Five Things 06
Super extra small vintage OG-109s for the kids, made-in-USA henleys, forever linen shirts, and Festival-ready Barbour jackets in Selectism for Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Shirts and some Barbour are of the matter this week, with a selection of tops that I, and my son, have discovered this summer. Unlike some other mentions, we have personally worn and purchased every shirt listed below with the exception of Applied Art Forms which is in the mail.1
Shirting is personal. It’s one of those categories where fit, fabric, and hand-feel matter. It should because it’s on top you. A shirt can be the first thing someone notices, or the thing that subtly makes you feel dressed. Whether it’s the way the sleeves hit, the cotton/linen weight, or just how it drapes when you move, finding the right one feels good.
Let me know what shirts you’re getting into this summer.
A quick travel note: I’m heading to Portugal for a good portion of July. If you’re in the city of Lisbon, or have some great recommendations for the city, please do reach out!
– Jeff
US Army OG-109 Crewneck Half Sleeve T-Shirt
They say your kids eventually become you. In some ways, that’s terrifying. But in others, it’s kind of great, especially when you’re into some very specific, maybe even niche things that most dads probably aren’t. But, if you’re reading Selectism, you’re probably like me: You like good things. You like the stories behind good things. You like things made in places you know.
My son likes good things, and is able to reference quite a number of them across almost any given category. At the moment, his favorite things are robotics, 3D printers, and stylish clothes.
What’s stylish to a nine-year-old might surprise you, and, scarily, it’s not all that different from what his parents think is cool. And just as expensive!
For him, it started with BAPE—that prototypical streetwear brand that’s somehow managed to ride nearly every wave in the culture without losing relevance. He discovered it on a trip to New York City during Comic Con last summer. Once he walked through the doors, it was over for my wallet. Like over.
That firsthand experience helped him start to understand what makes something “good,” or at least “different” than what he could get through traditional mall, though I would not be surprised if BAPE lands in a mall stateside at some point - not a bad thing.
Fast forward to this past week in Los Angeles, where my son came prepared with a list of shops to visit, including Golf (Tyler, the Creator’s brand), Stüssy, and yes—BAPE again. My son found very few things actually fit him: neither BAPE, nor Golf Los Angeles’ stores offer much sizing for kids, so he acquiesced by purchasing small or extra-smalls when possible/lucky.
But something more important happened when I suggested we stop in at the Mister Freedom, the vintage-inspired clothing brand founded by Christophe Loiron. Inside the Mister Freedom store, where one can look up and down, left and right and see nothing but incredible heritage inspired garments mixed in with vintage, my son was able to find things that fit. A big reason being that some 50-100 years back, we men and women had smaller builds, and he now understood the potential in that. Instead of seeing vintage as used and old, he now saw it as an opportunity to style himself.
Within minutes, he was walking over to me in a super-well fitted 1970’s OG-109 Short Sleeve crewneck t-shirt in size - get this - XXS. He had confidence in wearing so much so that he documented it with Ray-Ban Meta glasses, a video of which you can see below.
He knows how much I love vintage. And now he’d found a piece of it that worked for him. That moment felt like a small win—for him, and for me.
Visit Mister Freedom at 7161 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036.
Mister Freedom P.T. Henley Henley Shirts
As I’ve said ad nauseam, there’s no easy way to stay dry during a Miami summer. The weather is downright appalling. “dry fit” performance tees only go so far, and most polo shirts suck (though I’ve had surprising success with Banana Republic’s Luxe Touch polos, which frankly should not be slept on). Linen works exceptionally well, and you’ll find a linen shirt I love below, but for the most part, all the good stuff is made from cotton.
Self Edge in Los Angeles gave me some firsthand time with Mister Freedom’s P.T. Henley collection. Henley shirts are great for hot days. They’re a solid alternative to performance gear or bad polos. Like all things vintage-inspired, I sized up to an XL in Mister Freedom henley shirts. The fit is fantastic due to how they build them and the real cat-eye bone buttons give it characteristics set it garment apart from others. Another special characteristic is extended ribbed cuff that give it a nice fit on wear. A elevated henley shirt this is.
The P.T. HENLEY is exclusively cut from our “SKIVVY” all-cotton tubular jersey knit (no side seams), a fabric of MF® SKIVVY T-Shirt fame.
Self Edge only had the army green version, so I looped around the block to the Mister Freedom store and grabbed the black and white ones too. At first, I thought the black fit completely differently than the green. Turns out I had tried on an irregular-fit B-stock shirt that had been mixed in with regular inventory. Worth noting if you’re buying in-store.
Available at Self Edge online or in store.
James Perse Lightweight Linen Shirts
One last call out from Los Angeles in the form of local brand James Perse. The California-born brand covers men’s and women’s wear though a minimalistic, soft approach, creating garments that give a bit of a progressive slacker vibe. It’s laid back and warm brand that does wonders with earth colors and tones.
The James Perse lightweight linen shirt is no exception. It’s custom build for hot Miami weather and rightfully available in nine colors. Now nine colors may seem like much, but this is a staple garment, and one that has been in the James Perse collection for quite some time. The natural evolution of the shirt could have come in trying to make the fit even better, but quite frankly, I’ll keep the fit and take all the colors for my closet. It is that well-rounded of an item.
For slackers who love a slightly disheveled look, you’ll love the inherent wrinkling that comes with linen.
James Perse Lightweight Linen Shirts are available in every color know to man for $225.
Applied Art Forms PM2-2 Short Sleeve Shirts
In the mail as they say.
Applied Art Forms is one of those boutique design houses that focuses on modernizing classing utilitarian garments without compromising on materials nor factory to build them. Applied Art Forms turns to the factories and materials providers that can match or beat their original “Origins” pieces, a collection of vintage garments that are the inspirational foundation of the brand.
The PM2-2 is meant to be very oversize like a guayabera shirt, but that’s where the comparison ends. Materials-wise the shirts are made form 100% herringbone cotton twill that is specially washed and treated to give it a certain “texture” as the brand calls it. It’s a unique part of the garment construction that give it the hallmarks of unique.
While I tend to avoid short-sleeve full button shirts, the contrasting ripstock pockets drew me in. Made in Portugal.
Applied Art Forms PM2-2 Short Sleeve Shirt is available in clay, dusty olive or black for $360.
100 Re-loved Barbour Jackets for Oxfam
OK, so I lied about just five shirts—but only because, as I was about to hit send on this newsletter, I caught wind of the 100 Re-loved Barbour Jackets, part of an ongoing initiative by Barbour to raise money for Oxfam.
The 100 Re-loved Barbours will be available exclusively at Glastonbury Festival in England for a second year, where attendees can shop—or even rent—a Barbour for the famously wet and muddy weekend.
These one-offs are great: rebuilt from deadstock materials and vintage Barbours, then finished with a commemorative Glastonbury Festival placard.
There’s not much coverage online outside of a Barbour’s Instagram, but this one gives a solid breakdown of the initiative.
What we do know: they’ll be available starting Wednesday, June 25, at all Oxfam shops on the festival grounds. Word is they go fast. All proceeds go to Oxfam.
I say “we” because the first shirt is from my son’s closet, not mine.
Great read. Glad you brought this back!
Yes! All five.