Back 2 The Basics: The Henley

    

        I love pieces whose simplicity give me the freedom to create looks that are timeless while maintaining a subtle sexiness.  The Henley has been one of those pieces and has been a staple in my closet ever since I slipped one on for the first time 3 years ago.  This collarless and seemingly plain shirt was originally part of a two-piece men’s undergarment during the Victorian ages in England, rowers made it popular as a shirt to be worn as a visible outer-shirt when they would wear them during the famous rowing regatta that was established in Henley, England in 1839.  The thing that’s so special about this shirt is it’s undeniable nonchalance; when worn un-ironed, straight off the hanger with a slightly rumpled texture it conveys that your stylish without even really trying.  As with any shirt that a man dons, your Henley should be fitted (not tight).  It can fall just below your waist, sleeves rolled up and, of course, the buttons undone.  If you’re a physically fit guy or if you have a bit of chest hair –not that grizzly, unkempt, fur-looking mess- the Henley is definitely an item that will work well with your body type as it hangs just below the neck and is fitted without looking pretentious in that “I’m purposely wearing a ridiculously tight, revealing shirt to show off my nice physique” kind of way.  My favorite Henleys are those made by H&M and Old Navy, they’re good quality at a great price which means you can stock up on an assortment of colors.

    Tips:

GQ's been endorsing the Henley for years so I guess
it's cool enough...

• Wash separately.  Washing with other items, from my experience, causes it to accumulate lint. 

•  Air dry, the dryer causes serious shrinkage!If you don’t have a place at home to air dry it, buy it one size bigger than usual so that it shrinks down to the correct size when put into the dryer.

• Layer!  The Henley is perfect for layering: with a waistcoat, a blazer, a sweater, underneath a button-up, the possibilities are endless, seriously.

• Don’t go getting all stuffy with it, it’s meant to look relaxed while accentuating your physique just right.