15 Best Men's Summer Shirts Under $100
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The Best Men’s Summer Shirts Under $100
Keeping a functional and stylish wardrobe for summer is about as hard as it gets in men’s fashion. Set a $100 limit and the options dry up fast—like trying to find shade in the Sahara.
For those of us guys who are looking to dress well on a budget, and don’t just want to wear the same t-shirt or polo everyday, I’ve built out this guide to my favorite men’s shirts for summer under $100.
Most of the picks on this list I’ve worn for several years now. The others I’m familiar with reviewing through my past roles at Men’s Health and BroBible, as well as my current role as a copywriter Huckberry.
Remember, the LIVE A LITTLE style philosophy focuses on —> comfortable, versatile, simple. In other words, try not to overthink. With that all being said, let’s get to the list.
Best Linen Shirt: J.Crew Baird McNutt Irish Linen Shirt
This is the linen shirt I’m living in all summer. You can choose any color, but I just go with the classic white. You could buy a cheaper linen shirt at Uniqlo or Quince and be fine, but for such a versatile piece you can wear multiple times a week, I think it’s worth paying up to J.Crew for the investment. It’ll break in better over time and last longer.
One more note about quality of this shirt: Irish McNutt is in reference to the linen being sourced from the famous Baird McNutt mill that was originally established in 1912 in the town of Lurgan. Today, Irish McNutt linen is created in Ballymena, Ireland. $98.
Best Oxford Shirt: Flint and Tinder Classic Oxford
I wear Flint and Tinder’s Classic Oxford at least twice a week to the office. I have the Washed Black and White color, but all of them are suitable for 9-5. The shirt isn’t as long as a traditional Oxford, so you can wear it untucked. It also has a gentle amount of stretch that keeps it from feeling stuffy and restrictive when I’m writing at my desk.
Did I mention excellent wrinkle-resistance? This shirt hasn’t let me down yet. Priced at $88.
Best Tees: Taylor Stitch The Organic Cotton Tee
I’ve been wearing these tees for a couple years now. The rib-on neck opening has a nice Americana touch. They’re also sturdy, but not too thick. (TS says they use a 5-ounce organic cotton). My Taylor Stitch tees have some good dive bar stories.
Maybe for another time…. Priced $45.
Best Travel Tees: PROOF 72-Hour Merino Tee
PROOF is a house brand of Huckberry’s, but before I was even at the company I owned this shirt. No joke, it’s been my travel go-to for four years strong now. (I most recently wore it on my trip to Washington D.C.) I’ll wear my 72-Hour Tee on the plane, at hotel gym, to a cafe, and then back on the return ride home. No smell or greasy feeling. Priced at $78.
Best Graphic Tees: imogene + willie
Imogene goes above and beyond on their graphic tees. Every tee they print on is patterned, cut, and sewn in the USA. Then, they screen print each tee at Nashville HQ. (I’m not even scratching the surface on how many cool, archival designs they create.)
The bottom line: these tees are soft, form-fitting, and carry the most unique graphics. Priced at $68.
Best Chambray Shirt: L.L. Bean Comfort Stretch Chambray Shirt
Chambray shirts are like linen shirts: they’re fine to get wrinkled and look better the more you live in it. I have a both a light blue and an indigo blue chambray shirt, and I wear them often when going out in Austin. (I will say Flint and Tinder makes a solid chambray shirt, but it’s over the $100 for this story.)
L.L. Bean’s chambray shirt is under $100 and comes in this deep blue color I like—which will help hide any sweat marks from the heat. Priced at $70.
Best Short Sleeve Buttondown: Patagonia Go-To Shirt
The Go-To is a perennial bestseller for Patagonia for a reason. I’ve had mine for over two years now, wearing it everywhere from hiking to the pool, and even to brunch and nice dinners. Sometimes I’ll golf in the Go-To (but it’s not very stretchy).
The lack of stretch on this shirt is made up for its hemp design. Sturdy in a good way. You can’t go wrong having one of these in your closet. Priced at $79.
Best Everyday Polo: Buck Mason Sueded Cotton Polo
Anything under $100 from Buck Mason feels like a steal to me. Their clothes are just so well put together and everything I’ve owned from them has held up. The Sueded Polo is new for this summer, and I’m loving the earthy colors.
This is California casual mixed with a little bit of ruggedness. My favorite formula for a solid everyday polo. Priced at $75.
Most Versatile Shirt: Roark Bless-Up Stretch Shirt
The Bless-Up is similar to how I view the Patagonia Go-To Shirt, except Roark’s version is much better for performance activity. I love golfing in it. I’ve played pickleball in it too. The Bless-Up is more breathable than the Patagonia Go-To, but it lacks some of that sturdiness since it’s made from a poly material.
My recommendation is to buy the Bless-Up and Patagonia Go-To so you can alternate between the two. I’ve deployed this strategy for two years now. Priced at $89.
Best Sun Shirt: REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie
REI Co-op really makes some of the best under-the-radar apparel. The Sahara Shade Hoodie is one of those pieces, packing a UPF 50+ sun protection on a moisture wicking material with plenty of stretch. If I’m being totally honest, a $50 sun shirt like this is going to be ideal for use every now-and-then.
If you’re looking for a sun shirt for frequent fishing or trail hikes, then it’s worth investing over $100 on a more advanced shirt from some of the top brands out there. Nevertheless, this sun hoodie here give you plenty of bang for your buck. Priced at $50.
Best Hawaiian Shirt: Baja Llama Flower Power Mojave
I became friends with one of the co-founders of Baja Llama when I was living in Daytona Beach right out of college. They’ve got a great team there, and I appreciate their ability to blend fun design with technical apparel.
This Hawaiian Shirt bucks some of the traditional looks one might opt for, plus it’s made out of a perforated stretch material to help power through hot days. Other features of this shirt include: quick-dry treatment, rubberized buttons, and a hidden zip pocket. Priced at $75.
Best Johhny Collar Polo: Abercrombie + Fitch Classic Tonal Stitch Johnny Collar
Johnny Collar polos are still popular. I prefer ones that are more form-fitting, not baggy. Abercrombie’s version here has a Goldilocks fit and comes in several colors. Abercrombie has also put this style on sale in the past, so you can likely get it on discount if you time the buy. My personal favorite colors are the Deep Navy Pattern, Black, and Forest Teal (pictured above). Priced at $60.
The Essential Polo: Banana Republic Luxury Touch Polo
A white polo is the quintessential summer shirt to own. Yes, you could go Lacoste or Ralph. I think Lacoste gets you under $100, but the OG Ralph polo is over $100. Regardless, I’m liking this Luxury Touch Polo from Banana Republic. It’s clean and simple, with no brand badging.
The Luxury Touch Polo feels more casual over prep, which I like. It layers nicely with a rugged jacket. Priced at $60.
Best Workout Shirt: TENŌRE Runner Tank
I’m all about tanks for summer workouts. I’ve been biking, running, and lifting in this Runner Tank from TENŌRE—a California brand that was started by the founder of RVCA. The tank is on the expensive side, but it’s held up awesome in the wash and has great softness and comfort. The all-black color is sharp, and not too tight or loose. Priced at $88.
Best Camp Collar Shirt: Bonobos Riviera Cabana Shirt
When I think of camp collar shirts, I think vacation mode. And when I’m on vacation, I want my clothes comfortable and versatile. Enter this Riviera Cabana Shirt. It’s right at $100, but you can truly dress this polo with your pool outfit and then wear it with chinos to a nice dinner.
As for feel, it’s 99% cotton with 1% elastane, so expect soft and sturdy with a tiny bit of stretch. I recommend the all-black color here for better ease in mixing and matching outfits. Priced at $99.
RUNDOWN: 15 Best Men’s Summer Shirts Under $100
Best Linen Shirt: J.Crew Baird McNutt Irish Linen Shirt ($98)
Best Oxford Shirt: Flint and Tinder Classic Oxford ($88)
Best Tees: Taylor Stitch The Organic Cotton Tee
Best Travel Tee: PROOF 72-Hour Merino Tee ($78)
Best Graphic Tees: Imogene + Willie ($68)
Best Chambray Shirt: L.L. Bean Comfort Stretch® Chambray Shirt ($70)
Best Short Sleeve Buttondown: Patagonia Go-To Shirt ($79)
Best Polo: Buck Mason Sueded Cotton Polo ($75)
Most Versatile: Roark Bless-Up Stretch Shirt ($89)
Best Sun Shirt: REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie ($50)
Best Hawaiian Shirt: Baja Llama Flower Power Mojave ($75)
Best Johhny Collar Polo: Abercrombie + Fitch Classic Tonal Stitch Johnny Collar Sweater Polo ($60)
The Essential Polo: Banana Republic Luxury Touch Polo ($60)
Best Workout Shirt: TENŌRE Runner Tank ($88)
Best Camp Collar: Bonobos Riviera Cabana Shirt ($99)
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