If you were to ask the Grazia desk what one item of clothing they would take if they were on a desert island, the answer would probably be either a shirt or a white tee. There's one simple reason for that: a boxy shirt is inherently cool. And I mean that both figuratively and literally. It's cool temperature-wise if you're dreading the tube on your morning commute, but also cool in that it looks incredibly chic with little to no effort required (our favourite kind of dressing).
What if I told you your favourite striped shirt was about to get even cooler? Uniqlo has taken the silhouette of its classic shirt and cropped it into a shape that's far more breezy. The Oxford Boxy Shirt is made from a soft cotton-rayon blend fabric and features a hem that cuts off a lot higher than your average shirt, which surprisingly makes it a lot cooler. Plus, it still has all the smart features you'd expect, like a stand-up collar, button-down front and adjustable cuffs.
Uniqlowww.uniqlo.com
Part of Uniqlo's collaboration with JW Anderson, its Oxford Boxy Shirt is one you can wear to the office, styled with a pair of wide-leg trousers and loafers, and then to after-work drinks with a simple change of shoes.
Available in three different striped colours, Uniqlo (as with most of its pieces) always nails wearability and versatility by keeping the prints neutral. The classic blue stripe has that rom-com borrowed-from-my-husband look, so lean into that and tuck it into a pair of straight or wide-leg jeans, and finish with ballet flats. On the other hand, the neutral with pale pink stripes is perfect for summer, so offset some of that sweetness with tailored black trousers and chunky dad sandals, or wear open over the top of a mini dress. The dark grey is perhaps the most transitional of the trio, so style when the weather gets cooler underneath a trench coat and with a skirt and knee-high biker boots. Each one of the three shirts deserves a spot in your wardrobe, but if I had to pick a favourite? Of course, it would be the classic blue stripe.
Uniqlowww.uniqlo.com
Uniqlo's Oxford Boxy Shirt is also available in a natural stripe - this time with a cream material and pink stripes. Style it with a pair of denim shorts and flip flops, or dress it up and tuck into a linen skirt and finish with a statement necklace.
Uniqlo's Oxford Boxy Shirt makes a change from the classic shirts we know (and most definitely love). With its slightly shorter length (but not so inappropriately short that you wouldn't be able to wear it to the office), Uniqlo's shirt is one that will bring a fresh shape and a hint of colour to any outfit. Just ask Carrie Bradshaw: that one cropped pink shirt she paired with a lime midi skirt in Sex and the City is still up there, in my opinion, as one of the most iconic outfits (albeit sartorially outrageous at first glance) of all time - but, it's proof that sometimes the most fun outfits involve a classic cropped shirt.
Shop: More Cropped Shirts
COSwww.cos.com
COS's Cropped Striped Cotton Shirt is also finished with a signature blue stripe, as well as easy-to-style blue and white tones. Made from lightweight cotton and touches of linen, the shirt also has a cropped hem and buttoned front for a breezy feel.
Anthropologiewww.anthropologie.com
Anthropologie's take on a striped shirt is much louder than the likes of COS and Uniqlo, but it's a good one to have in your wardrobe to inject some colour into those outfits that would otherwise feel, well, dull.
Weekdaywww.weekday.com
If you're on the hunt for a blue cropped shirt, Weekday has an iteration just like the Uniqlo style. Made from soft cotton and finished with details like a pointed collar and buttoned cuffs, style it tucked into a pair of denim jorts.
Uniqlowww.uniqlo.com
Designed by Clare Waight Keller as part of Uniqlo
Main image credit: Instagram/@curationstation__, LTK/@brokeadultgirl, Uniqlo
Gemma Lavers is a fashion commerce writer at Grazia, where she tracks down viral pieces and is as comfortable navigating the M&S new-in page as she is dissecting the latest celebrity look. When not writing, shopping or at Reformer Pilates (a cliché but she's hooked), Gemma will likely be planning her next holiday (and what she's going to wear). For a glimpse into said travels, outfit inspo and life as a journalist, follow her on Instagram or TikTok.