered in bugs."
Malaika Crawford, Market Editor: "This is a McDonald's yellow right?"
Thom Bettridge, Editor-in-Chief: "The thing about McDonald's colors is they were designed to make people not want to stay in the restaurant."
Malaika: "Maybe I don't want people to talk to me."
Bowling Shirt
Wales Bonner
Wales Bonner
Jake: "I can really see Corey in that shirt."
Corey Stokes, Fashion Director: "It's a beautiful shirt."
Amoeba Watercolor Shirt
Brain Dead
Brain Dead
Louis Almond, Style Editor: "There's something quite virusy about this one. It's making me uneasy."
Rihanna Matthews, Market Edtior: "It just reminds me of being on shrooms."
Big Shirt With Ruffles
Raf Simons
Raf Simons
Thom: "I think ruffles are having a moment right now."
Herbert Hofmann, Creative Director: "I wouldn't know how to wear this without looking ludicrous."
Corey: "Oh my god — oversized with like a nice wide leg."
Thom: "White, baby blue, and pink. Those are the holy trinity of dress shirt colors."
Velvet Shirt
ERL
ERL
Corey: "I would go up a size if I was purchasing this for sure. Because the sleeves look definitely too short."
Thom: "It looks a little bit like a shacket. I think this is actually a shacket."
Wallpaper Short Sleeve Shirt
BODE
Bode
Jake: "It's a little children's hospital but I don't hate it.
Malaika: "It's cute. It reminds me of children's fairytales.
Cotton Tunic Shirt
Gucci
Gucci
Thom: "I went to a Valentino show and there was an all-white dress code, and when I got to the show it looked like we were all going to commit mass suicide."
Malaika: "Very Midsommar."
Thom: "Yeah it's that vibe. What I like about this shirt is that it has that perfect awkward sleeve length."
Multicolor Flags Fluid Shirt
Vetements
Vetements
Jake: "It's a little too 'We Are the World.'"
Thom: "I like it. This is postmodernism at its finest."
Patchwork Raglan Shirt
JETPACK hom(m)e
Jetpack Homme
Corey: "I feel like the commercial version needs to be a little less stringy."
Thom: "Imagine dipping one of those things in your Aperol Spritz."
'Hall' Tennant Shirt
S.S.Daley
S.S. Daley
Christopher: "Harry Styles wears all this stuff."
Thom: "This is cheaper than the Prada shirt."
Christopher: "Back to the Prada — where did you find it? Because I might actually buy that shirt."
Want to keep browsing? Head to the Highsnobiety Shop for more products that we love. Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.