The knitted shirt has long flew under the menswear radar, overshadowed by its Oxford button-down and Cuban collar cousins. But this throwback style deserves a spot in any contemporary wardrobe. Rooted in heritage and worn by everyone from Elvis, Miles Davis and the Mods of the 60s, knitted shirts give off an effortless, mid-century cool. Plus they’re just downright easy to wear. Combine them with selvedge denim and desert boots for your own slice of Mod action, or dress them up with an unstructured suit in place of a regular shirt and tie.

Regardless of how and where you want to wear yours, there are plenty of labels out there who specialise in this underrated garment. From heritage names like Gabicci to modern independents like Percival, these are the best knitted shirt brands for men.

Percival

Knitted shirts have long been Percival’s thing. The British brand produces a wide range of easy-to-wear, well-constructed garments – from waterproof macs to boiled flannel overshirts to embroidered tees – but its knits are where it’s at.

Its signature style is the button-through, short-sleeved shirt, which looks great worn open over a tee or as a mid layer underneath a lightweight jacket. There are numerous colour and pattern variations available each season, from solids through to geometric prints and more abstract designs, so whatever you’re looking for there’ll be something for you.

Shop now at Percival

Artknit

Founded in 2018, young upstart Artknit set out to democratise luxury and bring a more ethical approach to fashion. Working with the world’s finest mills and offering a fully transparent supply chain, the brand encourages its customers to adopt more sustainable shopping habits with its commendable ‘buy less, buy better’ mantra.

Being a knitwear specialist, it’s shirting line is second to none, while it’s direct-to-consumer model ensures no extortionate mark-ups. Offering a curated collection of polos, button-throughs and open collar styles, they come in certified organic cotton-linen blends, 100% merino wool and upcycled cashmere. Look good, do good.

Shop now at Artknit

Orlebar Brown

What began with a pair of tailored swim shorts has turned into a fully fledged resort brand, selling everything you need for a holiday from linen shirts and sunglasses to espadrilles and of course knitted polos.

If you’re a fan of Cuban collar designs you’ll be well catered to at Orlebar Brown, with almost every colour on the spectrum available.

Shop now at Orlebar Brown

Reiss

Reiss may be one of the finest options for tailoring on the high street, but the British brand is (nearly) equally as well known for its consistently sharp range of knitted polos. Indeed, Reiss began producing the style way before many jumped on the bandwagon, championing it for its spring and summer collections.

Pieces are slim fitting and come in plenty of colours and patterns, from simple striped designs through to more elaborate printed styles.

Shop now at Reiss

Sunspel

Sunspel is best known for its British-made T-shirts and underwear, which are some of the best in the game. But its casualwear collections regularly impress, running the gamut from lightweight tailoring through to knitted polos.

Where the brand excels is with fabric. It works with a number of excellent mills, which helps transform its humble designs into luxurious staples. Its knitted polos are a case in point, cut from the finest Sea Island cotton, wool and even cashmere blends.

Shop now at SSENSE

Scott Fraser Collection

If you want to channel that throwback, mid-century aesthetic, look no further than Scott Fraser Collection. Based in East London, the up-and-coming label produces knitted shirts the way they used to be, utilising the finest soft organic cotton and collaborating with the finest artisans Italy has to offer.

Its collection is wide and varied, ranging from shawl collars to button-through versions and even shirts based on those found in films like Goodfellas and The Talented Mr Ripley.

Shop now at Scott Fraser Collection

Bound

Founded in 2018, Bound has established itself through contemporary takes on classic styles. The brand updates its product via fit – pieces are often cut slightly oversized – and subtle branding, with its logo often found in places you wouldn’t usually expect.

Its knitted shirts are some of the finest, most accessibly-priced on this list. Look out for daring patterns rendered in wearable colour palettes, as well as subtle design variations, from overhead knitted polos to button-throughs and even zip-up versions.

Shop now at Bound

Sirplus

Sirplus was born out of the idea of making use of excess fabric that shirtmakers would typically throw away. The British label regularly acquired old or disused rolls of fabric and made a brand out of it, beginning with shirts and now pumping out a fully-fledged collection, including trousers, blazers and even formalwear.

Its knitted shirts are classic and easy to wear, ranging from striped jacquard designs through to solid colours and cashmere blends.

Shop now at Sirplus

Mr P

Mr Porter’s in house brand impressed us from the beginning with its well-made, directional takes on menswear staples. It essentially offers a capsule wardrobe of interchangeable pieces, from suede jackets and jeans to tailored trousers and unstructured blazers.

Its knitted polos are always a highlight in its warm-weather collections, with their boxy cuts, soft cotton and wool construction and interesting patterns and textures.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Gabicci

If there’s one thing Gabicci is known for, it’s knitted shirts. The brand was first established in 1973 and almost immediately began outfitting Britain’s youth subcultures – from the Mods to the suedes and skinheads.

Its designs haven’t changed much from their heyday, so expect contrast collars, ribbed hems and chest pockets aplenty in silhouettes that span short-sleeved, three-button styles through to long-sleeved zip-through designs.

Shop now at Gabicci