Plain Shirts for Men
Plain shirts for men in six solid colours, each with its own texture: white, indigo, near-black, black, rust-brown and taupe.
Why plain shirts do the most work
A plain shirt pairs with everything: patterned trousers, a check blazer, jeans, a suit. It is the base of a wardrobe. Three or four solid shirts in different colours will cover most weeks, from the office to dinner to a Sunday. The trick to keeping plain shirts from feeling dull is texture: a basket weave, a slub, a close smooth weave each catch the light differently.
Which plain colours to own
| Colour | Pair with | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| White | Navy, grey, beige, jeans | Anything |
| Indigo blue | Grey, beige, white | Office, weekend |
| Near-black / black | Grey, beige, black | Evening |
| Rust-brown | Cream, navy, jeans | Festive, weekend |
| Taupe | Navy, charcoal, olive | Office, smart casual |
See the full guides: white, black, blue and brown shirt combinations.
How to wear a plain shirt
With pattern
A plain shirt is the place to let something else be bold: a check blazer, printed trousers, a textured jacket.
Tonal
A taupe shirt with brown trousers, or a near-black shirt with charcoal, looks quietly put together. Keep the shades distinct.
Contrast
Dark shirt, light trousers, or the reverse, is the simplest way to look sharp.
How a plain shirt should fit
With no pattern to distract the eye, fit is everything. Shoulder seam on the shoulder bone, an inch or two to pinch at the chest, sleeves to the wrist, no pulling at the buttons. Check the size guide.
The mtsya plain shirts
- Manu White: white, small basket texture.
- Deluge: indigo-blue slub with pale woven bands.
- Deep Water: near-black, smooth close weave.
- Ash: black, open slubbed texture.
- Geru: warm rust-brown.
- Silt: warm taupe.
All are sewn at 15–17 stitches per inch, with a soft point collar, clean placket, single-button cuffs, tonal buttons and a curved hem. Each carries only the Matsya fish stitched small at the left chest, the fish that guided Manu's boat through the flood. Regular fit, S to XXL, made in India.
Questions, answered
Which plain shirt colours should every man own?
Start with white and a mid or deep blue, then add a dark shirt such as near-black for evenings and an earth tone like taupe or rust. Those four cover the office, weekends and most events.
How do I stop a plain shirt looking boring?
Choose shirts with texture, such as a basket weave or slub, and let your trousers, jacket or shoes add pattern or contrast.
Can I wear a plain shirt with a check blazer?
Yes, that is one of the best uses of a plain shirt. Pick a shirt colour that appears in the check, or simply white.
Are plain shirts formal?
Plain white, near-black and taupe can be worn formally, tucked with dark trousers. Slubbed or rust shirts lean smart casual.
The fitting room
Read next:White shirts for men ·Black shirts for men ·Brown shirts for men ·Size guide