One of the great things about guys’ clothes is that trends don’t change all that fast. So it’s easy to stay in style from one season to the next with even the smallest amount of effort.
Case in point: The camp collar shirt. I talked up the menswear essential last spring, and the trend continues to be cool in cold weather. The only difference? Long sleeves…and a new name. Because retailers need a new hook to reel customers in season after season, you’ll find the style dubbed a “pajama shirt” because, well, it looks as comfy as the top half of an old-school, two-piece set. Think what Desi would have worn as he climbed into his marital twin bed on I Love Lucy.
Now, I’m not going to lie to you. Pajama shirts take a fair degree of confidence to wear. You know who wears pajama shirts? Ryan Gosling. Ryan Reynolds. All the Ryans, really.
But you can do it! A pajama shirt with an open camp collar looks very hip and cool for fall and winter, so long as you sport yours with an “I got this” attitude. (And before you ask, no, this isn’t a Halloween costume post! You really can pull off this rakish look.)
Ahead, shop the pajama shirts that we can’t wait to see every guy wearing out of the house this year:
Basic Rights Long Sleeve Camp Collar Shirt, $130
Blush…dusty rose…whatever you want to call it, this color is nearly universally flattering, making the style from London-based Basic Rights perfect for your first foray into the world of pajama shirts.
Designed by guitarist Freddie Cowan, the whole collection is filled with easy, sophisticated pieces inspired by the style of a young Paul Newman or Steve McQueen (and durable enough for Cowan’s touring schedule). It’s already found celeb fans in stylish guys like Donald Glover, Thomas Rhett, and Idris Elba. The company also proudly boasts its carbon-neutral status—a quality still too rare in the environment-battering fashion industry.
Urban Outfitters Raga Man Paisley Button-Down Shirt, $110
Okay, okay, just hear me out here: Doesn’t this feel like something David Duchovny’s character would have worn in Californication? Sort of sleazy, but also with the right swagger, kind of badass and cool?
Tone down the hippie vibe by skipping jeans and pairing it with chinos or cargo pants like the model. No disrespect to denim, but with this statement-making shirt, it might give off a Dazed & Confused vibe.
Proper Cloth Canclini Navy and Red Wide Stripe Beacon Flannel, $140
If you’re looking to veer away from “sleazy swagger” and more into wholesome territory, opt for a pajama shirt in cozy flannel! This style, from made-to-measure shirtmaker Proper Cloth, nails the “casual, yet sophisticated” vibe you want to go for with a shirt like this, making it great to dress down with jeans or up with trousers.
Union Los Angeles Long Sleeve Button-Up Camp Shirt, $147
Whether you opt for “gulf blue” or “sunshine,” the pale colors of this pajama shirt really lean into the breezy attitude you’re going for with this kind of style.
Oh and FYI, the pajama shirt looks good on all body types, so don’t shy away from the trend just because you’re not sporting a model’s build. Thanks to softer, drape-y fabric and a boxy cut, the casual shirt truly offers a universally flattering fit.
Saturdays NYC Marco Transition Long Sleeve Shirt, $195
Wear this cool-guy shirt (from cool-guy brand Saturdays NYC) throughout the fall, layered under a chunky cardigan and denim jacket with your favorite chinos. Later, bust it out at holiday parties, tucked into a pair of tailored pants for a super sophisticated look that says, “Pass the champagne.”
Hell, with the right dress code on the invite (think, “Festive Cocktail”), you could even get away with this shirt at a winter wedding, worn with a tux or dark suit and tuxedo slippers.
Todd Snyder Long Sleeve Camp Collar Tipped Shirt, $228
Hellooo, handsome. This navy pajama shirt with white-piped trim gets the closest to Ryan Gosling’s Cannes look, linked above—which, by the way, was all the way back in 2015 and still looks completely fresh and current! Like I said, three cheers for men’s fashion moving at a snail’s pace!
With a polished, modern sensibility, this shirt would look just as chic with just a pair of jeans as it does with a sport coat and trousers.
Oficine Générale Dario Dot-Print Camp-Collar Shirt, $350
Yes, I know! It’s very expensive, and I probably wouldn’t shell out all that money for it either. But let’s all just gaze at it adoringly together for a little while, shall we?
The Dario shirt from Paris-based Officine Générale is cut from a silky plain-weave fabric that’s printed with white dots and finished with the label’s signature curved back shoulder yoke. The final product? A look that’s impossibly cool. Wear it on the French Riviera or to your mortal enemy’s funeral.
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