The 2 Monkeys Classic Oxford Shirt [TM83128]

The shirt, originally an undergarment and a pullover for centuries,

became front-opening in the 1870s. Around the same time, the tuxedo became popular as formal evening wear for the upper class, and a style emerged where the front of the shirt was visible through the deep V-zone of the jacket and vest. It seems that it was around this time that the shirt itself, not just the collar and sleeves, moved away from being considered solely an undergarment.

This was likely an era when shirts became a part of fashion, and various shirts with different materials and details were created. It was a time when details from earlier periods and new details for the era mixed. Such shirts must have existed around 1890-1910.

The Classic Oxford Shirts are our take on shirts from that era, made from cotton oxford material. They combine older details such as a high-neck style collar without a collar band (which can be worn folded over) and gathers at the neckline, with modern constructions like sleeves tapered from the shoulder to the cuff at an angle, and a body that, while relaxed, follows the body's lines. The result is a shirt that allows for a smart appearance while having a soft drape at the chest.