This crisp white dress shirt from T. M. Lewin uses a cotton and linen blend that's just what the tailor ordered when you want to look sharp and beat the heat. Almost all quality dress shirts are made from 100% cotton, but as men are wearing suits more, cotton/linen blends have become a popular choice of shirting material for those hot summer months. Cotton by itself is not the most breathable cloth, and while linen is very light and airy, it wrinkles about as easily as wrapping paper. A nice blended fabric, on the other hand, combines the body of cotton with the coolness of linen, presenting a near-perfect hot-weather alternative to all-cotton garments.
Founded in 1898, T. M. Lewin is a famous English shirtmaker hailing from Jermyn Street in London, the capital of traditional menswear (sorry, Italy). With more than a century of experience, you can expect that T. M. Lewin knows a thing or two about shirting, and this crisp white cotton and linen number is the one you want to reach for when the sun comes out and it's time to retire the twill.
T.M. Lewin delivers, in our opinion, a lot of value when it comes to traditional shirtmaking. And while this Jermyn Street brand may be old-school, it's kept up with the times, offering clean-looking slim cuts that outclass the blousy, billowy shirts of past decades. The 71% cotton/29% linen fabric breathes and moves nicely. It will get more wrinkly than plain cotton, but as a well-dressed man, you surely already know your way around an iron.
The classic point collar hits the sweet spot between size and spread, allowing it to work well with most ties and tie knots. I recommend sticking with a four-in-hand or half-Windsor for this one, especially considering you're probably not going to be wearing thick, chunky neckties in the summer heat. However, point collars like this are also great for going tie-less, and the subtle light blue styling on the inside of the collar and placket looks great with a button or two undone.
This light blue accent is also present on the button threads, while the second forearm button lets you roll up those sleeves if you want to go for a super-casual look. Go ahead and roll 'em. In hot weather, you want to look as good as you feel, and the T. M. Lewin cotton/linen dress shirt is just the ticket. The cut corners on the shirt's mitered cuff do lend the shirt a bit of extra formality, however, so it pairs just as beautifully with any light-colored spring or summer suit.
Pros: Cool yet crisp cotton/linen blend fabric, a flattering slim fit, and a classic point collar that works with or without a tie
Cons: The cotton/linen fabric is more prone to wrinkling than 100 percent cotton