Tuck in Your Overshirts
it'll probably work
Overshirts can be a little funny. They have certain connotations. Are they a lazy thing to throw on? Are they just way too common? Is it bad that they’re safe? Are they secretly formal?
I don’t particularly care. If I want to dress casually, I’m usually not wearing an overshirt over a tee, or an overshirt over a hoodie. Some of my overshirts are too long. I guess I do each some of the time, but… to me, that’s boring. But you know what’s not boring? Taking a heavier, thicker, more-pocket-having overshirt… and tucking it in.
The above piece is from Rag & Bone. It’s a 60-40 cotton-lyocell blend overshirt with a good weight. Well, pretty light for an overshirt. But perfect for a regular shirt. So what did I do? I pretended the light overshirt was a regular button up, and man, I gotta tell you, I love it. It’s soft, it drapes and moves nicely… lyocell is such a pleasant material, I love it. I wore it like this, but I also built a winter fit with the overshirt tucked back in march (I guess it was technically spring but our weather machine has been on the fritz). I don’t have photos… I do have this video, but it includes a spoiler, so click with caution. Or just wait. (also, these live Alfargo’s vids are janky as hell, so…)
The one below is from Buck Mason. It’s a p-43 style overshirt in a herringbone twill that’s… currently only in stock in khaki, in small. But they also have linen ones, these are cool. One fun little detail is that the chest pockets are sewn down on the inside, but bellow out on the outside. This is a reference to some old military detail, and it also gives you the extra room of a bellows pocket, but sits flat against your chest when empty. So yeah, faithful reproductions of the cool parts, with more pleasant modern fabrics. That’s part of the reason you all love Buck so much. Or at least part of the reason I do. (but seriously Buck is my #1 seller in shopmy and it’s not very close).
Wait… why am I writing this piece in May? Ugh, save this, go back and read it in September or October when you’re thinking about layering.
I wore the Buck one the normal way too, a couple of times. I did that once pretty recently, actually, I just didn’t care. Those two overshirts sit on a quick-access hook in my bedroom closet, so if I am too lazy to go downstairs and pick a jacket, I just grab one of those and throw it over whatever.
I’ve also worn the overshirt Wax London sent me that way. They make heavier overshirts, the kind that are more jacket than shirt. And they come in these fun plaids. I would not try tucking this in, it doesn’t hit like that.
The point here is… if you think you’re supposed to wear a garment one way, try it some other way. Tuck in an overshirt, tuck in a jacket. Tie a scarf around a bag handle. Dress down your dinner jackets. You could even try wearing pants in the spring.