From sun-drenched tees to layering heroes, Taylor Stitch pieces blur the line between summer staples and year-round workhorses.
Summer’s here, which means it’s time to kick back, relax, and dig up those long-lost shorts, lightweight (possibly vacation-only) shirts, and tees that haven’t seen the sun since last August. If you haven’t swapped out your seasonal wardrobe yet—no judgment—consider this your gentle nudge to build a closet that works year-round.
With versatile silhouettes and durable fabrics, Taylor Stitch’s essentials are designed to carry you through any season. These are timeless staples made from environmentally-friendly fabrics—perfect whether you’re trapped in the wage cage under a blazer or out on the ranch under a denim jacket. Classics like Oxford shirts, tees that get softer with every wash, chore coats that do far more than just chores, and jackets that fade beautifully, like a Polaroid of your best summer stories.
Personally, I try to keep all my clothes in one closet—seasonal separation anxiety is real—so I’ve already folded in a few Taylor Stitch pieces that play nicely with what I already own. Here’s how I’ve been styling them, from those “is it early fall?” kind of days to the full-blown, sun-blasted, back-sweat bonanza afternoons.
The Essentials for Every Season:
The In-Betweener You’ll Never Want to Take Off: The Primer Jacket
Some days, layering a sweatshirt under a denim jacket feels like a workout before you’ve even had your coffee. It’s bulky, it’s sweaty, and peeling it off mid-day when the sun decides to show off is a whole production. The Primer Jacket solves this layering dilemma.
This beauty is the ultimate in-betweener—made from soft, 14-oz. French terry with a bleached wash that gives it the vintage vibe of something you “borrowed” from an estate sale (and never gave back). Thanks to a generous helping of pockets, it’s like a sportier chore coat.
I threw it on over an indigo T-shirt with some brown cotton-canvas pants. The deep blue and light blue hit that perfect contrast sweet spot—and let’s be honest, no summer fit is complete without a pair of scuffed-up, all-white canvas sneakers that have clearly seen some things.
The Swiss Army Knife of Jackets: The Ojai Jacket
Whether you’re tending tomatoes, cruising at 30,000 feet, or weaving through a farmers market with a coffee in hand, a chore coat is essential gear. And the Ojai? It’s one of the label’s all-time best-sellers—for good reason. Made to take a beating, it’s cut from tough 8-oz. cotton and reinforced with double-needle stitching for added durability.
It’s basically a wearable tote bag, thanks to a generous helping of pockets, and it pairs with just about everything in your closet. Tees, denim shirts, double-knees, chinos—you name it, the Ojai’s got your back (and front, and sleeves).
The Button-Up That Works Overtime: The Jack
Tees are great. They keep you cool, come in every fit and color under the sun, and require zero brainpower to throw on. But let’s be honest—they can fall a little flat on their own. That’s where the Oxford shirt swoops in like a sartorial superhero. Toss one over your tee and you've got an easy, everyday uniform that works in any season.
In my humble yet confident opinion, aside from a great-fitting pair of jeans, an Oxford shirt should be your second essential. Worn solo with the sleeves rolled up, it’s casual cool. Pair it with a suit? Suddenly, you’re the sharpest guy at the party.
This one, in particular, is garment-dyed to feel broken-in from day one, but with enough heft to survive your laundry habits. The beauty of it? The more you wash it, the better it gets—like your favorite pair of jeans. It softens, frays, molds to your shape, and ages like a fine denim-wrapped wine.
Nature’s Tie-Dye and the Perfect Neckline: The Organic Cotton Tee
The number one thing to look for in a T-shirt? The neckline. Where it sits is crucial—too loose and you’re flashing collarbone like it’s a red carpet moment, too tight and you’re auditioning for a boy band. A reinforced or ribbed neckline keeps everything in place and makes it easy to dress up with some soft suiting—no saggy necklines ruining your vibe.
Now, if you’re like me and have already covered your T-shirt basics (navy, black, white, grey, olive—the usual suspects), it’s time to have a little fun. Take this rinsed indigo tee, for example. I’ll be pairing it with some brown pants, maybe even throwing in a cameo from my olive fatigues. I plan to wear it all season, wash it like a human with responsibilities, and hang it to dry outside so it gets a little sun-faded charm. The goal? To cook up my own custom colorway by summer’s end, courtesy of good old-fashioned natural patina. Nature’s tie-dye, if you will.
Canvas Pants That Can Handle Anything: The Chore Pant
If there’s one pair of pants built to last you a lifetime, it’s the chore pant. At nearly 13 ounces of cotton canvas, this beast has been stone-washed for that perfectly broken-in vibe and comes with double-knee reinforcement—because your knees deserve luxury too.
I’ve been living in these since early spring, and they’ve carried me right into the pre-summer stretch. Sure, they’re a bit on the hefty side, so once the thermostat hits 80, I give them some well-deserved time off. But until then, we’re rolling deep.
The brown colorway is especially versatile—it plays nice with anything in the navy, olive, and cream Pantone family. And the best part? These are the kind of pants you want to get dirty. Whether you’re in the garage, tinkering around the house, or just pretending to be handy, they’re basically indestructible—or at least they feel that way.
Written by Leon Hedgepeth
Leon Hedgepeth is a menswear writer and market editor based in Cincinnati, Ohio. His work has appeared in Huckberry, New York Magazine’s The Strategist, Sprezza, GQ, and The Wall Street Journal. He has over a decade of experience in the fashion and communications industry. When he’s not writing, he enjoys spending time with his family, brewing local coffee, and digging through the latest record releases. You can reach him at leonhedgepeth93@gmail.com.
