Dive Deep Into the World of Indigo Menswear

To talk about the best indigo menswear, you’ve got to go back millennia. Indigo is a naturally occurring deep blue dye that now finds itself put to great use in the world of men’s style. Ever spotted a denim jacket with a distinct fade? A button-down shirt with an almost surreal, blurred quality? That all comes through thanks to indigo dye. 

Indigo dye can be applied to plenty of familiar style staples, most notably cotton denim, known as selvedge, that hasn’t been pre-washed. And there are a host of other leisurely and rugged must-haves that gain added flair from the use of indigo dye, taking on a distinct patina with each wear, thanks to a dipping process that sees either fibers or entire pieces dyed in blue. 

Rocking just about anything indigo is highly personal, it gives one a sense of achievement—those jeans are uniquely yours—and it’s a mark of good taste. Don’t overthink things when given the option to buy some of the best indigo menswear: There’s something for everyone out there.

It’s funny to imagine a T-shirt getting a bath in indigo dye, but Buck Mason makes the henley a bit more nuanced by dipping cotton and hemp yarn in the blue stuff. The result is a pleasing, easy-to-layer shirt that’ll feel even softer with every wear—a softness ideal for cool spring and summer mornings. The three-button placket also resists wrinkles, a nice touch when it comes to durability. 

Buy at Buck Mason | $128

Workwear and indigo have been bedfellows for years. Original workwear jackets, with patch pockets and a button front, were made from cotton denim in deep blue, which naturally broke in and faded. Wythe New York nods to heritage styles with a handsome take on the hunting jacket, built from a cotton-linen blend you can easily layer over a classic tee. 

Buy at Huckberry | $298

If ever there were a poster child for using indigo in menswear, it just might be selvedge denim. Renowned for its quality, durability, and a stiffness that molds to your body over time, there’s a reason denimheads obsess over the stuff, from its fabric weight to its place of origin. 3sixteen knows its way around a pair of selvedge, and these are a fine intro to the category. 

Buy at Huckberry | $250

Indigo need not apply solely to hard-wearing selvedge denim. It’s also found its way into shorts that toe the line between loungewear and a leisurely happy hour ‘fit. Made from soft, washed, organic cotton indigo chambray and featuring yarns that will fade over time, these shorts blend the contrast stitching and pockets of workwear with an elastic waistband for supreme comfort. 

Buy at Taylor Stitch | $92

Has anyone ever looked cooler rocking a denim Western shirt with blue jeans than Ralph Lauren? We’ll save that debate for another time, but this elegantly rugged indigo plaid shirt shows that indigo menswear needn’t be just one solid color—‚have some fun with it this season by incorporating a dash of pattern. 

Buy at Huckberry | $225

Indigo offers plenty of possibilities in the menswear world, right down to your accessories. Deep blue, 100-percent cotton gains even more character with original Imogene + Willie artwork, another reason to love a USA-made brand that holds its Nashville roots—and a penchant for hard-working quality—near and dear. 

Buy at Imogene + Willie | $36

It makes perfect sense that a brand known for outfitting explorers and prospectors far afield would hold steadfast to its roots by carefully crafting a tough-as-nails chambray shirt. Rinsed indigo chambray fabric in a tight weave makes the difference here, while front-button chest pockets bolster your everyday carry storage space. 

Buy at Filson | $145

Speaking of shaking up your style rotation with a shot of pattern, Billy Reid’s custom take on the indigo shirt brings a whole new look and feel to afternoon BBQ attire this season. Dress it up underneath a khaki blazer or rock it on its own, Miller High Life in hand. We have a feeling Billy himself would approve. 

Buy at Billy Reid | $228