Last year, it was all about the Cuban collared shirt. This spring, the bowling shirt, its sister clothing, has become the talk of the town. We get a lowdown from designers and stylists on how to wear them.
Commonly confused with the printed Cuban collared shirts, bowling shirts have been casually making their way to the runways with flamboyant prints, silk fabrics, and coordinated monograms. When you first take a look at these basic straight-out-of-the-50s shirts, they do not seem all that edgy, but once the satin fabric and tie dye print comes together, that’s when the party starts.
Loose bold bowling shirts have been granted access back into the fashion orbit and this spring, it’s time to embrace the Tony Soprano-inspired shirts in your wardrobe. In actual fact, the bigger and bolder, the better. The best part? These shirts work with everything from a well-cut, cropped trouser to a swim trunk doubling as a short. Or, worn with a clean-lined blazer, they make for a cheeky, but still office-appropriate look.
The gender neutral short sleeved shirt can be paired with a basic T-shirt underneath and trousers, making it an instant hit for the upcoming season. Designer Kunal Anil Tanna suggests a few ways to style this piece. “The bowling shirt is an easy fitting casual style. It is usually styled with knee-length shorts. You can also layer it over a crew neck T-shirt with few/all buttons open, or even wear it under a casual jacket for a more dressed up vibe. The collar and the fit are the USP, hence, while styling, that should not be clashed with. Since they are easy fitting and very comforting, it’s alluring to incorporate them in our daily wear. One could team it with chinos and a casual cotton jacket to attend a brunch, or simply tuck it in with deeper toned jeans and add a fedora to rock an evening date,” he suggests.
Talking about the best colours and prints for these shirts, Tanna continues, “My preference is usually solid colour-block styles. However, stripes, too, are very stylish.”
Non-fashion consumers are likely to get confused between the Cuban collared and the bowling shirt. “There is a minor difference with the collar styles. The Cuban shirts are more prominently like a notch collar and lapel style,” the designer opines.
BOWLING SHIRT STYLES
THE BASIC
A classic single-coloured, Charlie Sheen-inspired bowling shirt has to be on the list of styles to copy from. The traditional bowling shirt is a vintage throwback for everyone trying the trend in ’21. Get a co-ord bowling set, and you will settle in perfectly.
CLASSIC STRIPES
Can stripes ever go wrong? Stripes have been in style since as long as we can remember. It adds an understated elegance to any outfit, and makes the wearer look a little slimmer. A vertical striped bowling shirt will bring a hint of classic minimalism to your daily wardrobe.
DARK FLORALS
Up your look with some Tony Montana-inspired floral bowling shirts this spring. Instead of bright florals, go for dark moody floral designs that bring out an edgy look. Pair it with black jeans and Chelsea boots, and you’re ready to channel your inner rockstar.
GRAPHICS
‘70s inspired graphics, geometric and wild prints, all come under one roof. The graphic shirt is a statement in itself. Spice up your seasonal closet with bowling shirts with vibrant colours and archival vintage patterns.
BAROQUE
If you’re looking to add a Versace-sque element to your bowling shirts, baroque prints are the ones to adopt this spring. Nothing like a good hint of gold and black baroque prints for your Sunday brunch.
