Quest for a suitable shirt

Discussion of fashion elements and looks that are traditionally considered somewhat "femme" but are presented in a masculine context. This is NOT about transvestism or crossdressing.
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denimini
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Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by denimini »

I have found good mini skirts for hot weather but I am having trouble finding tops. I have looked on both sides of the aisle.
The favoured materials are linen, fine cotton and perhaps hemp or rayon.
Skin cancer country here so long or short sleeves that cover the shoulders and a well fitting collar to cover the neck.
Womens tops have better choice of material but most are too open around the neck.
Mens shirts have good collars but are far too long and worse still have tails that stick out below the hem of a mini skirt. I would like the option of not tucking in so it would need to just go past the waist of a low waisted skirt and not completely cover the mini. I have looked at shirt dresses and doing away with the skirt as an option for that reason.
I prefer polo type with just enough buttons to allow to go over the head. More buttons are too time consuming and too much maintenance. Press studs are good.
I am fairly open about colour or pattern so long as not too pale or dark which shows up the unavoidable dust.
I have seen a shirt that has a draw string waist and a short ruffle/peplum which would look good untucked.

Pics, links, posts and parcels gratefully received :)
Anthony, a denim miniskirt wearer in Outback Australia
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crfriend
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by crfriend »

Any shirt with a straight hem ought to work in the capacity required, and I know of at least one vendor in the US that specialises in shirts that are designed to be worn untucked. I do not know if there's an Aussie counterpart.

An alternative, as a last-ditch operation, would be to cut the tails of a conventional shirt and re-hem the thing flat.

I kind of like the peplum idea, but don't know how well it'd work on the conventional male with a bit of a pot. Those might well be best reserved for curvy gals.
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STEVIE
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by STEVIE »

Just a thought, how about military surplus tropical kit?
Drab neutrals could always be embellished to the nth degree of your creativity.
Good Hunting.
Steve
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denimini
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by denimini »

Thanks for the thoughts. The reason I often don't tuck in is because I am a conventional male with a bit of a pot but if the shirt is wide at the hem then it sticks out like a pelmet.
I have thought of altering skirts but as things are I don't get everything done that I should.

Before heading back home I called into the "Target" store and found some linen shirts on special; the men's were too big so I "crossed the aisle" and looked at the womens equivalent. I had a tape measure with me and measured the crucial underarm to underarm dimension and chose a size 12. At the checkout (in a 12.5" denim mini) I commented that it was a shame that we can't try on clothes anymore (thinking of COVID) and she replied that I still can (just that they changed the location of the change rooms). I took a 10, 12, and 14 into the grand and new change room with me and just as well because the 12 was just a bit tight (over the shirt I was wearing). The 14 fitted well and looked OK, still too long to wear untucked but fine if loosely tucked in. I went and bought 3 khaki ones, they had a lovely rust colour as well but none left in a 14, also an off white and a very dark blue which are out as far as our red dust problem.
A linen teal shirt had arrived when I checked the post office as I got home. It was a size 10 (!) and fitted perfectly (also was a bit shorter which was good), a SuzanneGrae brand so a women's sizing. So there you go, there is no better rationale or logic to tops sizing that skirts sizing.
Anthony, a denim miniskirt wearer in Outback Australia
STEVIE
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by STEVIE »

...and problem solved.
Well done.
As for sizing of men's shirts, there is no great logic in equating collar size with chest girth and arm length either.
Unless I could be corrected that is.
Steve.
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denimini
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by denimini »

STEVIE wrote: Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:45 pm ...and problem solved.
Well, not totally. I would like a shirt with short sleeves and less buttons - for stonework - the lower buttons soon go AWOL when carrying heavy blocks.
I know I could sew up the lower part but that's another job.
Anthony, a denim miniskirt wearer in Outback Australia
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denimini
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by denimini »

I am still contemplating a tunic like the stonemason pictured in the link, perhaps without the puffy sleeves.
However I can go a week with the same mini skirt but generally change my shirt every day when doing stonework.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... emason.jpg
Anthony, a denim miniskirt wearer in Outback Australia
STEVIE
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by STEVIE »

How about a simple apron?
Steve.
BTW Happy New Year
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denimini
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by denimini »

STEVIE wrote: Fri Jan 01, 2021 10:21 am How about a simple apron?
Steve.
BTW Happy New Year
Thanks, the New Year started with a bang. There was a thunderstorm and a lightning strike close by ............ as I was unchaining a metal gate ............... frightened hell out of me.

All the best for you this year.
Anthony, a denim miniskirt wearer in Outback Australia
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Sinned
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by Sinned »

There is a style of shirt that we would call a polo or rugby shirt. It has a collar, generally white, three buttons from the collar which end upper chest. Can be long or short sleeved. Generally made of a thickish, hard wearing material. You know what I mean, you'll have seen plenty, I don't think that I need to show an image.
I believe in offering every assistance short of actual help but then mainly just want to be left to be myself in all my difference and uniqueness.
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r.m.anderson
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by r.m.anderson »

One could venture off into the Adult enhanced theme wear - the ta da - THE ONESIE
Sleeve length long short sleeveless with enough length in the torso to fasten at
the crotch with snaps buttons or poppers. No loose ends - collar polo - turtle neck -
crew neck. The use of the loo I'll leave that for your own invention.
Even a mini-skirt would be a nice cover for the particular areas of concern.

Everything nice and tidy both front and back (covers plumbers crack too) !

Merry Happy Holidays whatever you are celebrating -

Wear your fine festive skirts dresses - tis the season -
Just wear enough that you don't encounter the wind-chill factor -or-
for you south of the equator folks the sun-burn element !
"YES SKIRTING MATTERS"!
"Kilt-On" -or- as the case may be "Skirt-On" !
WHY ?
Isn't wearing a kilt enough?
Well a skirt will do in a pinch!
Make mine short and don't you dare think of pinching there !
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by Coder »

Onesie’s are also called “bodysuits”, and are essentially what you describe. Depending on torso length they can be uncomfortable - I bough a few over the summer and returned them as they were too short, but I’m sure some are out there that are longer. I’m not big into tucking my shirts in, and so they don’t work well for me.
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denimini
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by denimini »

Sinned wrote: Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:52 pm There is a style of shirt that we would call a polo or rugby shirt. It has a collar, generally white, three buttons from the collar which end upper chest. Can be long or short sleeved. Generally made of a thickish, hard wearing material. You know what I mean, you'll have seen plenty, I don't think that I need to show an image.
Yes, they are definitely the style I like ...... just a matter of finding them with a thin, light and cool material. Also prefer a shorter length.
Anthony, a denim miniskirt wearer in Outback Australia
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Sinned
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by Sinned »

Yeah, well, they are made of thicker material because our climate is colder than yours and to make them hard wearing and surely that would be a characteristic that you would want? As to hem length, then they can be shortened. As a rugby nation you must have them where you are.
I believe in offering every assistance short of actual help but then mainly just want to be left to be myself in all my difference and uniqueness.
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Re: Quest for a suitable shirt

Post by 6ft3Aussie »

I've got a few polo shirts, and one that I quite like does have the white collar like Sinned mentioned. That one is definitely better for the cooler months. Strange that one is the one that my wife likes the least.
I do have a couple of much lighter polo shirts, which are definitely better for our subtropical climate (almost identical latitude to Fort Pierce, Florida, except South of the equator).
They are my go-to as well, especially when I do not need to be more formal (which is probably 95% of the time).
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