Henley shirt

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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

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

  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.