How to Choose Your Beach Shirt

Not all beach shirts are created equal. Here's how to choose the right men's beach shirt for your style, the occasion, and the conditions — from breezy linen to heavy terry cloth.

How to Choose Your Beach Shirt

A great men's beach shirt is one of the hardest-working pieces in your warm-weather wardrobe. It takes you from the sand to the street, from the boat to the bar, and does it all without breaking a sweat — literally or figuratively. But with so many fabrics, fits, and styles out there, how do you know which one is right for you?

Here's what to consider before you buy.

Start With the Occasion

Before you think about fabric or print, think about where you're going. A shirt for a long day on the water has different demands than one you're throwing on for a beachside dinner. A morning of paddleboarding calls for something different than an afternoon on the resort patio. Your beach shirt should fit the setting — and the great news is that the right one can do both.

The Heavy Hitters: Terry Cloth & High GSM Cotton

If you want substance in a men's beach shirt, terry cloth and high GSM cotton are your go-to options.

Terry cloth shirts have made a serious comeback in resort and beachwear, and for good reason. The looped texture is soft, absorbent, and carries an unmistakable retro leisure appeal that works perfectly in a coastal setting. It's a heavier, more structured option that holds its shape and makes a statement. Best worn on days when comfort and style are equally non-negotiable. Check out the Bondi Terry Cloth Resort Shirt for one of our go to terry cloth pieces.

High GSM cotton shirts offer durability and a substantial feel without the texture of terry. A higher thread-weight cotton drapes beautifully, resists wrinkling better than you'd expect, and softens with every wear. These are shirts built to last — the kind you reach for season after season. Check out the Nice Knit Button Up Shirt for a great heavier knit cotton

Both options work best when the day calls for a more intentional look. Think resort pools, beach clubs, open-air restaurants, or anywhere you want your outfit to do a little talking. 

The Breezy Option: Linen

When heat and humidity are the main event — and on the South Carolina coast, they often are — a linen men's beach shirt is hard to beat.

Linen is one of the oldest and most breathable fabrics in the world. It's lightweight, moisture-wicking, and gets better looking as the day goes on. A linen beach shirt in a relaxed fit with an open collar is the definition of effortless coastal dressing. It moves with you, keeps you cool, and looks equally sharp over a swimsuit or with a pair of clean shorts at dinner.

Explore the Anchor Linen Button Up for a perfect 100% linen Red Collar original piece. 

The Best of Both: Hybrid Fabrics

Can't decide between breathability and durability? Hybrid fabric shirts — typically linen-cotton or linen-viscose blends — give you the best of multiple worlds. You get the airiness of linen with the structure and wrinkle-resistance of cotton, or the drape and softness of viscose with the breathability of natural fiber.

Hybrid men's beach shirts are incredibly versatile. They work in the heat without wilting, hold their shape through a long day, and transition seamlessly from daytime casual to evening smart. If you're looking for one shirt that does everything, a well-made blend is often the answer.

Check out one of our go to brands, Mavrans who make one of the worlds most unique hybrid beach shirts. Lightweight, quick-drying reCOCOBLEND fabric featuring natural antibacterial qualities from coconut-husk fibers, UPF 50 sun protection and comfy four-way stretch.

Solids vs. Prints: Reading the Room

Once you've landed on your fabric, the next question is personality.

Solid colors are the foundation of any great beach wardrobe. A clean navy, a coastal white, a sun-faded sage — solid men's beach shirts are endlessly versatile, easy to style, and never out of place. They let the fabric and fit do the talking, and they pair with anything. If you're building from scratch, start here. Red Collar's The "Navy" Collection is a great place to find solid coastal colorways done right.

Patterned prints are where beach dressing gets fun. Camp collar shirts in retro florals, classic stripes, vintage-inspired prints, and bold coastal motifs are the statement pieces of warm-weather style. A well-chosen print doesn't need much else — pair it with simple shorts and you're done. The key is confidence. Wear the print like you meant it, because you did. Browse the New Vintage Collection for pattern-forward shirts with a heritage coastal feel.

The best men's beach shirt isn't the most expensive one or the trendiest one — it's the one that fits your lifestyle, suits the conditions, and makes you feel like the best version of yourself the moment you put it on. At Red Collar, every shirt we carry is chosen with that standard in mind. Shop all our apparel and accessories here.