Camp collar shirts are like the short-sleeved shirt’s cooler older brother that’s back from his trip to South America.
The camp collar is designed to lay flat and open, giving it a more relaxed vacation vibe. It’s the perfect summer shirt to wear while sipping cocktails at a beachside bar.
The relaxed nature of the camp collar shirt requires a different fit than the more conservative short-sleeved shirt.
In this guide you’ll learn how to make sure your camp collar shirt is on point so you can nail the nonchalant vibes.
How a camp collar shirt should fit a man
The collar/opening
The collar is the signature part of a camp collar shirt. The lack of collar stand (a strip of fabric that a collar is sewn to, making it stand high on your neck) creates a deeper, wider shirt opening.
You want the opening to end anywhere between 1” (2.5cm) below your collar bones, to about halfway down your sternum.
To achieve this deep opening, most camp collar shirts will have their first button around this spot.
The shoulders
You can instantly tell if a shirt fits by looking at the shoulder seams.
The seams should line up with the point of your shoulder bones, as close as possible.
If the seams fall off your shoulders and into your bicep, it’s too big.
If the seams fall on your traps towards your neck, that’s a sign it’s too small.
The sleeve
This is where fit differs from a t-shirt or classic short-sleeved shirt.
A proper fitting camp collar sleeve should end right around your elbow, and be loose, flaring out slightly.
Remember, we’re going for relaxed vibes. A sleeve that’s too fitted negates the purpose of a camp collar shirt!
The body
Continuing with the relaxed theme, the body of your camp collar shirt should be loose and airy.
When you button-up your shirt, the buttons should lay flat. If there are gaps along the button placket and you start seeing your skin, that’s a sign it’s too small.
This is one instance where a “baggy” fit body is ok! As long as the shoulders and sleeves fit, it won’t look like you’re wearing your Dad’s old shirt.
The length
Ideally, your camp shirt should end roughly halfway between your waist and crotch.
Short-sleeved shirts that hit at the waist look shrunken. Shirts that are longer are designed to be tucked-in.
While I don’t have a problem with tucking in camp shirts, most guys I’ve worked with prefer untucked short-sleeved shirts.
Aiming for a length that’s halfway down your crotch gives you enough length to tuck (or french tuck!) if needed.
Need some camp shirt recommendations?
Check out my Spring/Summer Capsule shopping guide!
I’ve compiled the best spring summer wardrobe recommendations to build your wardrobe into an easy to use shopping list, with recommendations for every budget.
