I’m an outfit repeater. This is my favorite shirt. 

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The Recommendation

May 25, 2025

I didn't buy this shirt thinking I'd wear it for ten years

A photo of two blue chambray shirts with an illustrated border.
NYT Wirecutter
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By Alexander Aciman

Alexander Aciman is a writer who has reported on pasta-making, running gear, and now, his long-standing relationship with a button-up shirt.

I confess: I am an outfit repeater.

With almost two closets' worth of clothes in my apartment, I still find myself wearing the same things again and again. Outfit repeating, to me, is a way of trimming the fat: I really only have to worry about choosing from a few prized favorites. It turns packing for a trip into a seamless affair. It lets you revisit certain outfits and combinations like old friends. Top billing on that list of old friends? My cherished chambray shirt.

For outfit repeaters, chambray is like a cheat code. Although it resembles denim, it's more akin to the flat fabric of cotton dress shirts. So it's a nice middle ground that works for countless occasions; I've found that you can wear it over and over without looking like you're wearing the same thing twice.

It's the perfect long weekend or vacation shirt — no other item of clothing can look as good with a tweed blazer as it does with a pair of swim trunks. No other item looks as natural when worn both as a layer and under a layer. And no other item has let me put together a whole week of different outfits for different occasions, helping me seamlessly navigate my way from completely dressed down to semi-formal.

Year after year, as I watched its rich blue slowly erode into a pale white, this chambray shirt has become one of my oldest and most beloved wardrobe staples. The once-thick fabric has broken in beautifully over the last decade, and now feels delicately soft against my skin, almost like a brushed flannel. I was so attached to it that when the elbows began to look sheer, I bought a replacement.

The new shirt's fabric is crisp and bright, like my original one was ten years ago. It has a few updated features, like a more generous fit, that make it even more versatile. And I love its newness, the deep and lively shade of blue that I will enjoy watching vanish over time. As for my old shirt? Don't worry, it still hangs in my closet beside its younger sibling, resting, but ready as always for any occasion.

The shirt of the summer, according to me→

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What else Alexander is wearing on repeat

A polaroid picture of a person wearing the Puli Men's Golf Shorts in front of a building's entranceway.

"I don't golf. But I love these surprisingly stylish golf shorts."

Alexander says these shorts work just as well with loafers as they do with sandals by the pool→

A close up photo of the back pocket of Wrangler Cowboy Cut Jeans

Wrangler's $50 jeans are the best in the butt business

These "cowboy cut" jeans have an iconic, attractive silhouette→

Photo of two folded Comfort Colors 1717 Adult Heavyweight t-shirts.

"The best T-shirt I ever bought came from a Midwest strip mall"

These tees are made of thick cotton and seem more expensive than they are→

21 more (very giftable) style upgrades we love

Three photos of a Timex Chicago Chronograph watch, an Alex Mill denim button-up jacket, and a pair of Nike Killshot 2 Leather sneakers, arranged on pastel squares.
Source photos by Timex, Alex Mill, Nike

Whether you're shopping for a guy who could use a helping hand in the fashion department or you've got a man in your life whose closet is already meticulously curated — our style and gift experts have rounded up their favorite closet upgrades to surprise him with. (Father's Day is in three weeks, by the way.)

A few things we're eyeing? Well-constructed sweats, nicely designed socks, a knit Italian silk tie, and comfortably cool Birks sported by Jeremy Allen White on The Bear.

Handpicked shirts, hoodies, shoes, and more→

As new fashion trends crop up faster than ever, NYT's chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman offers a solution: developing your personal style.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can't always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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