Summer’s many pursuits still revolve around one thing, at least in matters of style: Striking the right balance between staying cool and looking polished. While office attire, like a performance dress shirt or stretch blazer, is one thing, outdoor affairs call for a different attack, especially if the dress code isn’t ultra-formal.
And that new plan of attack? A stylish short-sleeve shirt, one that looks beyond the confines of the polo and embraces the classic texture and breathable build of seersucker. The best short-sleeve seersucker shirts offer a sense of vibrant style, color, pattern and texture at the best of times, and they’re as at home beneath a khaki cotton blazer as they are on their own atop a pair of linen trousers and leather loafers. Find favorites at every price point below.
J. Crew Short-Sleeve Yarn-Dyed Seersucker Shirt
Seersucker dates back centuries, when its puckered weave first came in handy in the heat (the fabric rests further away from the skin). J. Crew’s seersucker shirt takes much the same approach, but in three time-tested fits and a stylish striped design. $89.50
Lands’ End Seersucker Traditional-Fit Shirt
There’s just something about seersucker that feels perfectly at home among coastal breezes and sandy beaches, and Lands’ End translates that exact sentiment into a timeless short-sleeve version. $59.99
Corridor Striped Seersucker Camp Shirt
Corridor uses expert craftsmanship and an appreciation for the classics to deliver perfectly on-trend menswear, like a camp collar edition of the breezy seersucker shirt. This option can be dressed up or down with ease. $185
JACHS NY Taupe Seersucker Shirt
Not all seersucker needs to come in a characteristic two-tone striped look: JACHS NY goes more dusty and monochrome with this of-the-moment take on the iconic design, and they do so at a low, low price. $42.95
J. Press Short-Sleeve Seersucker Shirt
J. Press built its name on prep staples, from the Oxford shirt to the navy blazer to a fresh version of the classic seersucker shirt, one that looks especially at home with tobacco-hued chinos and rich brown leather loafers this season. $110
Taylor Stitch Short-Sleeve Jack Shirt in Seersucker
Taylor Stitch began as a shirtmaking operation in the late ‘aughts, fittingly enough. Although its Jack Shirt has changed over the years, its fit and expertly crafted collar roll make it the perfect canvas for a richly crafted seersucker shirt in an eye-catching color. $108
Mugsy Carolina Seersucker Shirt
Cotton seersucker gets a handsome, tonal update and a touch of Portuguese craftsmanship (plus plenty of comfortable stretch, just like Mugsy’s famed jeans and chinos). $108
NN07 Hank Camp Collar Shirt
The retro style of the camp collar shirt meets a soft, stretchy cotton modal-blend fabric for easygoing comfort and refined style in the heat, and the covered placket offers a crisp finishing touch. $190
Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Seersucker Shirt
Leave it to Ralph Lauren to dream up an all-American edition of the preppy seersucker shirt, this time using vivid summer hues and a wear-with-anything classic fit. $99.99