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Mao collar, grandad shirt, Mandarin collar, band collar — the particular style goes by various names, all of them implying the same short, standing collar. It’s a silhouette that just barely stands out from the crowd, playing a nice little visual trick: is it casual, is it formal? Who’s to say? The style is imbued with a casual elegance, intimating to others that coveted air of looking good without trying too hard.
When rendered in fabrics such as linen and chambray, as band collar shirts frequently are, they lend themselves well to the often sticky months of July and August, a time when getting dressed can feel like a chore and looking put-together while simultaneously combating the heat feels like two intrinsically opposed ideas. Throw one on with jeans, shorts or whatever bottoms you like, really, and let the shirt do the work for you.
Below are ten such shirts perfect for elevating your late-summer wardrobe.
Woolrich Linen Band Collar Shirt
There’s already something inherently elegant about linen, a fabric made even more so when rendered in a button-down featuring a band collar like the Woolrich one above. Because the brand is “master of outdoor essentials,” you can rest assured that the airy linen is capable of keeping you cool even on the most sweltering of summer days.
Abercrombie Banded Collar Denim Button-Up Shirt
If a regular denim-button down is a little too rugged for your taste, opt instead for this denim number from Abercrombie featuring a banded collar. You’ll still get the look and feel of denim, just in a form that’s slightly more elevated than most on the market.
COS 3/4-Sleeved Grandad Shirt
This might be called the Grandad Shirt but it’s guaranteed to make you look anything but geriatric, the quarter length folded sleeves and hidden button placket adding a modern edge to the classic style.
Mango Regular-Fit Mao Collar Linen Shirt
For those that can’t be bothered to mess with button-up shirts, this popover linen shirt from Mango takes the concept of ‘throw it on and go’ to the next level, an insanely easy shirt to wear that doesn’t skimp on style.
Marks and Spencer Pure Linen Grandad Collar Shirt
Sometimes linen itself isn’t enough to combat a heatwave, so Marks and Spencer has topped theirs off with a moisture-wicking (and easy-to-iron) finish that’ll make the dog days of summer somewhat more bearable.
FatFace Stripe Grandad Shirt
FatFace is dispelling the belief that all band collar shirts come strictly in solid colors with their own Grandad Shirt featuring subtle stripes. Made from 100% cotton and cut for a slimmer fit, wear it to work, dinner with friends, grabbing coffee and everywhere in between.
Scotch & Soda Collarless Relaxed Fit Shirt
Another striped shirt, this one a little more vibrant thanks to the creamsicle stripes and featuring a roomy, loose-fit so you don’t have to worry about it sticking to your skin.
Bennetton 100% Linen Mandarin Collar Shirt
A white button-down is a wardrobe staple, but add a little variety to the mix with this grandad collar option from Bennetton. It takes an already iconic wardrobe staple and elevates it even more.
Etro Grandad-Collar Printed Cotton Shirt
We’d like to think of this as the ultimate going out shirt for summer evenings, striking the perfect balance of casual yet not too casual, the print in tandem with the less ubiquitous band collar bound to make it the piece de resistance of any outfit.
SMR Days Tulum Stand-Collar Striped Cotton Shirt
In case you haven’t heard, luxury resort wear is in, and SMR Days is one of the best to do it. While there’s no denying this Tulum-inspired striped button-down from the brand would pair nicely with jeans or shorts, we recommend making it a look and springing for the matching pants too, to really capture that air of elegant nonchalance.
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