Shirts 101: Solids, Stripes, Prints & When to Wear Them
Shirts are not just clothes, they’re your mood board for the day. A solid says “business as usual,” a stripe says “I’ve got character,” and a print says “let’s make some memories.” From Sinatra crooning in crisp whites to Harry Styles breaking the internet in florals, shirts have always been culture carriers.
At Derby Jeans Community, we’re giving the classics a modern remix, shirts that play well with your jeans, travel with you from boardrooms to beaches and never make you look like you’re trying too hard. Consider this your cheat sheet: 5 shirt styles every man needs and exactly when to wear them.
The 5 Shirt Staples Every Man Should Own
Here’s where theory meets practice. These five shirts are your style insurance policy: reliable, versatile and always up for the occasion. Think of them as the star cast of your wardrobe.
1. White Solid Waffle Slim Fit Shirt
Clean, crisp and classic. The Solid Shirt is the ultimate mic-drop moment in menswear. Whether it’s linen for summer or cotton for everyday, a white solid is the one piece that never lets you down.
Best for: You’re closing deals, meeting parents or pulling off that “airport look” paparazzi dream of. You can pair it with slim fit jeans and sneakers for a style that’s understated yet unforgettable.
2. Navy Stripe Cotton Slim Fit Shirt
Striped Shirts have this built-in authority that says “I know my lines.” Vertical stripes make you look taller (thank us later) and the darker tones feel sharp.
Best for: Monday presentations or Friday cocktails. A navy stripe with rolled sleeves and relaxed fit jeans is the perfect balance of sharp and easygoing.
3. Black Feather Print Slim Fit Shirt
Printed Shirts are your personality on fabric. Geometrics, abstracts, they’re all signals of a man who doesn’t mind attention. And in linen? It’s like wearing cool confidence.
Best for: Vacations, music festivals or rooftop parties. You can keep the bottoms muted, like crop fit jeans or chinos, so the shirt stays the star of the show.
4. Black Faded Denim Slim Fit Shirt
Technically solid, but denim deserves its own hall of fame. A Denim Shirt works like a style chameleon: layer it, tuck it, wear it open with a tee. It’s rugged, reliable and somehow gets better the more you wear it.
Best for: Coffee dates, weekend road trips or anytime you want to look put together without effort. You can pair it with black jeans to avoid the denim-on-denim dad trap.
5. Natural Solid Linen Slim Fit Shirt
No shirt guide is complete without Linen Shirts. Light, airy and naturally textured, they’re the answer to “how do I look sharp in 40-degree heat?” Linen is your personal breeze, with a side of quiet luxury.
Best for: Brunch, beach weddings or every single day of summer. You can add crop fit jeans or linen trousers and you’re golden.
Why Do These Shirts Deserve Your Closet Space?
Because men’s style in 2025 isn’t about collecting more, it’s about choosing smarter. These shirts aren’t just taking up hangers; they’re pulling double shifts. They’ll carry you from Monday morning meetings to midnight rooftop scenes without breaking a sweat. And when Derby spins them out in breezy linen and premium cotton, you’re basically wearing comfort with a side of credibility.
The Last Word on Shirts (Before You Go Back to Scrolling)
Solids that speak volumes, stripes that add rhythm, prints that start conversations, denim that never quits and linen that laughs at heatwaves; together, they’re your five-piece wardrobe orchestra. Whatever the plan, there’s a shirt here ready to back you up. Dive into Derby’s full shirts for men collection and let your style calendar finally catch up with your social one.
