Best of the Blue Collar: Two Chambray Shirts Rise to the Top 

We hand-pick all products. When you buy something, we may earn a commission.

After Comparing Nearly Every Rugged Chambray Shirt on the Market, Bryan Finally Picked Two 

We’ve already published our definitive Guide to Chambray Shirts. I needed a serious chambray, and, at the time of writing that, I was still on the fence. I’d narrowed it down to ten chambray work shirts, all of them with serious heritage bona fides.

My plan was to go to Berlin and bring one of the shirts on my list home with me. I went, hit the shops, tried on every chambray shirt I could find (six of them from the list and six or seven others). Still, I came home empty-handed.

The fabrics and details were all perfect, but my long arms and torso made things difficult. It was the same story with every brand I tried. None of the chambray shirts fit me right.

When I got back home, I went online and looked carefully at some of the chambray shirts I hadn’t been able to find in Berlin. Two of them, one from Big John and the other from Heimat, looked like a perfect fit.

Rather than weighing their respective merits, I ordered both of them. I’m glad I did. Here’s a look at the two chambray shirts that rose to the top. 

---

Heimat Arbeitshemd Trail Blue Chambray (4.5 oz.)

The trip to Berlin wasn’t a total bust. Over drinks in a beer garden, Matt Wilson (aka Cee Are Dee) raved about his Heimat Arbeitshemd Chambray, saying it had very quickly become his favourite button-up shirt.

We’ve recommended the shirt before, but Berlin was my first opportunity to handle one in person. The brilliant, sky-blue cotton, flecked with whisps of white, makes Heimat’s take on the classic work shirt an immediate stand-out in the category (largely dominated by darker blues).

The biggest difference-maker, though, is the way the shoulders are constructed. The raglan sleeve, which connects to the neck rather than the shoulder, gives the shirt a distinct rounded profile. If you’ve ever found the classic chambray a little too boxy, this one will be a revelation.

With its relaxed fit and long tails, it’s a perfect shirt to just throw on any which way. Either tucked in or worn with its tails loose, it pairs brilliantly with absolutely everything.

It’s easy to see why Matt praised the shirt to the heavens. I’ve had mine for a week, and I’ve worn it every single day. A truly remarkable bit of kit from our friends at Heimat—one that should absolutely be on your list if you’re looking for a new chambray.

If you buy something from Heimat after clicking the links in this article, we earn a small commission. That’s how we keep the site running, and it’s why there’s a big button.

---

Big John Selvedge Chambray (5 oz.)

For reasons that are a complete mystery to this reviewer, Big John cuts their chambray shirts considerably longer in the arms and body than their Japanese competitors. The measurements on their website looked too good to be true. I had to try one.

When it arrived, it was every bit as long as advertised. The fit was perfect, and everything I look for in a great selvedge chambray was there: indigo-dyed slub yarns, triple-stitched seams with miles of chain-stitch run-off, and beautiful shell buttons.

Big John’s website said I should expect to lose about an inch in all the measurements when I washed it, but, after a careful cold wash, it emerged from the machine virtually the same size as it was when I pulled it out of the packaging. You should be able to dial the shrink up or down with the temperature setting on your washing machine.

If you’ve struggled with Japanese sizing (particularly if length is an issue), Big John’s Selvedge Chambray should rocket to the top of your list. It gives you all the bells and whistles we associate with Japanese heritage brands in a fit tailored for longer Western bodies. Truly, it’s the best of both worlds.

We don’t earn commissions from Big John, but if you want to check out the shirt, you can do so here.

---

The Lesson

If I’ve learned anything from my chambray shopping experience, it’s the importance of patience and of casting a broad net. I didn’t jump at the first shirt that caught my eye. I bided my time and waited until I had tried almost everything on the market to make my move.

I can rest easy knowing that I made the right decision. If you pick either of the chambray shirts I’ve described above, you’ll be able to rest easy as well.

Perfect Pairing

Nothing pairs as well with chambray shirts as the perfect pair of selvedge jeans. Start the hunt for your perfect pair with our Selvedge Masterlist. If you’re planning to wear your chambray tucked in, start with our list of High-Rise Selvedge. 

The post Best of the Blue Collar: Two Chambray Shirts Rise to the Top  appeared first on Denimhunters.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site