Summer Shirts from J.Crew

It seems that, at the moment, everybody loves J.Crew. Even the Obamas. A few years back, I had the privilege of meeting the man responsible for the company's turnaround from plain vanilla mall store to destination of chic, Mickey Drexler. Fascinating guy. I was working at their store in the Hamptons, and he popped in for a visit. He's quite hands on, and was very interested in hearing opinions from salespeople and customers alike about the product and what could be done differently.

Anyway. They have some great mens's shirts right now, which, paired with some great white jeans, give you that casual Hamptons summer vibe. The first, pictured below, is their linen-cotton camp shirt, $98, in cool dusk. Even the color sounds perfect for dinner alfresco at Sunset Beach. The epaulets remind me of that cobalt blue Ralph Lauren number that twink icon Zac Efron was wearing in GQ this month, but this one seems much more wearable.

Next up is this chambray specimen, also $98. Say what you will about the whole workwear trend, but I feel like blue chambray has a certain classicism about it that's got definite staying power. Just please, don't wear it with blue jeans. Every few years someone comes out with a horrible proclamation that says it's okay to wear denim with denim as long as the colors don't match (ie dark jeans with a light denim shirt). I don't approve of this practice; I still think it makes you look like a farmer. I love the way this color looks with stonewashed khakis or white denim.
Then we've got this blue irish linen shirt, $79.50. I really think linen might be the perfect summer textile. The more you wash it, the softer it gets, and I love the way it wrinkles just so. Looks great with a tan. This particular shirt reminds me of a version Brunello Cucinelli did this spring, but J.Crew did it for about $400 less. Simple, classic, elegant, and not breaking the bank.
Grab a shirt in the city, hop on the LIRR's Cannonball, and you're ready for Hamptons cocktail hour.