Always, always, always leave at least the top button un-done. At best, un-button the top two to three buttons. The more buttons left un-done, the most casual and carefree the look. This rule does not apply if you are a chef, clergy member, or an actual grandad.
Un-button your cuffs, fold back the cuff toward yourself. And repeat. The best rolled sleeves end just below your elbow. Make sure both rolled sleeves hit at the same spot, you’ll look sloppy if one sleeve is longer than the other.
The art of tucking has become a phenomenon. We recommend either the French tuck (front is tucked in, back is out) or the Half Tuck (one half of the front of the shirt is tucked in). A Full Tuck In is also acceptable, but to keep the look casual make sure your belt and shoes aren’t dressy.
The less “stuff” to put on, the more casual. Try a band collar shirt with rolled hem light denim and a sneaker, without socks. A great look for Spring and Summer days.
The important key here is a CASUAL blazer. The rest of the look should follow suit with casual dark denim rolled at the ankles and sneakers. Make sure the hem of the shirt is higher than the hem of your blazer, it should not be longer. We suggest to leave the shirt un-tucked for this popular smart casual look.
White is the easiest entry into our closet. We understand the color. It makes us look sharp and clean. And we don’t have to worry about color matching. A white band collar shirt is an easy switch out instead of your favorite white button down collar shirt. Find some white band collar shirts here.
Your bottoms should also be casual: a chino, jogger, dark or light denim, shorts. Stay away from suiting pants or dress pants for a casual look. Make sure your choice of bottoms isn’t sloppy or overpowering the look. For example, don’t pair a madras short with a band collar. It’s too many oddities. Instead try a classic chino jogger with a navy band collar shirt.
This one should be easy. Make sure your band collar shirt is a tailored / contemporary fit. If the fit is too oversized, you will look like you have on a chef’s shirt. The shirt should easily move on your body, and not be too restrictive.
Style tip #4 is great for the Spring and Summer Months. But what about in the Fall and Winter? A band collar shirt is a raised crew-neckline. Which makes it a great layering piece for a crew-neck sweater. Another smart and modern casual office look.
This is our last style tip since it is a tough one to style well, without looking too 90’s. We recommend creating a monochrome look, such as black: a black opened band collar shirt, with a white crewneck tee underneath, and black jeans paired with boots. See our men's band collar shirt collection here.
Need additional style advice? Check out our Style Guide.
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We encourage you to wear the dress shirts you love with a bit of a casual touch. And, ditch the tie!
Whereas it used to be frowned upon to untuck a dress shirt, today many dress shirts are tailored to be worn tucked or untucked. No longer considered to be "sloppy" the untucked dress shirt is a sign of casual sophistication and confidence. Business casual dress shirts with contrasting buttons can be paired with raw denim jeans or trousers for casual Friday at the office or drinks with friends after a long day. Style an untucked dress shirt with a blazer for a refined dressed down look that turns heads.
For an interesting casual dress shirt on the go, roll the sleeves and style with some white jeans and casual shoes. The Commander Shirt combines function with versatile style with roll tabs to secure sleeves. Light weight twill works great for this look and minimizes wrinkling. It's amazing how a dress shirt can be transformed in seconds into part of a more relaxed outfit.
The sleek and simple look of a casual dress shirt layered under a fitted cardigan is understated. Our favorite is wearing a slate gray Essential Casual Shirt under a light gray blazer cardigan for an achromatic look that makes an impression.
Whether you are going for a bright and bold outfit or a muted statement, showcase your favorite sweater with a dress shirt.
Feeling carefree on vacation means looking the part. Leave the khakis at home and add a few short sleeve dress shirts to your mix. Being on vacation doesn't mean you can't look pulled together. Short sleeve dress shirts help you do just that. Throw on a paid of leather sandals and a classic straw hat and be the best dressed at the resort.
Time honored and respected, the khaki/dress shirt combination is a go-to casual look. Class it up with a luxury watch or add some brogues for a bit of flair. The most important part of this look is that the fit of both shirt and trousers is perfect and the fabrics are clean and crisp.
Pairing black with black is always a smart move as long as you use varying textures. Start with the Commander Casual Dress Shirt in jet black cotton twill. Add some black jeans and a black knit sweater vest for a sleek Hollywood vibe. Play around with different fabrics for multiple ways of casually rocking a dress shirt.
The dress shirt is an important part of any capsule wardrobe because of how simple it is to dress it up or down.
Nothing is more impressive than an athletic man striding down the street in joggers and a utility dress shirt. This look exudes casual confidence and energy. Pair this ensemble with some fresh tennis shoes and a casual watch and you are ready for whatever the day brings.
It can't be overstated that the best way to successfully pull off any of these looks is to make sure that your casual dress shirt fits properly. Rely on a fit guide to achieve a showstopping tailored look.
]]>Casual dress shirts are comfortable, easy to maintain, and elevates your casual style. The men's utility dress shirt is the perfect choice. Utility shirts balance too casual and too formal, allowing you to be the best dressed in the room while still maintaining a cool, casual look. Pair it with chinos, denim, or trousers and tuck or untuck. As part of a capsule wardrobe, add one white, one navy, and one black utility shirt to your mix and match options.
A step up from the utility shirt, the casual dress shirt can easily be dressed up or down. The focus of the casual dress shirt is the fit. Casual dress shirts should fit differently from essential dress shirts but still have a tailored fit. Opt for fabric that is breathable and light weight, but never see through. Dress casual dress shirts up for date night with trousers and leather shoes. Dress them down for running errands with a pair of joggers and tennis shoes.
For a slightly more formal twist on the casual dress shirt, the band collar shirt is a modern take on a classic style. For occasions when a collar is not required, but you still want to look your very best, the band collar shirt is the perfect option. Choose from canvas cotton, mercerized cotton, poplin, and even oxford fabrics. Available with either one chest pocket or two, the band collar shirt is beautifully worn buttoned up or casually open over a t-shirt.
When Monday rolls back around, the essential business casual dress shirt is perfect for the office without sacrificing comfort. Here are the most important features to look for when shopping for the essential business casual dress shirt:
Once the business day is complete, untuck and head out for dinner and drinks with friends.
A formal dress shirt, or the tuxedo shirt, are worn with formal suits or tuxedos and are the most formal of the men's dress shirt. These dress shirts have a cuff link option and are always tucked in. They are not worn semi-formally and must be perfectly tailored. Reserve this dress shirt for formal occasions such as weddings and black tie affairs.
As a man who prioritizes your image, your wardrobe must include a few of each of these dress shirts. While other men are wearing t-shirts, elevate your style and be the best dressed at any outing with a dress shirt.
]]>The introduction of non-iron shirts has taken the world by storm. I wore them from the second I found out how easy it was to pull them out of the wash and not have to iron them. That was until I looked into how they were produced. Until I pulled back the curtain and saw the wizard sitting on his high chair.
I am fortunate to be part of the garment business; to understand the manufacturing process first-hand and walk factory floors. This is sort of like the guys that actually know the ingredients in cigarettes. We all know there is not an easy cure in this world. Everything comes at a price. Sadly, the process to create “non-iron” is a steep price.
We all relate the chemical of formaldehyde to preservation – whether it’s the frog you dissected in high school or embalming. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences defines formaldehyde as a colorless, strong-smelling gas that is known to be a human carcinogen. Besides preservation, formaldehyde is found in wood products, cigarette smoke, and hair straightening products. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/formaldehyde_508.pdf
For apparel, formaldehyde falls under “preservation” and is used as a chemical bath. Factory workers dip shirts in the formaldehyde bath several times to preserve the fabrics’ natural properties and lock out the wrinkles. Even if the shirt that is dipped in the bath is 100% cotton before the coating – brands can still state the product is 100% cotton and exclude the formaldehyde labeling.
Formaldehyde is a carcinogen, causing cancer in the worse cases.
Perhaps the most concerning victim is factory workers prolonged exposure to the hazardous chemical through air pollution that can cause asthma. The level of exposure to the chemical is directly related the degree of detrimental harm. A factory worker is exposed to the inhalation of formaldehyde and possible eye contact. A customer is exposed to skin contact. And long term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde have been linked to cancer in both humans and laboratory animals.
Formaldehyde skin contact is the result of a tight-fitting or constant rubbing non-iron shirt. The irritation can cause a scaly rash called textile dermatitis http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/497713_1. This is the skins allergic reaction to the formaldehyde resin on the shirt surface. Textile dermatitis is more common in women since a missy fit is typically tighter and women are less likely to wear undershirts. However, non-iron shirts dominate the men’s dress shirt market, so men are more frequently exposed to the formaldehyde resin.
Even as an industry insider, I was fooled for years. It is the untraceable chemicals that can do the most harm. And formaldehyde is the worst of them. Already there is a backlash against formaldehyde in your couch and curtains. Most upholstered furniture contains it for the same reason, to lock out the wrinkles. The issue is that manufacturers know the long term side effects of formaldehyde, yet brands continue to offer it to customers. Not at the cost of the brand, but at a harmful cost to the factory workers and customers. Responsible brands are taking notice and taking action. We often hear from our customers that they would like a wrinkle-free Batch shirt. And we totally get it, but we will not budge on our stance and slowly kill our customers. Instead, we will do our part and educate about the subject.
Our last warning. The term “non-iron” is synonymous with men’s dress shirts. But beware, “permanent press” and “wrinkle resistant,” are interchangeable with non-iron and also undergo a formaldehyde dipping process to preserve the fabric. And remember that the more you are exposed to the chemical, the more hazardous the results. So just avoid any negative results and quit formaldehyde. (and smoking).
Yes, we agree that ironing is not the most fun activity in the world. Neither is eating vegetables. But ironing is like eating vegetables at a wonderful restaurant: packaged in the right experience, the juice is worth the squeeze. So this is our challenge. We purposefully up the ante on our designs. We want to guarantee that when you wear a Batch shirt, the little bit of ironing needed will be worth the two minutes. You will look confident knowing that a wrinkle here or there means just a little less skin irritation or worse down the road.
We work hard for your life to be easier. So for guys that really must keep their look more pristine, we have a very naturally wrinkle resistant cotton twill. Compared to a classic poplin it pops out of the wash like an angel. Give it a try next time you are having itchy skin.
If you need additional info:
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10078
Yes, fit matters; but this is not the only feature of a shirt. For that matter it should not be a main feature at all. We learned that the more we focused on the importance of fit the quicker we lost sight of the true purpose of shirts.
]]>Yes, fit matters; but this is not the only feature of a shirt. For that matter it should not be a main feature at all. We learned that the more we focused on the importance of fit the quicker we lost sight of the true purpose of shirts.
First, let's journey back to the basics. What is the purpose of a shirt? To protect us from the elements, to cover our bodies, to be comfortable, and to communicate something about us.
Clothing today is an extension of our expression. It is our identity.
The last part, the "communicate something about us" aka "personal style," is the main part that counts today. Covering our bodies, protecting us from the elements, and being comfortable was solved thousands of years ago. Clothing today is an extension of our expression. It is our identity.
The fit of a shirt is simply part of the style: slim, standard, tapered, boxy. These are all style preferences. So, when a guy says he wants a great fitting shirt, it is a matter of preference.
The fit is just a very small part of the total style, the tip of the iceberg if you will. To compare, a specific fit is like the horsepower of a car, there is a lot more to a car than that. It seems silly, yet this is how we incorrectly discuss shirts.
A man can have the best fitting shirt but with cheap buttons, a horribly shaped shaped collar, cheap polyester thin fabric, and made in a creamy shade of beige - who cares about the fit after all that? This often is the case now with mens fast fashion. Cheapened to hit a price, and rough details to achieve a faster sewing speed takes a toll on each garment.
When we polled guys on what mattered most when buying clothing the first response was "a better fit than..." So, naturally fit rose on our list of product importance. Henry Ford said, if he asked his customers what they wanted they would say a faster horse.
Every brand states they have the best fit. That is because creating style is hard, it's an art form. More than anything it is not easily explained on a business proposal or VC deck. So, menswear companies that pop up like weeds are based on fit: shorter shirts (Untuckit), custom sizing (Proper cloth), huge size range (Bonobos). That is a tangible thing that can be discussed on an earnings call. These companies are not founded on the pursuit of great style.
So why create? Why bring a single new shirt into this world? Why make garments that just fit a little better and fill our landfills. It's not the shirt fit that matters, its the style that matters. It's how the style makes you feel like a unique individual when you start your day.
We started Batch to address a need. Shirts that say the right thing about you. Shirts that create passion. Shirts that change our customers expectations of what it means to buy a garment. Fit is a given. Creating style that makes you experience the world differently is hard.
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The days of men needing to dress in a suit and tie for work are changing. Businesses know that comfort at work is a key to keeping their best people. That said, let’s back up a bit.
]]>The days of men needing to dress in a suit and tie for work are changing. Businesses know that comfort at work is a key to keeping their best people. That said, let’s back up a bit.
It is a show of formality. The working man has taken the time to be serious about his dress and looks. This in turn means he is serious about business. Our industry needs have changed. Face to face contact is quickly being replaced with email. The modern worker can perform exceedingly well from a coffee shop, or a home office. He needs to look great for the situation and that situation is very different than our father’s.
Men have become moving workforces. They can work from anywhere in the world. They have flexible schedules and act more like connectors or innovators than 9-5 button pushers.
The suit and tie is becoming a negative stigma.
The suit and tie is becoming a negative stigma. The heroes of our generation repeatedly dress down. Steve Jobs became legendary for wearing a black t-shirt and jeans everyday. Elon Musk in his recognized wearing a black blazer and white shirt without tie. And we all know these two men have changed the world for good.
Simply put a perfect blend of “luxury” and “utility” clothing.Why do we believe in the luxury utility shirt to the core of our being? Are they not just shirts with chest pockets? Have you not unpicked the pockets off every dress shirt you have ever owned to achieve the specific clean look you believe in? Even at the sake of the pocket imprint being left on the non iron shirts you used to covet. Yes and yes!]]>
“Simply put a perfect blend of “luxury” and “utility” clothing.”
Why do we believe in the luxury utility shirt to the core of our being?
Are they not just shirts with chest pockets? Have you not unpicked the pockets off every dress shirt you have ever owned to achieve the specific clean look you believe in? Even at the sake of the pocket imprint being left on the non iron shirts you used to covet. Yes and yes!
So, why the change of heart? Reflecting on the needs of guys like us, scratching our own itch, we simply need to look the part. We love this quote, “you are what you are seen to be”. I realized as a designer I had this day to day battle with the process.
This is the bulk of our lives. Let’s not sugar coat this amazing toil, the grind, the endless hill. Create and destroy and create again. Like carving a 10 ton block of marble with a stick. What the sculpture will look like at the end of our lives depends largely on how people perceive us. If you are perceived as a sculptor, your sculpture will be regarded as genius and thought provoking. If you are perceived as a banker your sculpture will be ignored, thought of as a hobby.
So what does it mean to look the part? We grind, we create, we build, we live this life on overdrive. Our luxtility shirt is decked out with pockets, seaming, locker loops, masculinity, brute force, passion, drive. It is the embodiment of this guy, the guy you already are. I would do this grind in a non-iron average white shirt. I looked like a banker sketching and building fashion. A single tear rolls down my cheek for that guy. Adieu banker designer.
“If you build, create, consult, innovate, calculate, make, forge, cook, arrange, assemble, collaborate, change, match, modify or revise… we are building a shirt for you.”
So what does this mean to you? If you build, create, consult, innovate, calculate, make, forge, cook, arrange, assemble, collaborate, change, match, modify or revise… we are building a shirt for you.
We embody multifunctions, each of us are a swiss army knife of versatility. We are demanded to focus with laser pinpoint accuracy in our vocation, but in reality we each span a great breadth of abilities. We designed the luxtility shirts with this in mind. They are not common, they are constructed in upgraded fabrics with all the bells and whistles. Because why not.
Controversial answer, much more fitted then you are probably comfortable with. If a guy is not getting compliments on how good he looks, he is probably wearing too generic of a fit and not finding a brand that makes clothing for his body.
]]>Controversial answer, much more fitted then you are probably comfortable with. If a guy is not getting compliments on how good he looks, he is probably wearing too generic of a fit and not finding a brand that makes clothing for his body.
We all know the term "tailored" and how nice it is to wear clothing that is custom tailored to our bodies. To have all of our clothing tailored can be very expensive and very time consuming. With the addition of new extended sizing at some of the major men’s clothing retailers, customers are able to look better then ever before.
“The chest and sleeves should not be tight but just graze your body…”
A proper men’s shirt should fit well in the body so that only a small amount of ease is left spilling over the waistband. Darts in the back body can help to shape the garment to the contour of your body. The chest and sleeves should not be tight but just graze your body, emphasizing your physique.
While developing our proprietary fit we realized the importance of the waist fitting correctly. Our original fit has been created to be one-of-a-kind. Not by accident but on purpose. Men’s bodies and needs have changed. We are taller and in better shape than past generations. Men’s style and proportions have changed also. The days of a sloppy fitting shirt are over. There is no faster way to look great than a tailored fitting shirt paired with a great pair of jeans or khakis. When we start with the waist, we found a shirt can look so much better than starting with the neck and sleeve length which is the traditional sizing method. Sizing based on neck and sleeve lengths only leads to an average fit shirt with a great fitting neck and sleeve length.
A true mans body is not a tube as slim fitting shirts try to make us. Having a skin tight chest is actually doing a man less favors than he thinks. We find it better to accentuate the V shaped torso with some ease in the chest and shoulder. If you have a great V shaped body, your shirt will fit similar to a custom tailored shirt. For those of us who strive to have a V shaped body, our shirts will give the perception that you have a more V shaped masculine body than you actually do. Win. Light shoulder pads in a blazer create this same corresponding affect.
If we design to fit the masses then we will not fit our customer. We aim to fit modern men who care about their status, their physique, and their personal style.
Please go on a little journey with me… To understand the shape of collars to come-we, must understand the bigger picture, and how the whole style mess is connected.
Proportions matter, an example of an incorrect proportion is a big house with a tiny door, it just looks wrong and out of place. Or a tiny house with a big door. The proportion between a collar and its shirt can be thought of the same way.
So how can we digest and understand men's style today? Believe it or not, style usually starts from the bottom-up. This means pants drive the look. You remember bell bottoms, baggy jeans, ripped jeans, cuffed pants, and cargo pants? They all needed specific tops to complete the look. Today, men's pants are slim and are verging on tight, often with a slightly shorter length (or rolled cuff) that shows off a great shoe. To make this look work we need a more fitted shirt. A baggy, ill fitting shirt with slim pants will not proportionately work.
a slimmer sleeve, a cleaner shoulder, and a well proportioned collar. Ah… finally we come to the topic at hand! A narrow collar to match the smaller proportions in your entire look. Does that super narrow collar you see emerging in men's fashion work with your style? Or do you still embrace a baggy shirt with a larger collar from yesteryear?
Is the short fitted pant with the almost too-tiny-suit outfit here to stay? (You know you've seen it - where the suit and shirt combo is so tight it looks painted on) I say no. The reason that I say no is rooted in a trendy men's hairstyle: the man bun. The man bun is a weird hipster phenomenon sweeping great looking guys across the globe. Regardless, if the fad turns into a trend to stay or even if it becomes a classic look, man bun's are changing the way we view masculinity. They are bringing back a raw masculinity with a more raw sensibility. Which is a plus for man-hood!
Not everything. The man bun masculinity and the too-tiny-suit styles do not mesh. I put them head to head (in my head), and masculinity won. I predict masculinity is coming back, as it is better for business and better for men's confidence. So full circle, narrow collars have their place in men's style - but for narrow collars to survive men will have to adopt them into more masculine outfits.
Hmmm, that was a messy train of thought, but if I can leave you with one solid piece of advice it's that the shirt fit effects the collar size. Baggy shirt = large collar. Slim fit shirt = narrow collar. Ultimately, if I had to pick having a man bun or too tight of an outfit I would choose neither, I simply want my collar to be a modern classic twist and that will carry me through the next few years of men's style.
Let me break-down men's style for you: it is easier to sell ice to eskimos than convince the average guy to dress better. So true, right?
Why is discussing men's style taboo? It's a cultural stigma that men do not embrace personal style the same way women do. It's considered un-masculine to express an interest in shopping for the perfect fitting jeans. When was the last time a man watched the men's equivalent to the Victoria's Secret show? (There isn't one!). But, thanks to the rapid advancement of social media (mainly IG), men's style is evolving. It is a visual platform allowing men unlimited access to imagery of great style worn by uber-masculine men.
In the past, women needed to be the "peacocks" as women were dependent on men in old-world cultures for money and status. We are closer than ever to landing on Mars, there are actually energy efficient affordable cars now, and Cross Fit competitions are equally a women's competition as much as men's. Watch-out ladies. Men are starting to peacock and the tide is turning.
They search out the sharpest haircuts, sneakers and watches have reached a cult status. Men's clothing is the frontier that has not been explored or changed in a long time. Entertainment like MADMEN and Peeky Blinders is helping show a new way.
We see a shift, it is slow, almost unrecognizable. It is and will be grass roots, men really care about looking great again. They want to turn heads, to be noticed. Clothing is more fitted, style is back. Men want to outdo each other to be the classiest or freshest.
Brands to bring them into the next decade. We went through the service economy, the experience economy, the connected economy, the giving economy, we think that the next will be some sort of individual economy. The internet has offered up an endless supply of products that give you the ability to find "your" brand. And people have the excitment to search out that experience. What style will you find and how will you make it yours?
We think they fit right between your casual button-down shirts and t-shirts. Really, they are a great alternative to a t-shirt. A banded collar shirt is an easy "throw-on" style with little care needed. The fabric should be comfortable and soft, not a stiff dressy non-iron fabric.
Just a few years back, you would have to search the globe to hunt down a single banded collar shirt. They have always had a stigma about them - they were known as either a traditional Indian garb or a clergy style shirt. Heck, I wore one to my high school graduation under my tux and it had hideous shiny black buttons (late 90's). Let's review how men's fashion as evolved and changed the stigma of banded collar shirts.
There is no down side in our view and that is style to invest in. Are you enjoying the benefits of band collars?
Basically the benefit is the ease of wearing. Less collar fuss allows you to spend time on better things.
This is when button down collars really shine. The shape that the collar makes when it's gently folded over and pinned down by the button is an aesthetically pleasing proportion. A spread collar in contrast tends to fly away or stick out like airplane wings when not worn with a jacket or the shirt awkwardly buttoned all-the-way up.
This look is best achieved by wearing a button down collar shirt. Spread collars just tend to have a mind of their own, and before you know it one collar makes a jail-break run for it and pops over your jacket collar. Not good friends. Totally embarrassing.
Another benefit is that the buttoned down collar subtly creates a vertical line from the collar point towards the wearer's face, re-focusing your audiences' attention on you. Batch shirts have an added collar detail at the top edge to continue the progression of the eye upward.
If you have a true addiction to ties and your friends aren't calling an intervention, then button down collars are still the perfect go-to collar option. Button down collars create a tight tunnel that help's to securely hold a tie in place at the center of your neck.
Some people view button down collars to be old. But everything old is new and fresh again! With the trend toward wearing shirts without ties, we think that button down collars are more fresh and relevant than ever.
More respect, happiness, passion, power, excitement? Of course, more of everything.
You must want these things more than anything, and these things must not conflict with your other wants. When we make goals we are putting out into the world what we want. We know there is power in writing goals on paper, or telling people; this helps to solidify the goals, to force you to act.
Am I seriously saying happiness and what-not can be achieved with the shirt on our back? Yes! Please let me explain. The way you dress is a form of communication. Perhaps more powerful than what you say. You are showing the world by your visual actions. So what are you saying?
"Dress up" is a great line I was told long ago. Of course that means to properly dress up for a formal occasion, but also it means to dress the role of the level you want to be – not what you are today. It is a goal. And you are telling everyone.
A great fitting shirt shows people you are in control, you care about living a better life, you take yourself seriously and thus they should also. A great fitting shirt speaks about refinement, purpose, and quality. A great fitting shirt silently lets others know you have commendable traits.
A bold shirt articulates that you are willing to take risks. It also reminds you to live a little louder, to stand a little taller. It is similar to that joke – "have you seen a person riding a jetski with a frown?" The joke also applies when you wear a fantastic bold patterned shirt. It is pretty hard to not be jazzed about basically everything while wearing one.
I assume not as you are reading this. Go ahead and try a great fitting shirt and see if it positively effects your life. And for extra points try a bold one, it is a heck of a lot cheaper then driving a Porsche while getting a similar reaction.
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Cast those fads aside and let us explain. Pareto's law basically states 20% of our effort makes 80% of the difference. Knowing this, we are distilling our lives down to what matters most. We have so little time in today's rapid world. We put ourselves on an information diet to focus on what matters to us. We 20/80 our friends, food, and media. What can make the most impact? We simply don't have enough time for everything.
Simply, what are ties adding to your life? You have a lot of clothing in your closet and a finite amount of time to wear it. 20% of your clothing makes all the difference. We recommend focusing your energy on the pieces you actually need to move your life forward.
Let's start from the bottom - shoes. They are pretty important to our daily performance: less rusty nails in our feet, and more comfort walking on summer's pavement. Pants keep the bugs at bay; they give us abrasion resistance and protect us from the elements. Shirts help stop those lobster burns and are easily layered for temperature comfort. Jackets add that extra layer of warmth and protection when we need it. So what necessary function do ties provide?
We recommend that your shirts look better casually worn without a tie. You'll look like you belong in this modern century than your stodgy co-workers who match their ties to their pattern socks. When huge car hood ornaments come back into favor we might reconsider. Nope, actually we will not. 20% of your clothes make you look and feel best. Ties fall into the 80% that are not worth our time - next too joggers, hats with the tags still on them, and white rib tank tops (more on undershirts later).
If you need to be really formal, spend very little time selecting a tie. Keep it simple, solid is best or a minimal pattern. Like your underwear and socks, don't spend extra attention points that could be used for real decisions.
One roll can signal the work day is over and the real adventure has just begun. Or one roll can mean you're not staying long, or you're suiting up soon and don't want to go full roll.
Your cuff is now hidden by the sleeve fabric and the tighter roll starts to happen. Two rolls should be most men's standard when unsuited. And as we are proponents of losing the formality of the jacket whenever possible - we recommend this exposed forearms stance to be your uniform. Two rolls means life is an adventure to you and you are ready to bear hug it with both arms. Two rolls means you are unafraid of getting dirty and hope the situation gets a little messy.
You are not rolling three times to back down from whatever your bold life throws your way. Three rolls can help keep your shirt clean when the day gets deep.
The anatomy of a great sleeve roll: the rolled fabric should be cleanly rolled back on itself twice or thrice, the bulk of the roll should rest easily over the widest part of your forearm accentuating the muscle shape.
Of course, your main objective is to look in full bad ass control of your life and a Batch shirt with rolled sleeves will assist your adventurous endeavors always. Here are some other reasons to keep your sleeves rolled:
Delivering random babies, it gets messy. Strong hand shakes, let them see your cut like Arnold. Driving, don't let that cuff slow you down. If you have a kick ass watch you need to highlight that precision technology. Throwing back a few rolls will give the time piece space to say "pow, yes I can harness life's greatest currency."
10 out of 10 women decidedly preferred men with wrists over those who don't have them. A very little known fact in the male population is the way ladies feel about a powerful forearm. An exposed forearm is the icing on a crisp shirt, like man cleavage with less european flair.
Life without rolled sleeves is a life too precious. Dig in.
I have owned many and still look longingly at them in my closet. They are the quintessential camp and outside work wear.
What happened is it got over saturated. Classic supply and demand. When there is too much supply, no one wants it anymore. So we move on and find something new and unattainable.
What plaid did for our wardrobe was great! It added in an element of visual texture to mens otherwise solid and (ahem) boring clothing choices. Also it is the gateway into real pattern.
The reason is choice. First let's describe what pattern means to Batch: basically anything other than plaids, checks, stripes, or solid. With pattern your choices and styles becomes endless. You can carve out a niche for yourself.
Like how the dog you choose says a lot about you and your personality, so to can be said for your choice of pattern. Are you refined and sophisticated, bold and colorful, conversational and curious? The right pattern will tell that story.
– Geoff, Co-founder
Now is a good time, we will wait. It is fascinating. Patterns disrupt how we understand the world. Your brain can't get a lock on what you are actually seeing.
They conceal the breakfast that obviously jumped out of your hand and landed on your shirt, or the fact that you just hate situps. (I'm with you brother)
Remember that the eye is drawn to pattern before solid color. So if you're embracing the skinny jean fad, be careful adding in pattern to that mix. A little pattern goes a long way.
Using it as a pop is a really great way to add style. Perhaps a patterned shirt under a solid blazer? Or consider a great pattern lining inside a jacket for inner handsome detailing. If you're not ready to get that bold try a stunning accessory like a patterned pocket square.
The key is to not be scared of them. Let patterns help tell your story, let them add an exclamation point to your day or help you to just be a little more confident in your next conversation.
That's the comment that we have been asked from friends, supporters, colleagues, and fashionistas. Why create a business in such a heavily rooted area of the menswear industry?
Every day I got up, got dressed, looked in a mirror. Then got depressed at the image looking back at me. Super average looking shirts made for super average style. And no affordable options in sight. Even more depressing was standing in front of coworkers and presenting the latest fashions for upcoming seasons (I'm a fashion designer by trade). How are people supposed to judge my style and taste when I am wearing a run of the mill non-iron basic shirt. Designers need to look like designers, photographers need to look like photographers etc. But the options are just not out there.
Compound that with the fact I'm not 22 any more. I won't wear Zara for Express or some other horribly made fast fashion brand. Quality matters, I value refinement and craftsmanship. I won't wear junk - it says too much about who I am.
It's time for men to have better style options. We are addressing men's shirts first, they are versatile and the easiest way to alter your style. A shirt sets the mood. It's not a supporting character.
First we are addressing the quality, we founded our own workshop and train our own tailors. Next we made sure the fit is clean, updated and tailored. And now we are building out classic style, style that makes sense for the rest of us, for the builders, makers, designers, developers, coders, editors, photographers, Dp's, and founders.
In America, Bachelor pads derive a less than desirable connotation. A bachelor pad is typically sparse with furniture, slightly dirty and rumpled, over-packed with video game equipment, and an almost empty fridge (just a few beers and leftover pizza in there). Time to step up gentlemen, check out how New Zealand mates are putting us to shame.
are destination homes situated on a beautiful patch of land, or nestled by the sea. Bach homes are a New Zealand tradition dating back to World War II, when men would build the homes on land they did not own, out of materials that were borrowed or stolen. Common materials were corrugated iron, fibrolite and used timber, and previously owned plumbing. Men would partner with their buddies to build their dream bach house (think – man’s tree house). The intention of a bach house was to be a safe resting place for a guy’s adventurous outdoor weekend – fishing, hiking, biking, sailing, etc. Personally, we’re pretty jealous we didn’t grow up in New Zealand.
They are more luxurious destination homes on legitimately acquired land, although some men still prefer the original borrowed or stolen construction method. The original bach purpose to embrace the outdoors is still being practiced today, and renting bach houses has become a common practice in New Zealand. Can you imagine men wanting to rent your bachelor pad twenty years from now? (ha ha, right?) There’s always time to find personal style.
Check out these inspirational Bach sites below.
http://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/new-zealand-bach/
http://thebesthut.blogspot.com
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in the show that we call clothing. Small but mighty, they hold the whole production together. So often overlooked when selecting a new garment to freshen our wardrobe. Little do we understand their importance to the total picture.
Much like in the movies the best buttons help to add dimension to the total picture. Our buttons are real shell, also known as mother of pearl. These are created from mussel and clam shells, using the inside of the pearlescent shells for their natural beauty. Like the best things in life they have variety. No two buttons is exactly alike. Imperfections we wear like a badge of honor.
Being made of a natural material creates the beauty and requires just a bit more care. It is often the most beautiful things in this world need to be treated as they are worth. It is best to wash garments with real shell buttons inside out to protect them from the damaging washing machine and dryer metal drum. In our case this can also help to keep our fantastic patterned shirts at their most bold colors.
They're cool touch to the hand. Also if you gently tap it against a hard surface it should sound like glass with that sharp "ting". There are many great imitation shell buttons in plastic, don't get us wrong, there is a time and place for them. We would not recommend wasting this natural beauty on a garment sold at your local big box retailer to be worn once and discarded into our landfills. (we recommend not consuming this way)
So lets take a moment to thank the shell buttons of the world for the role they play, supporting the finest garments. Twinkling in the light and holding our shirts together. We salute you! We salute you!!
Take a poll, let me guess: mostly blue hued shirts, some blue and white stripes, check-y plaid type options, and the classic white. Check your mates closet, same thing?
You like our style, some great patterned shirts, but the reality is that you can't pull off the bold patterns at work or in your day to day. That's what you're thinking? You question even the less crazy (closer to solid no-patterns) for a date night, but you still aren't sure. You haven't seen shirts of this craziness out in your daily life.
Michael Jordan was. Hell, Obama was. Someone has to be break the mundane cycle of blue, stripe, plaid. We promise it will be a positive experience that will propel your life into further bold actions.
Yes, keep the tie pattern smaller than the shirt pattern. Do you need a tie? Absolutely not. Do you tuck it in? If you want, it's your choice. You don't normally wear button down collars? That stops now, look around, that's an old adage that your top boss in his 70s is trying to instill on you. You're the now, not him.
On your first day of wearing a Batch shirt, see below for quick responses to the typical questions that will arise.
Statement 1) Whoa man, nice shirt!
Answer 1) Yeah, I'm breaking out of the corporate casual cult.
Statement 2) Are those florals or paisleys pink!?
Answer 2) Oh yeah, and green and yellow. Just trying to Spring-forward all year long.
Statement 3) It's pretty tight fitting, I can see your back muscles.
Answer 3) It's slim fit. No tailoring needed. By the way, you look sloppy as hell, I can't even see where your shoulders end and your arms begin.
Statement 4) Where'd you get that shirt?
Answer 4) Batch. It's a clothing company that sells limited runs of patterned shirts. This on here is number 16 of 50. So no, there's no chance that anyone is going to look like my twin, by the way did you and Charlie over there get dressed together this morning?
A blazer, suit jacket, or sport coat. A woven shirt and knit undershirt. A pant, casual or dressy. Socks and shoes. This is great for comfort, addressing our social needs, and ease of decision making. It is not good for individuality and has lead to conformity.
Our days as peacocks has long passed and we feel little need to inform the same and opposite sex of our prowess with our extravagant outward appearance. Fitting into social norms will help us avoid the worry of embarrassing ourselves due to being different. So here we are standing at humanities’ peak, a sea of sameness.
What possibly can this do to change the course of humanity? Our answer is a lot! The mens’ printed shirt is one of the last socially acceptable forms of peacockery. Men can express individuality without scaring the masses through a bit of pattern worn above the waist and easily toned down with a jacket. Printed pants? Whoa, slow down the crazy train. Printed jacket? A cry for help perhaps. A patterned shirt? Yes, you need a healthy dose of confidence, but acceptable. Well, not only acceptable, but one of the last vestiges for male individual expression. A smart tie is a good one also (but that is for another day).
With an intelligent respect for our power to influence with appearance alone, a well-styled printed shirt change change a life. It lets life know you don't plan on sitting back and being a passenger. Through printed shirts, we hope to help men become bolder and to remind themselves, they can't explore countries, the depths of the oceans, and space without a bit of courage to be different.