A Cuban collar shirt is defined by an open, notch-cut collar that lies flat against the chest rather than closing at the throat. Also referred to as a camp collar, the style originated in Havana's guayabera shirts during the early twentieth century and has remained a warm-weather staple because of its function rather than its history. The open neckline and boxier cut allow air to circulate closer to the body, a property with particular relevance in Indian summers, where humidity affects comfort as much as temperature does.
Selecting the right version of the shirt depends less on the collar shape, which is largely standard across the category, and more on fit, fabric, and the occasions the shirt is expected to serve.
Collar and Silhouette
The Cuban collar is constructed as a single piece with a notch cut and no stiff interfacing, allowing it to sit open at the top button instead of closing at the neck. The traditional silhouette is boxy through the body, though regular, closer-cut versions have become equally common as the style has expanded from resortwear into everyday use. The shirt is also cut shorter than a formal dress shirt, designed to be worn untucked without losing shape. Selected's Cuban collar range applies these principles across regular and oversized fits, each constructed to hold its form whether buttoned to the top or worn open.
Fit and Humidity
Fit determines how the shirt performs in humid conditions as much as how it appears. A regular fit follows the body's natural line without restricting movement and suits both office-casual settings and weekend wear; it is also the more common fit within Selected's collection. Oversized fits prioritise airflow and a looser drape, and are better suited to slimmer frames or to being worn as a light layer over a plain T-shirt. The two fits are not ranked by preference but by context: a regular fit pairs naturally with tailored trousers or chinos, while an oversized fit requires slimmer bottoms to maintain proportion.
Fabric Performance in Indian Summer
Selected's Cuban collar shirts are constructed primarily from viscose, organic cotton, and lyocell, three fabrics suited to different conditions and use cases.
Viscose is the most fluid of the three, with a slight sheen that suits a shirt worn open over a T-shirt or into the evening. Organic cotton breathes better and holds its shape through repeated washing, which is what makes it the practical option for a shirt in weekly rotation. Lyocell resists creasing and pulls moisture away from the body — useful for a shirt that has to get through a commute before an evening out.
Fabric composition affects comfort in humidity more directly than colour or print, and is worth checking before purchase for anyone buying more than one shirt in this style.
Colour, Pattern, and Formality
Selected's current range spans solids in white, black, and beige alongside printed and striped versions in blue, green, red, and off-white. Colour and pattern function on a formality spectrum rather than a binary choice. Solid and muted tones sit at the more versatile end, suited to relaxed office dress codes as well as casual settings. Stripes occupy a middle position, structured enough for semi-formal daytime wear yet still casual overall. Prints and bolder colours sit at the most casual end of the spectrum and are better suited to weekend, travel, or social settings than to a workday. Within this spectrum, bolder colours read most effectively when paired with neutral, unpatterned bottoms rather than combined with additional pattern.
Building the Outfit
Styling a Cuban collar shirt is best approached through the same formality gradient that governs colour and pattern selection, applied instead to how the shirt is worn and paired.
Worn untucked with jeans and the sleeves left alone, it settles at the most casual end of that gradient — the default for a weekend or a few days of travel, paired with sneakers or sandals. Tuck it into chinos or tailored trousers and close it to the second button, and the same shirt reads smart-casual enough for an office day with a relaxed dress code, or a dinner reservation. Buttoned to the top and worn under a blazer without a tie, a solid-coloured version can stand in for a formal dress shirt at daytime events or summer functions.
An oversized fit worn open over a plain T-shirt occupies a separate use case rather than a point on this gradient: it functions as a light outer layer for cooler evenings rather than as the primary shirt in an outfit. Footwear should remain simple across all points on the gradient — loafers, minimal sneakers, or leather sandals suit the shirt's inherent informality more consistently than heavier or heavily branded shoes.
Fabric Care
Fabric care varies across the range rather than following one wash routine. Viscose and lyocell are the more delicate of the three: cold water, no wringing, and drying flat keep the shoulder seams from pulling out of shape, damage that a warm wash or a hanger left overnight can cause quickly. Cotton withstands a standard machine wash, though turning it inside out first keeps the print sharper for longer. One habit applies across all three fabrics — pressing a hot iron directly onto a printed panel is usually what fades it first, making steam the safer choice for removing creases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Cuban collar shirt the same as a camp collar shirt?
Yes. Both terms describe the same open, flat-lying collar construction. Camp collar is the more common term in American menswear, while Cuban collar is more established in British and Indian retail.
Can a Cuban collar shirt be worn to the office?
In offices with a smart-casual or relaxed dress code, a solid-coloured, regular-fit shirt in organic cotton works well tucked into chinos or tailored trousers. Bold prints are better reserved for non-office settings.
Which fabric suits Indian summers best?
Lyocell and organic cotton perform best in high humidity due to their breathability and moisture-wicking properties. Viscose is better suited to evening wear or air-conditioned settings, given its lighter structure.
Should a Cuban collar shirt be tucked in or left untucked?
Both are correct, depending on the occasion. Untucked suits casual, everyday wear; tucked in with the top button open reads more polished and suits semi-formal settings.
What is the difference between a regular fit and an oversized fit?
A regular fit follows the body's shape and pairs easily with most bottoms. An oversized fit is roomier through the chest and shoulders, and is better suited to being worn as a light layer or balanced against slimmer trousers.
Selected's Cuban collar shirts are built around this same logic: fabric choices suited to the climate, fits designed for daily wear, and a range structured to move between an office day and a weekend without requiring a separate wardrobe.
Explore the current Cuban collar edit and build a warm-weather wardrobe rooted in quality that lasts.
