A Great Summer Essential: The Cotton Camp Shirt
My appreciation of cotton gauze just keeps growing. It’s such a great option in hot weather because it’s cool, very soft, and you never need to iron it. Plus, the crinkles are subtler than the wrinkles that linen gets. I just toss mine in the washer and dryer, then hang it up while slightly warm. It doesn’t get any easier than that. Today I have two looks featuring a great summer essential, the cotton camp shirt.
Iām thrilled to partner with Nordstrom Rack again because they carry all the high-quality brands I love and are an easy way to update my wardrobe at up to 70% off.
I bought my first camp shirt last year and have come to love the shape. They have a retro vibe to me…probably because I love old movies, and they were very popular during the 40s and 50s. Actors and actresses used to wear them a lot…especially in movies set in tropical or vacation settings.
So what is a camp shirt? A camp shirt has an open, notched collar that lays flat. Their short sleeves are perfect for the hot weather, and their cropped length works well with all-width pants, jeans, skirts, or shorts. They even look cute over a tee-shirt dress. The camp shirt’s straight fit is very forgiving on the torso and is petite-friendly. They’re often in breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, rayon, or cotton gauze.
C & C California makes some great ones. This shirt has the soft, irregular texture I’ve come to love in gauze. It’s made from two very thin layers that are stitched together at irregular intervals, hence the crinkles, which makes it more opaque than single gauze. It’s super lightweight and cool to wear, even in black. This shirt comes in three colors, sizes 0-16. I’m not quite sure how I missed it, but this shirt also comes in rose, vanilla, and indigo here.
I paired it with these Kut From The Kloth straight-leg boyfriend jeans. These are hemmed and meant to be rolled to the length you want. I’ve cuffed them twice here. The wash looks darker in person than on the website. Boyfriend jeans have a looser fit than other jeans, with a very laid-back look. The reviews suggest you size down, but I found these have the vibe I want in my regular size.
I added my Franco Sarto sandals which are super comfy, and their ankle strap means I don’t have to grip my toes to keep them on my feet. They come in this black or a great tan.
I love this camp shirt so much, I also got it in ivory. I decided to pair it with boyfriend jeans in a paler wash and bookend the color with my Steven Madden slides.
These Seven7 high-waist boyfriend jeans do seem to run extra large, and I could easily have gone down a size or two!
These arrive already folded up, but I would fold them again to show more ankle with these sandals.
MORE COTTON GAUZE
We recently shopped at the large Nordstrom Rack in Bellevue, Washington, and found some amazing things, but my favorite way to shop them is still online because that’s where you find the largest selection. Iāve learned that when you spot something you like at Nordstrom Rack, you need to act quickly because things can sell out fast! You can also shopĀ using their app or in-store. Plus, they have easy returns to any Nordstrom Rack or Nordstrom location and the best customer service!
Do you have camp shirts in your wardrobe?
I found gauze camp shirts at Old Navy this summer..bought a clay color and a white. Love them with higher waisted jeans, both boyfriend and slim straight leg.
I have always been a big fan of camp shirts. Here in the hot (too hot) California desert, they are perfect to wear as unbuttoned “jackets” over tank tops. They help shade the shoulders from the sun, and serve as that stylish third piece.
Thatās a great idea Kay
Great post! I just order the black and white versions.
Youāll love them, Pat!
Jeans and camp shirts are in the cooler months for me but Iām looking forward to wearing my camp shirts. I do have several gauze tops that I am wearing with my linen pants. So comfortable and cool in 100+ temperatures.
Love gauze garments not only for comfort but also for their easy maintenance. As to toe-gripping sandals I hear you as nothing more annoying and therefore agree those Franco Sarto ones make sense … š. -Brenda-
P.S.: For a pair of leather low heeled/two strap/slide sandals that I have and since other methods have failed for a quick fix — I convert them to sling backs by attaching/knotting ‘clear’ 3/8″ elastic to them that is barely visible. For those interested; it is generally used in bathing suits, for bra straps etc. and can be found in sewing notions.
That’s a brilliant idea, Brenda! I hate having to grip my toes. My feet get so tired.
Hmmm Nordstrom sponsored post….perhaps they will read the comments. NORDSTROM ARE YOU LISTENING?
First, I love what you call “camp shirts”….I have some Eileen Fischer linen shirts (she calls them something else) and they are very wearable. Quality linen does wrinkle but the wrinkles are softer more subtle that cheaper linen fabric…..Spinner/Weaver here and I could take up your whole post educating readers about linen LOL The crinkle cotton is very wearable in hot weather and I would love to try these but Nordstrom we have a problem! Nordstrom left Canada (and yes I understand all the whys). There is no reason I know of that Nordstrom could not reinstate the old way they had for Canadian customers to order from their USA nordstrom.com website. I have learned that many other countries can order through Nordstrom and BorderFree handles the order….BUT NOT Canada??? Ok Nordstrom time to fix this and get BorderFree or some such service engaged to handle orders from Canadian customers before we all get so grumpy that we never want to deal with Nordstrom ever again š
I hope they resume shipping soon to Canada. I assume they will when they untangle all the legals from Nordstrom Canada.
I love the look of the camp shirt!! I don’t know how I ever missed those at the Rack. They look great paired with the boyfriend jeans. I’ve been the Bellevue Rack. So fun!
It’s a really great store location!
I have LL Bean camp shirts and they get used frequently mid summer. They are comfortable and lightweight. Thanks for adding ideas.
My pleasure!
Gauze clothing wasn’t on my radar until you blogged about it. I immediately purchased a pair of black wide leg gauze pants that I absolutely love. Even here in the South where we’re having 90+ degree heat & high humidity, they’re the coolest pants I own! Cooler than my linen pants! When wearing them, they feel light as air, as if “I’m not wearin’ nothin'” to quote the old Underalls commercial (remember that?). Now I want more gauze in my summer wardrobe!
Iām glad youāre loving it too. I donāt know why it took me so long to discover cotton gauze!
I love camp skirts and this one is very attractive. I’m on the search for one in any shade of pink! Nordstrom has a great one, but it’s a bit pricey for me.
The rose is very pretty in this one
Drat! The rose one is only available in X large. š But thank you for trying to help me. I just saw that I have a note from Nordstrom so I might go ahead and order the $$ camp shirt.
I wanted that rose too. I’m going to wait to see if they restock it.
I have always loved camp shirts and have worn them for years. The style is easy to wear and not tight fitting which is important to me in hot humid weather. My mother wore camp shirts (back in the 70’s 80’s) and I do a double take when I see myself in the mirror.
lol, theyāre a great style.
You look adorable in the camp shirt where I look dowdy- why? I think it has to do with shoulders. Mine are average not narrow abd not broad and for some reason camp style shirts just donāt flatter. Our heat here in RI is more about humidity than really high temperatures ( at least now). When Iām out of an air conditioned house or fitness center I wear a Pima cotton (no spandex) tank top to complete my early am walk. Cool shorts too and itās at first daylight around 6am so itās cooler. No one around really to judge me. But cotton and
sleeveless in that situation works well.
I agree Paulette. When itās blistering hot, all bets are off for me. Dress for the heat!
Jennifer I am sitting here laughing because I had an āah-haā moment. I LOVE the look of sandals/slides, etc. that circle ones ankle. I have 3 Grands girls (womenš„°) 23, 21, 19 and I try to buy nothing they wear ALL the time i.e. the aforementioned sandals. Welllll you mentioned you loved them because you donāt have to grip your toes to keep them on! Thatās all I needed to hear. Off to purchase a cute pair today! Thank you.
Youāre funny Terry. Happy Thursday.
Good morning Jennifer, I love the cropped length of the camp shirt. I’m tired of most tops being so long. Especially since I’m 5’4′. The shirt and Kut jeans are cute on you, and give you an easy, relaxed vibe. I’m long wasted as you are, did you find the rise to be high enough for you?
Itās a cute easy look, thanks. Yes, the rise is nice and long on me.