Hey Craig. I love this question for two reasons:
1. I love packing a punch with some pattern. A strong plaid or checked up top will take you a long way, outfit-wise. Just add a pair of neutral bottoms, shoes that aren’t too crazy, and let the shirt sing lead.
2. Picking out fabric swatches might be my favorite part of my job.
We go through thousands and thousands every season and the shirt swatches are some of the most fun… especially the patterns. Don’t get me wrong, I love the neutrals — I can look at 30 different solid blues and have a ball — but a plaid or a check can be the perfect way to inject some personality into your wardrobe without going too far off the rails. Point being… I’ve laid eyes (and hands) on all of these very early in the process, back when they were just swatches not much larger than a postage stamp. Maybe more like a Triscuit. A Wheat Thin.
So while every single shirt we’ve got is a winner in my book, I can definitely point you towards a few of my very favorites. Why don’t I do that, and tell you what you could wear with them, and you can go from there?
Spread Collar Sport Shirt in Blue/Brown Multli Check Poplin + Garment-Dyed Field Chino in Vintage Khaki Canvas + 1" Reversible Conroy Belt in Medium Brown Bridle + Driving Moccasin in Tan Suede
Spread Collar Sport Shirt in Watermelon/Sky/Blue Tattersall Poplin + Slim Straight Jean in Non-Selvedge Rinse Denim + 1" Belt in Chocolate Bridle + Handsewn Penny Loafer in Chocolate Suede
Slim-Fit Spread Collar Sport Shirt in Periwinkle/Brown Gingham Poplin + Slim Straight Jean in Natural Denim + 1" Woven O-Ring Belt in Chocolate Leather + Wallabee Shoe in Maple Suede
Spread Collar Sport Shirt in Peach/River Tattersall Poplin + Slim Straight Jean in Non-Selvedge Light Wash Denim + Camaro Sneaker in Olive Vine/Whisper White
Button-Down Sport Shirt in Coral/Peach/Lavender Plaid Poplin + Slim Straight 5-Pocket Pant in Stone Canvas + Low-Top Lace-Up Sneaker in White Perforated Leather
Spread Collar Popover Shirt in Sky/Pink/Plaid Linen + Garment-Dyed Short in Stone Lightweight Twill + Men's Nylite Plus Sneaker in Vintage White/White
Spread Collar Sport Shirt in Olive/Blue/Stone Plaid Linen + Garment-Dyed Short in Spring Olive Cotolino Twill + 1" Belt in Chocolate Oil Pull-Up + Camp Moccasin in Dark Brown Leather
That was fun. Right now we’re designing for Fall 2024, so admittedly it’s been awhile since I really spent some time with these fabrics. The product development calendar means that we are always on to the next thing, by necessity, but it’s nice to head over to the store and remember all the work we did last year. It all feels new to me again… and made me want to pick up a shirt while I was over there. That brown and periwinkle gingham is calling my name. I think it’s saying “Hey Sid.”
Good luck with the patterns, Craig. Hope one or two of those fits the bill.
