I picked three shirts that are great to layer cleanly for the first week of classes: MARGESHERWOOD's SLIM LINED SHIRT_white stripe, Moia's slim shirt (navy), and AMOMENTO's Slim Shirt, Indigo. All three feature a slim fit that holds your body lines neatly without looking bulky, making them great for creating a tidy first impression.
In the late 19th century, a textile mill in Scotland once developed four fabrics named after four prestigious English-speaking universities: Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale. While the fabrics named after the other three universities vanished without gaining much traction, the thick and breathable Oxford fabric survived on its own. Ironically, students at Harvard and Yale, who lost out in the naming contest, wore this shirt over jeans like a uniform and nurtured it into an Ivy League icon.
Since the origin of campus looks started from university names, it's quite the perfect attire for the first week of classes. Shall we narrow it down to the one that suits your taste better among the three? Which condition would you like to check first: 100% cotton fabric, a relaxed regular fit, or a striped pattern?
↳ In 100% cotton fabric
I picked three shirts made from 100% cotton fabric from the list: MARGESHERWOOD's SLIM LINED SHIRT_white stripe, INSILENCE's 코튼 플란넬 체크 셔츠 BROWN, and 가먼트다잉 워크 셔츠 CHARCOAL. Pure cotton shirts without synthetic fibers feel comfortable against the skin, and they have the charm of natural creases settling in as you wear them.
During the Great Depression in 1930s America, people who couldn't afford new clothes tore open cotton sacks that had held flour or feed to sew shirts and garments. Milling companies, noticing the homemakers' plight, thoughtfully printed colorful floral patterns and checks on the sacks instead of coarse logos, and printed brand text in special ink that washed out completely in soapy water. Feedsack fashion, where people swapped sacks to find matching patterns to sew a single outfit, was a warm everyday wisdom that maintained dignity even amidst hardship.
Whenever I look at a cozy flannel check wrapping around the body or a sturdy work shirt, I'm reminded of the history of cotton garments that steadfastly supported lives back then. The three chosen pieces are great to throw on lightly and are selections you'll reach for often on their own. Next, shall we narrow it down neatly with a solid design, or check out oversized fits or denim shirts?
↳ In a solid design
I've narrowed it down to four plain solid shirts without patterns: INSILENCE's 가먼트다잉 워크 셔츠 CHARCOAL and 가먼트다잉 워크 셔츠 OLIVE with naturally faded textures, the clean 고스트 포켓 데님 셔츠, and MOONDAL's Como Half Shirt in Sky Blue with subtle coloring. Since solid designs have no fancy patterns, the grain of the fabric and the degree of color fading show through directly, making it great to enjoy the understated charm of the garment itself.
In the 1920s, American author Upton Sinclair first put into print the expressions 'blue-collar' and 'white-collar' referring to the shirt collars of factory workers and office workers. Back then, manual workers wore durable blue cotton or denim workwear that didn't readily show grease or dust, while indoor office workers wore stiff white shirts to display neatness and status. The practical character of those blue shirts that masked dirt in rough workplaces has essentially solidified into the distinct texture of today's work shirts and denim.
The clothes on this list also fully possess both the sturdy mood unique to work shirts and everyday comfort. Now, shall we pick one more criterion here? We could exclude denim and look at basic cotton material, gather only short sleeves, or narrow it down to under KRW 150,000.
Final Selected Products
