How do you style a henley shirt?

The answer depends on the particular henley. All henleys can be undershirts, or long underwear if they are thermal, but many are not refined enough to stand alone as a shirt. Fit and fabric are the two main factors that decide if it should be worn solo. For fit, you don’t want the shirt to be too tight or too loose. If it is form fitting, like a compression shirt, that is not a good look for a shirt. On the other hand, henleys are not the type of shirt that can look good with a baggy fit – like a hoodie or jacket.

Henleys are an acceptable stand in for a collared shirt, as long as the fit is right and the fabric is crisp. For example, you can wear a white henley under a blazer with jeans and loafers. This is a comfortable elevated look for social occasions and most offices. Just make sure that the henley is a nice crisp white and, if it comes out of the wash wrinkled, give it a once over with an iron.

As for the fabric, you want a solid color that is either smooth or has a very fine waffle texture. Most cotton options work but you should also check to make sure the fabric isn’t fine enough to be transparent, especially with white.