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We’ve all heard the expression, “He’d give you the shirt off his back,” alluding to a man showing his generosity by parting with his most basic possession. That’s how we feel about a guy’s shirt. It’s probably the first thing you reach for in your closet and it’s also the initial tip-off about your personal style since it frames the face.
But shirts also get a lot of wear and tear, so there’s no better time to take stock and weed out the ones with frayed collars, forever stains and shrunken fits. The end of the year is a banner season for bargains too, so it’s time to put something crisp and fresh on your own back.
Truest and bluest
Gray hair? A blue chambray shirt is a no-brainer, and this Banana Republic Monterey button-up is made from organic cotton that’s washed for softness and comes in a sprightly cerulean shade ($70, bananarepublic.gap.com). With a shorter hem that looks good tucked or untucked, L.L. Bean’s Comfort Stretch Chambray Shirt in Dark Indigo ($70, llbean.com) adds a little extra “give” to its breathable, moisture-wicking cotton blend. And the Goodfellow & Co. Denim Button-Down Shirt in Light Wash ($23, target.com) is a good-looking denim with two button-through chest pockets; it also comes in an expanded range of sizes including Tall and Big & Tall.

Wale of a time
Corduroy strikes a nice balance between looking casual yet still feeling a little dressed up, and the Wills Fine Corduroy Shirt ($78, huckberry.com) in an off-white called “salt” looks as good with jeans as it does with flannels. Stormwear standard Barbour offers a cozy-looking Ramsey Tailored Fit Corduroy Button-Down Shirt ($110, nordstrom.com) in a golden sandstone; the shirt is cut with a little extra room through the chest and body for comfort. And for especially dapper guys, Sid Mashburn’s Spread Collar Sport Shirt ($195; shopmashburn.com) interprets the menswear guru’s signature style in soft Italian corduroy in all the standard hues as well as color pops like moss green and mellow ginger.
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