Extra slim fit navy print soft washed stretch poplin shirt, $120, at Charles Tyrwhitt
I am not opposed to spending $100 or more for a high-quality shirt, but I expect it to fit great, feel comfortable, and hopefully, hold up for years, which is what I am noticing with the extra slim fit soft washed stretch poplin shirt (in navy) from Charles Tyrwhitt's casual collection.
After weeks of testing, I found the shirt to have a nice fit, considering it's ready-to-wear. With shirts like this, I normally would need some alterations, but that wasn't necessary here. The shirt can be worn tucked-in or loose, and it looks great either way and is appropriate under a suit or relaxed with jeans. I'm a bit stocky, but the extra-slim cut gives the illusion of a slimmer build. The stretchy poplin weave makes it comfortable to move around, and I like that it's 100% natural cotton and not some synthetic fabric.
Charles Tyrwhitt says this shirt's poplin weave is its lightest and most breathable, but I found that it is still a bit weighty. I also wore it during the height of summer, and while I didn't feel any major discomfort, I did wish it was a bit more breathable. My recommendation is to wear this shirt year-round except during hot and humid summer days (switch to linen or cotton/linen blend for those scorchers, like the Slim fit bright blue cotton linen twill short sleeve shirt that my colleague Owen Burke tested).
I machine-washed and line-dried the shirt twice. I also threw it into the last 10 minutes of a dryer cycle on low heat. So far, the shirt has held up nicely, and I haven't noticed any weird creases or folds, and I expect it to maintain its quality down the line. Do hang it and use a light iron or steamer because it can get super-wrinkled otherwise. –Les Shu, Insider Picks guides editor