The Perfect Long Sleeve Striped Shirt to Layer or Wear Alone
Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.
The quest for the perfect striped shirt, much like its white tee-shirt sibling, is no doubt a tricky one. Trust me, I've done the leg work. So often, the stripes are the wrong size, the fabric isn't the right weight, or worst of the three, the cut is unflattering. In the last year or so, my favorite striped tee was discontinued and I was forced to go back to the drawing board. And after much deliberation, I have found the perfect striped shirt courtesy of Frances Valentine.
The cotton topper in question? The Long Sleeve Striped Shirt in the navy/oyster colorway because I like to keep it classic. The name is self-explanatory, and yet, it is difficult to count the ways that I love this shirt. First and foremost, and to be clear this is incredibly niche, the contrast between the navy stripe and the off-white is not too stark, which in the past I have found can skew a piece too summery. Instead the softer tones of the piece make it wearable in the fall and winter, as well as during the warmer months. Which brings me to the weight of the pima cotton: neither too tissue-y nor too heavy. It's soft and the right weight to layer a cardigan or a button down over for a look that's very Ralph Lauren (the person).
Other reasons why I love this shirt: the sleeves are neither too long, nor too short. And the cut is slightly boxy, so you get a hint of shape, while still retaining that effortlessly French style of how the fabric sits on your body. It's unfussy, which is how it's supposed to be. Bonus: I find that the bottom hits at or below my waistband, but with enough room that it gives me flattering proportions.
Last but not least, there's a little XO embroidered at the wrist—the subtlest of details that make me smile every time I wear it.
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