A brushed cotton shirt is your wardrobe saviour
Looking for comfort? Longevity? Formality? Breathability? Introducing the brushed cotton shirt; the one garment that can do it all…
Words: Jonathan Wells
It’s time you stopped giving brushed cotton the brush-off. Even if you’ve never warmed to the warming fabric, in recent years our styles have been forced to shift and adapt to a new normal, in both the office and at home. Starched, stiff formalwear is out. Comfortable and relaxed tailoring is in. And there’s no better shirt for the job than a brushed cotton button-down.
These soft-touch shirts span dress codes, are mightily durable and will keep you cosy through the many chills of winter. So let’s brush up on your knowledge of the brushed cotton shirt. Below, we’ve pulled together five reasons that these garments are the ideal all-weather, all-occasion uniform for family lunches, business meetings and winter weddings alike…
They’re as versatile as clothing comes (just ask your jeans…)
It’s true; you’ll be hard-pushed to find any other item of clothing as flexible and adaptable as the brushed cotton shirt. Want to tuck one into chinos? Go ahead. Fancy pairing one with your woollen winter suit? Be our guest. Going to grab one to wear open over jeans and a T-shirt? That’ll work.
There’s also no better material than brushed cotton for patterned shirts. If you’re printing onto the fabric, the raised texture will take any design or decoration like a dream. And if the pattern is woven into the fabric, the material will add yet another dimension to an already versatile, single-stitched shirt.
They’re a soft touch — literally
So what is brushed cotton? It’s really rather self-explanatory. Rather than applying a flame to the finished fabric — this is how most cottons singe away strays and are rendered smooth — brushed cotton encourages the fuzz, and brushes it up to give the appearance of ultra-fine cashmere. That’s what Kempt’s casual-fit shirt shows.
They will add interest and texture to even the most boring outfit
Of course, ‘the office’ is swiftly becoming an alien concept. With working-from-home, the majority of us office workers haven’t fully suited up for months. Thankfully, while we wait, the tailoring world has enjoyed a quiet revolution. Unstructured, relaxed suiting is having a moment — and brushed cotton shirts are right at the centre of it.
With designs such as Emma Willis' tailored sky blue shirt, you’ve got a tonal-patterned button-down for weekdays — and an off-duty option for weekends. And, with a texture more interesting than a smooth cotton shirt, it’ll elevate any layering you experiment with this winter.
They’re both breathable *and* incredibly insulating
But it’s not all about cold weather. Of course, given the fuzzed-up fibres of this insulating fabric, brushed cotton can keep heat in — trapping the warmth until spring rolls around. But it’s also, rather confusingly, very good at letting heat out; and has amazing breathable properties.
Just ask Luca Faloni. The Italian designer uses brushed cotton as a key weapon in his menswear arsenal, and this white shirt is a paragon of understated luxury. With cotton brushed on the face side — creating a light, soft and silky texture — it’s a year-round staple.
They will last forever (or at least a very, very long time)
And then we come to the durability. On top of the insulation, breathability and versatility, this wonder fabric is also incredibly hard-wearing. Due to the ‘double twist yarn’ used to create most brushed cotton, the material is considerably less likely to pill (form small balls of fluff on its surface) than other options.
Emma Willis' brushed cotton button-down stands testament to that. Created by the British brand to be as robust as it is stylish, this style of textured shirt is ideal.
Looking for a full wardrobe overhaul? These are the top menswear products to buy right now...
Become a Gentleman’s Journal member. Find out more here.
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.
