$8 shirts! $8 shirts!

Oh, American Living, how I adore you. Both FEC of Unabashedly Prep and I have spoken highly of this brand, and it just keeps getting better. RIGHT NOW, depending on your size, you can get high quality Ralph Lauren shirts (of the same quality, in my opinion, as the Polo line) for $8, $18, or $30. While I typically choose only to pick up dress shirts, there are also the same types of things you would find in the Polo line including khakis, cords, rugbies, fair isle sweaters, repp ties, and a vast array of polo shirts. For the dress shirts, some come with pockets, some come with logos, a few come without pockets or logos (my preference, but very hard to find). Why pay $75 for a Polo Ralph Lauren shirt when you get get an $8 American Living shirt made from the same material, at the same quality, likely in the same factory? Nope, I didn't think you had a reason either. Better yet? The madras is made in India, but unfortunately, while you won't find China, you'll still find places like Indonesia, but then you get that with the Polo line as well.


Another photo taken with my iPhone, just to see if I could do it better. This one was done with the flash on and with HDR enabled. American Living's Boys XL 18-20 fits me perfectly, and it's great to know I can just grab a few shirts and go. I chose a warm flannel in yellows, greens, and blues, and a light madras in red, white, and blue. There also appeared to be a blue Pierce check, which I bypassed because I have a blue Pierce check in Vineyard Vines. I was eyeing the red and green Pierce checks, and should they still be there next week, I will snap them up at the higher $18 asking price. There were also some decent red base and green base stripes that I'll consider as the least of the bunch should I have some extra cash. Finally there were red, blue, and orange ginghams for $30 in men's small. They're a bit roomy compared to the Boys XL 18-20, and thus not my first choice, but I loved the ginghams. Still, $30 is a lot to pay when I'm getting used to $8 or $18 shirts that fit perfectly. I really wanted this great soft blue and green tattersall I found in 14-16, but alas, no 18-20, so I was denied. A shame, because, you guessed it, it was $8. I just hope they eventually release the ginghams in 18-20.

If you're on the smaller side, either as a male or a female, I urge you to make your way to your nearest JCPenney and pick up some of these awesome shirts for pennies on the dollar, and if you take care of them, they will last you just as long as any dress shirt you may have with one of the little horsies on it. The Eagle and Flag is the new improved Polo Player. I'm a believer.

Fair Winds and Following Seas.