Your work shirt should also have some pockets - ideally two but one at the least. That doesn't mean the shirt should be super stretchy or too soft, but it shouldn't be 100 percent linen or cotton unless it's quality stuff. Synthetic fabrics hold up better in the wash - especially in industrial wash settings, which are often offered through folks' employers. First, the shirt should be at least partially synthetic. To find the right short-sleeve work shirt, you need to know what materials it should be made from and what features it should have. That being said, you're probably here because you prefer the latter. If you prefer the flexibility a short sleeve shirt offers, go with it. If you work with sharp or hot objects, a long sleeve shirt might be better for your job. You should stick with whichever option feels right. What to Look forĪlthough long sleeves were original to the work shirt, brands have since adopted short sleeves as the standard. Most are made from simple twill, but brands have slowly integrated better technology - like moisture-wicking or temperature-regulating fabrics, as well as stain-resistant treatments and even waterproof coatings. Nowadays, work shirts have buttoned fronts, standard collars (no camp or spread collars) and two symmetrical chest pockets. Sure, the long-sleeve options offered better coverage, but the short-sleeve iterations were more comfortable, easier to move around in and cooler, too, especially in workplaces where it can get more than a little hot, especially since the shirts were made from twill. They comprised long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts with matching pants for men in commercial or industrial workplaces, where uniforms might not have been provided. Work shirts, as we know them now, date back to the 1930s, when Dickies introduced its matching sets.

Red kap coveralls