Occasionally, a piece of clothing strolls into your life and does the impossible: it changes everything. I call them “the one-thing wonders” – effortless additions that rejuvenate your entire outfit rotation. For early spring, a contender has entered the fray, and it’s none other than a £26 stripey cotton shirt from Next. Who knew Next could pull off such sartorial sorcery?
Striped shirts are hardly groundbreaking – they’ve been the bread and butter of preppy dressing, collegiate charm and office chic for decades. But Next’s take –the “Girlfriend” shirt – manages to deliver a fresh spin, particularly with a notable quartet of striped shirts. Think Martha Stewart casual meets Instagram cool. The kind of shirt you could save to your @cabmate mood board or wear to lead a meeting without breaking a sweat.
Take the pink-and-red version. With its wide, vertical lines and horizontal stripe pocket detail, it has a sprinkling of Yves Saint Laurent chic to it – specifically, his love of pairing pink and red. Meanwhile, the navy-and-pink, pale yellow and navy iterations lean into relaxed, breezy cool, while the khaki-green option (with cream and black pinstripes) is utilitarian yet polished.
What makes these shirts irresistible isn’t just their look, though; it’s their uplifting blend of ease, fun and just enough polish to leave you feeling like you have your life (and outfit) together. And let’s not overlook their price tag: £26 for 100% cotton. Recyclable, washable, durable and wallet-friendly.
I’ve slowly curated a small but cherished collection of striped shirts over the years. My current favourite? A men’s vintage Ralph Lauren in pale yellow and navy, (find similar on eBay for £24). I’ve also been eyeing With Nothing Underneath’s sustainable Boyfriend Shirts – crafted from Tencel and starting at £120 – for months. But these Next shirts are a revelation: affordable, fresh and joyfully wearable. Isn’t that exactly what we’re all hoping for in a £26 miracle?
