Four Shirts for Four Seasons
Published on January 2, 2024
There are few more versatile shirts in the modern man’s wardrobe than his oxfords. They can be dressed up, or dressed down with everything from fine suits to laid back denim. These All-American shirts are a preppy staple but they’re not only seen on campuses of elite, New England boarding schools. The oxford shirt shows up for work and play in all four corners of the world. And, as we’ll show you here, an oxford gets the job done in all four seasons.
This workhorse shirt fits in to just about any style, so we’re wondering: how do you incorporate oxfords into your look? Leave a comment below.
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What would you say about a french blue shirt with a white collar and white cuffs? If yeah, what kind of tie would you wear with it? If nah, what’s wrong with the look? It appears difficult to pull off but maybe I don’t know how to do it or it’s something to be left alone. Some people say it’s too old school and outdated, but then it depends on whom you ask. I would appreciate your input.
People are half-right, Terence. The contrast collar, as it is known, is old-school but it’s not necessarily outdated. Years ago men’s dress shirts came with detachable white collars that could be cleaned separately at home. Men began to mix and match the collars and a style was born. Today, the contrast collar is just a sartorial nod to its predecessors, the collars don’t detach.
A lot of guys take this look too far (Gordon Gekko sartorial bravado is outdated). They go with a harsh contrast, like bright blue body and a white collar, and they add French cuffs and gaudy cufflinks. Don’t fall into that trap. Try ditching the French cuffs. Some guys even drop the white cuffs altogether and just get white collars to turn down the volume on this look. Choose a subtler contrast like, say a striped shirt or a pale blue shirt with a white collar. Of course, with a Black Lapel shirt you can get all of the above customized to your liking, so fire away, Terence!
Have you done a piece on oxfords yet? Like what to look for when buying a quality shirt and how it can be worn well. I may have just missed that article. Thanks for all the help with classy styling it is much appreciated keep it up.
What to look for when buying a quality shirt? Look for the Black Lapel label, of course! (kidding…sort of).
The folks over at BirchBox Men have covered shirt construction more broadly. Meanwhile, we’ve tackled one of the key elements of shirt shopping, collar types.
Dear Black Lapel,
I recently received the CobbleHill Houndstooth blazer! Which tie would you suggest wearing with it?
We love this jacket, sans tie, Michael but that’s just how we roll. If we were to pair this jacket up with a tie we would put on a simple white shirt a Mr. Bronze tie from Armstrong & Wilson because the color of the tie brings out the pattern in the jacket and the wool texture is perfect for the fall and winter when this blazer is at its best.
We also like this blazer with red textured ties (for the same reasons we like the Mr. Bronze with it) such as this chambray one from J.Crew or this corduroy one from Glendon Lambert.
Happy knotting!