Five on Friday: Five men’s Button Downs

By: Levi Opsatnic

After checking out the future forecast, it looks like State College, PA is finally going to shed those random sixty degree days in exchange for some cooler, more fall-like weather. These are the days where jackets are thrown over longsleeve shirts in hopes to keep warm. During times like this, my go-to is probably pretty similar to most of yours, and that’s a flannel. They keep you cozy, they offer a versatile sense of style, and they usually come in enough colors to please even the toughest of critics.

With all of that said, I’ve chosen five different button downs to help all of you guys break the chill that’s soon to be oh-so prevalent. Fret not, ladies, as next week, we’ll dive into five flannels for all of you.

1. Royal Robbins San Juan Long Sleeve Shirt

Royal Robbins San Juan Shirt

Taking a subtle, yet stylish approach to the plaid look that everyone loves, Royal Robbins’ San Juan Long Sleeve Shirt is ready for anything from a dinner date to a busy Monday at the office. Being crafted from a blend of modal and polyester means that this shirt takes on a wonderfully smooth hand that won’t have any trouble standing up to your day-to-day activities, even whenever they’re taking place fifty miles away from civilization.

2. Woolrich Trout Run Dogfish Head Flannel Shirt

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Whether you’re a fan of Dogfish Head’s beer, the undeniable style and comfort of a Woolrich flannel, Herman Melville’s writing (we’ll cross that bridge shortly), or any combination of the three, I’m pretty sure that Woolrich’s Trout Run Dogfish Head Flannel Shirt is just perfect for you. A bit of background on this collaboration–Woolrich and Dogfish Head Brewery teamed up and gave one of the ultimate nods to Pennsylvania’s heritage with their PA Tuxedo line of clothing and brews. The beer features a pretty awesome blend of ingredients to give a real Pennsylvanian flavor that’s quite rich in spruce tips as well as rye. The shirt, on the other hand, is a Woolrich classic with a vibrant spin that all fashionistas will love, and it also features a pretty awesome Herman Melville quotation stitched into the tag. From slugging back your favorite beverage to sitting around the campfire, this is a flannel that you’ll always want on your side.

3. The North Face Long Sleeve Winnsburo Shirt

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Swapping the colorful plaid lines of most of the other tops in our list for a calmer appearance, The North Face’s Long Sleeve Winnsburo Shirt takes a casual approach to style that you’ll love wearing. Featuring a wonderfully soft hand and two chest pockets, this shirt is able to provide you with the perfect trifecta of style, comfort, and convenience.

4. Patagonia Fjord Flannel

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It’s been a standard in Patagonia’s line for years and that’s all for a very good reason; simply put, if you had to choose only one flannel all year long, this would be one heck of a choice. With an organic cotton construction, this flannel provides a soft, environmentally friendly feel that’s a bit on the heavy side to give you that extra bit of warmth. The Fjord Flannel puts the icing on the cake and finishes it all off with an impressive swathe of colors that will carry you anywhere.

5. Ibex Taos Plaid Shirt

Ibex Taos Plaid Shirt

Alright, alright, I know what most of you all are probably thinking: “two hundred dollars for a flannel? How can that be possible?” Well, I’ll do my best to break this one down. Ibex made their Taos Plaid Shirt entirely out of merino wool. If you’re not familiar with merino wool and its many benefits, then I’d pay close attention here because I like to think merino wool can be a life changer. Merino wool is a totally natural and renewable resource that does things like smell fresh for way longer than you thought possible, regulate your body’s temperature to keep you warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot, wick moisture like no other (merino wool can wick 30% of its weight before you even notice that it’s wet), and provide a sense of durability that’s second to none. Sure, you could probably pick up two or three other shirts for this price, but I can guarantee you that none of them will provide the comfort and versatility that the Taos Plaid Shirt can, and I’ll also tell you that this one shirt will outlast the life of those other three shirts combined.

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