The people who really know me know that I can be a joker. I come across as quite serious often, but in reality, I love a good laugh, I love to make jokes, and I like to be witty when I can be. Sometimes, we have to look at ourselves and be able to laugh it off and not take things too seriously. One of those things for me is my waistline. I grew up very fit as I played soccer my entire youth up to age 22. Then I moved to London and 1 million pints later, my waist region had transformed. Drastically. Now at 41, it is hard to reverse, not impossible, but hard. And so the popover shirt helps.
What I Love About the Popover Shirt
I never liked buttons in my waist region. Not even when I was “skinny.” They just never seemed to sit right, not at least with how I liked my shirts to look. I was always fidgeting with the shirt, pulling it out, tucking it back in, moving it left to right, for it to sit exactly how I wanted it to. But with the popover shirt, it stays in place better, at least it appears as such. There are no buttons to mess around with and no seams bothering you in your belly button region. That makes it, at least for me, infinitely more comfortable.
The Downside of the Popover Shirt
Now, I would be doing you an injustice if I only sold you on the positives when there is one important aspect to think about when it comes to popovers. The reality is that you have to treat them like a t-shirt/polo and pull them over your head. That is not always so easy for some, especially in the hotter Summer months, where perspiration on your back makes them hard to pull off. Some might say, ‘Well, my polos are not hard to pull off.’ And the reason is that they are made in a stretch jersey fabric, which is far more malleable. That can be achieved in the popover shirt, but when ordering linens, cottons, wools, and the like, you must be made aware of that fact.
The Reality of a Man’s Waistline
With the way the world is today, it is far easier to fall into a more sedentary lifestyle, often in front of a computer while sitting, on our couches watching series, driving in our cars, etc. And due to that, not even mentioning the unhealthy food, and other vices, it is easy for a man to grow a waistline he might not be proud of. I sure did. And while we have the ability to do something about it, let’s be honest, it is always easier said than done.
I think that every man should better himself by working out. I think more than anything, it benefits us mentally, which is very important. But often in doing so, you will not see a change from one day to the next. I certainly don’t. And until I find myself back at the weight I desire, I utilize the popover shirt to give me the look that at least makes me feel good. Truth be told, even when I do cut that waistline, I will still use this shirt as I simply think that it produces a more versatile look.
The Versatility of the Popover Shirt
What I really love about this style is its versatility. Not only can you wear it with a suit and tie. But more importantly, it looks better to me than a traditional button-up shirt when worn casually. The blend of a dress-style shirt the a polo-style upper region makes it easier to transition between the formalities of various styles.
This video/post is quite different than what I normally speak of, mainly because it touches on a real, personal, and emotional level. I hope that you have all enjoyed it, and for those of you who understand exactly what I am referring to in this post, I hope that it has helped you.
I get my popover shirts from Yeossal. Access my archive of posts about the brand here.
Make your popover shirt here: https://www.yeossal.com/
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob