Henley shirt

Woman wearing a Henley shirt
Henley shirt

A Henley shirt is a collarless pullover shirt, characterized by a round neckline and a placket about 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 cm) long and usually having 2–5 buttons.[1][2][3] It essentially is a collarless polo shirt. The sleeves may be either short or long, and it can be made in almost any fabric, although cotton, cotton-polyester blends, and thermals are by far the most popular.[4] Henley shirts are generally regarded as menswear, but women's versions have appeared as business casual and casual wear as well.

History

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Henley shirts were named because they were the traditional uniform of rowers in the English town of Henley-on-Thames.[4] The first Henley Royal Regatta was in 1839.

In his biography of Ralph Lauren, the journalist Michael Gross quotes a New York merchant who recalled showing a vintage shirt to a Ralph Lauren buyer: "I showed this fellow underwear—a three-button long-sleeve shirt by Johnstown Knitting Mills. He said, 'This is a new shirt.' That's where he got the idea for the Henley shirt."[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Henley Shirt". H&M. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Homespun Knitwear coalminer contrast henley". J.Crew. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Indigo Tissue Long Sleeve Henley". American Apparel. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  4. ^ a b Centeno, Antonio. "Henley Shirt – Classic Alternative To The T-Shirt – Stylish Casual Shirts For Men". RMRS -- Real Men Real Style. Realmenrealstyle.com. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  5. ^ Gross, Michael (2003). Genuine Authentic: The Real Life of Ralph Lauren. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 22. ISBN 9780060199043. OCLC 50520401.