The Cutaway Collar Sport Shirt

For a while there I was in full on all button down collar everything mode when it came to my sport shirts.  From a consumer standpoint they are ubiquitous and don't take even the slightest bit of thought to pull off.  After paying close attention to my more stylish friends it soon became clear that my narrow sport shirt worldview was just that - narrow.  Whether knotted up or tie-less, the cutaway collar sport shirt started looking damn good.  As with most sartorial elements I was particularly drawn to to the dichotomy of it all.  The juxtaposition of two things as simple as a casual shirt and its "dressed up" collar drew me in.  A large part of this freshly ignited flame has to do with the collar itself.  A sport shirt, or any shirt for that matter, with a terrible collar is always going to look like shit regardless.  In this particular case it's all about finding a middle ground.  If the collar is too intense it will look awkward without a tie, thus limiting the versatility of a shirt meant to be worn on a regular basis.  On the other hand, if the collar is too flimsy or weak you pigeon hole the shirt as one that can't be worn in an office environment or when you want to break out your favorite neckwear.  The best designers in menswear, like Michael Bastian, place an emphasis on cutaway collars, but most guys don't have the coin necessary to pick up one of these shirts whenever they see fit.  That's why I really dig Wharf's "The Four" - it's accessible, high end style  The pattern is on point for this time of year, the fit is slim, it's made in the USA and, most importantly, the collar is exactly the kind you should be hunting for.  A shirt like this is pretty unstoppable no matter what occasion you're dressing for.  And that, my friends, is what's known as value.

-L.A.S