Sharp Casualwear is an apparel brand that makes basic clothes for shorter gents. In this post, I’ll share my thoughts about their “Foundation Collection”.
Based in San Fransisco, Sharp Casualwear (one word) launched at the end of 2015 with three products – a crew neck tee, a v-neck tee and a polo shirt – and they sent me a couple to try on.
This post was made possible by Sharp Casualwear. Use the code TMM15 for 15% off your order.
The company was founded by Danny Hernandez, who says:
I have a broad chest and shoulders and I am shorter than 5’9″, which makes it hard to find shirt – especially casual shirts – that fit well.
Their shirts are about as basic as you can get, which is not a bad thing. They offer v-neck or crew neck t-shirts in black or grey, and a blue polo shirt.
I’ve been wearing the shirts for a few weeks and, overall, I’m pretty darn impressed. Let’s talk details…
What I Like
Here are three things I like about these Sharp Casualwear shirts:
#1: Super Comfortable – These shirts are made from a blended fabric that combines rayon, cotton and spandex. It has just enough stretch to it, but it still feels like cotton.
Now, before the naysayers get all up in arms about blended fabrics, let me just explain something real quick:
There’s nothing wrong with synthetic materials like rayon. In fact, using a blend of natural and synthetic fibers often yields the best results, in terms of comfort and durability.
People love to say things like “I only buy 100% cotton” or “Pima cotton is the best material on earth”, but guess what?
They’re wrong.
Just because people have been using cotton for thousands of years doesn’t mean it’s still the best option. I mean, we’re not getting to work via horseback, right?
(Well, most of use aren’t…you know who you are, Texas.)
The facts are: cotton retains moisture, wrinkles easily and warps under heat.
But when you blend cotton with high quality rayon (like the bamboo-derived rayon used in these shirts) the results are incredible – especially when the garment actually fits.
#2: Perfect Length – I hate when t-shirts and polos are too long. Sure, you can get them hemmed, but it’s rarely worth it, and knits are hard to alter.
These shirts stop at that sweet spot – just below the belt, right above mid-fly. The result? You look well-proportioned and maybe even a little bit taller.
No more tucking the front of your shirt behind your belt (we’ve all done it)!
#3: Versatile Colors – Solid black and grey t-shirts are wardrobe essentials. Every man should own at least 2-3 neutral, solid color tees (preferably a mix of crew necks and v-necks).
To maximize versatility, your t-shirts shouldn’t have any logos or graphics on them. These Sharp Casualwear t-shirts check all the right boxes.
What I Don’t Like
Two things:
First, I would prefer slightly slimmer sleeves. The sleeves are just a bit wide for my taste, but I have relatively thin arms for my height (nah, bro, I don’t lift).
Founder, Danny Hernandez, says they may offer different fits in the future:
Our [current] design process focuses on height as well as a broader chest and shoulders. Our fit options include Regular and Broad, and we’re exploring other fit options.
For reference, I have a 35″ chest and 11.5″ biceps (not flexing*).
*While flexing, my biceps expand to almost twice their normal size, not unlike Popeye the Sailor.
My second complaint is that the price ($40) is a little steep. It’s not that these shirts aren’t worth $40. They’re made in the USA, and they’re way nicer than anything you’ll find at H&M or even American Apparel.
But still, most guys don’t want to pay that much for a t-shirt. On the other hand, a $55 polo shirt isn’t bad at all – especially since it actually fits.
How to Wear Them
I love a basic, solid color, fitted t-shirt. It’s so easy to build a cool, casual outfit around one of these shirts.
For this post, I put together two looks. The first is just a charcoal topcoat over a black tee.
coat | t-shirt | jeans | boots | shades
I love how a topcoat can dress up a basic “jeans and t-shirt” getup. So easy!
The second look makes nice use of blue and grey layers.
jacket (old) | vest | shirt | jeans
Do you notice the shape of the V? Most v-necks aren’t made with the shorter gent in mind, so the V dips to far down your chest.
But I love the shape of this v-neck. It actually feels proportionate with my build. What a great feeling!
My Recommendation
If you’re in the market for a new t-shirt or polo, or if you’ve never been able to find one that really fits well, I recommend giving Sharp Casualwear a try – especially if you have a broad build.
Shipping and returns are free in the U.S., and you can get 15% off by using the code TMM15 during checkout.
Plus, it’s good to support new brands who are focusing on shorter gents, and you might just discover your new favorite casual shirt.
Thoughts about this brand? Leave a comment below!
Hi Brock. Great website! Are Sharp Casualwear still trading? I can’t see them on google and the links above go to an unrelated website. Thanks.
They went out of business, unfortunately!
My t-shirts just came; I placed an order last week. I ordered size Broad Small and the fit is very good. The size is a good option for us shorter guys with broad chests. I often encounter when buying shirts, even from those companies that cater to shorter men, that the smaller t-shirt sizes fit well except in the chest. As a result, it is very hard to find a perfect fit, I would note that my size inquiry to the company’s customer service went unresponded to; however, I was able to sucessfully guess my size from the info on their website.
What’s the actual color of the walker vest? I can’t seem to find it on J.Crew.
It’s from J. Crew Factory. I think it’s just called “grey” but it may be sold out…
If the founder of Sharp Casual Wear is reading this, I like to know when my order (#1015 – V Neck Jersey Knit T Shirt – Regular / M / Charcoal ….ordered from New York ) will be shipped and delivered.
I’ve emailed and called since Thursday but received no response. I don’t usually spend $40 on a simple v-neck (or even $34 with TMM’s discount). If you’re trying to build a quality brand with those prices, your customers need to see that consistency in your customer service.
Still no response. It’s like trying tor reach someone at the IRS. I already own a couple of fitted, properly lengthed, dual and tri-blend fabric tees from retailers like Express and Everlane.
Newbies like Sharp Casualwear should understand that since there is nothing proprietary about their product, they should at least differentiate themselves in their customer service. Won’t buy from these guys again.
Like you said, 40$ is a bit hefty for t-shirts, especially if you’re studying or just simply are on a tighter budget. For items like t-shirts, henleys etc. it really is worth learning how to sew and make these kinds of alterations on your own. The wardrobe filled with oversized clothes can suddenly be worn again if just altered decently enough. Doesn’t have to super nicely done right from the get go, and the more you practice the better you’ll get.
Sewing is not that hard, and all you need is a sewing machine (65$ on amazon) plus some minor additions such as a thicker needle for denim… and google.
On the other hand, 55$ for a polo with the right proportions is a price I’m well willing to pay. Would be nice if they could start making sweatshirts and hoodies as well to give Peter Manning some competition.