Where would we be without the humble shirt? Like Pret’s posh pickle sandwich we have come to rely on this failsafe as a simple yet delicious staple during times of need or indecision. This is because - just like our number one lunch option - it ticks all our boxes.
Unlike the shirt’s more casual contemporaries - T-shirts or sweaters - it is a true all-rounder, whether we’re at work, at brunch or heading out-out.
One of the garment’s most passionate ambassadors, Equipment, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
The game-changing Parisian label (below), beloved by the world’s style elite from Lauren Bacall to Kate Moss, is constantly name-checked as the answer to the question “Where can I buy a really great shirt?”.
For four decades, its inimitable soft washed silk fabric and cool mannish fit have set the bar high.
But that hasn’t stopped a new generation of specialist shirtmakers championing their own take on perfection. We say there’s room in our wardrobes for them all.
Bruta
The baby of the bunch, this London-based label was established just last year and became an overnight hit with the fashion set. Its USP is unisex styles made from super-soft viscose with arty, hand-drawn designs embroidered or appliquéd on. Founder Arthur Yates - a 25-year-old artist-turned-fashion-designer - draws inspiration from the unlikeliest of sources, from Botticelli’s Venus to Argentinian gauchos on horseback or even a hearty bowl of spaghetti pomodoro.
(She wears blossom-print shirt, £150. He wears palm shirt, £110; liberty.co.uk; bruta.eu)
Sunad
Made in Spain from local, ethically sourced materials, Sunad is the new go-to for classic shirts with timeless appeal. Its designers Paloma Canut and Ana Marroquin are inspired by vintage desert shirts from the Seventies - the name is an anagram for Dunas, the Spanish word for dunes. But despite this exotic, nostalgic inspiration the resulting shirts are both modern and set to slot seamlessly into any Londoner’s wardrobe. For an early dose of spring try its sunny floral Gobi shirt, while its signature biscuit-beige Sahara style is one which will last a lifetime.
(Floral shirt, £120; the-acey.com; sunad.es)
Rails
A brilliant plaid shirt is a staple in every Sunset Strip-stalking A-lister’s wardrobe. And not just any old plaid shirt but one from Rails. The LA-born label specialises in strokeably-soft rayon shirts with the sort of laid-back cool that was previously considered to be not for sale. Buy one of its signature checked numbers - Kurt Cobain-style red and black is among its bestsellers - and make it your failsafe for Sunday slobbing. Incidentally, Rails has recently branched out into PJs too.
(£140; harveynichols.com)
Modern Rarity
Central Saint Martins-trained Levi Palmer and Matthew Harding have earned the moniker “the shirt boys” for good reason. Their London Fashion Week label palmer//harding champions exquisitely crafted staples — and now they’ve caught the eye of John Lewis, which enlisted the duo to design its first collection for in-house luxury diffusion line Modern Rarity. The offering includes five wonderfully crisp white shirts which are anything but basic, ranging from dramatic belted styles to the perfect man’s shirt for girls.
(£150; johnlewis.com)
Keep your shirt on: we hail a staple to love foreverRailsSunadKate MossJohn LewisEquipmentWhatever the season, buttoning up is essential
