Thanks to popular men’s designers including Missoni and Louis Vuitton sending models down their runways sporting modern-day versions of the Cuban collar shirt, this easy and relaxed style garment has been enjoying somewhat of a fashion renaissance recently. Ultimately flattering, versatile and casually chic, it’s such an easy wardrobe staple that can be styled multiple ways. It provides a simple yet stylish silhouette that suits all body shapes and sizes, creating a broad shoulder look. While the distinctive open collar delivers a casual and laidback summer vibe, there’s also something very dapper about this clean-cut shirt. If you’re ready to channel your inner Chandler Bing, while taking things up a notch in the fashion stakes, stick around and read on to discover the Best Cuban Collar Shirts to add to your collection. Please be aware that wearing this fashion piece is likely to make your other half hot under the collar.
The Best Cuban Collar Shirt
1Joe’s USA Retro Bowling Cuban Collar Shirt
Made from a wrinkle-resistant cotton and polyester mix fabric that is super easy to care for, this soft peached twill retro-inspired Cuban collar shirt from Joe’s USA features short sleeves for a relaxed summer vibe. Wear with American made jeans, smartly tailored trousers or chinos for an easy-off duty look. The bowling inspired design has a very vintage look and feel and is available in five different striped colored panels set against classic black. As you’d expect from a traditional Cuban inspired shirt, it features an open collar and hem with side vents for the ultimate in comfort.
Wrinkle-resistant cotton shirt
Retro styling in five colors
Open collar and hem design
Easy wear side vents for comfort
- BrandJoe’s USA
- ModelUSAL52314759
2JD Apparel Men’s Cuban Collar Guayabera Shirt
A sharp and stylish choice, this premium cotton and polyester mix shirt from the label JD Apparel is designed in the classic Cuban Guayabera style. Complete with signature embroidery and four front patch pockets, it’s an authentic-looking and comfortable to wear piece that will quickly become a summer style staple. This shirt features all the usual Cuban inspired touches you’d expect to find, including a straight hem, semi-spread collar, and folded cuffs. It’s also available in over twenty different color options, so there is a JD Apparel Men’s Shirt for all styles and tastes. The brighter tropical vibe colors are an excellent option for a summer garden party, vacation, or a laid back casual wedding vibe. Throw on a light suit with your Cuban Guayabera shirt for the perfect smart casual attire. For more must-have stylish clothes like this, check out our guide to the best flannel shirts.
Classic relaxed style Cuban fit
Over twenty different colors available
Short-sleeve design with embroidered detailing
Four front patch button pockets
- BrandJD Apparel
3Cubavera Cuban Embroidered Tonal Men’s Shirt
Whether you are hanging by the pool on vacation or headed out for drinks and dinner with friends, this charming shirt from Cubavera will add a touch of cool to your laid back off-duty style. Made from a Rayon and Polyester mix, this Cuban Collar shirt is easy to care for and can be washed and tumble dried for your convenience. It’s designed in a relaxed and comfortable Heritage style fit that’s easy to wear, delivering the perfect blend between smart and casual. A left chest pocket and coconut textured buttons add to those special extra design features making this Cubavera Shirt a popular and versatile choice. Overall this shirt delivers a very modern yet timeless aesthetic and looks beautiful paired with suit pants, shorts, chinos, or even denim jeans.
Rayon and Polyester easy care fabric mix
Left chest single pocket and textured buttons
Classic heritage Cuban style fit
Attractive tonal stitching detail
- BrandCubavera
- ModelCUWM40D4
4BeRetro Short Sleeve Cuban Men’s Shirt
Decorated with striped panel detailing, this bowling inspired retro looking shirt from BeRetro is a very stylish choice. It’s fabricated from 100% Polyester, which is soft, lightweight and easy to take care of. The black, charcoal and silver color scheme provides an effortlessly suave and stylish impression and will have you channeling your inner Tony Soprano. The soft bowling collar delivers a further relaxed silhouette while the embroidered design detailing on the left chest panel elevates this BeRetro Cuban shirt to more sophisticated heights. Keep your bottom half pared down and simple by styling this shirt with tailored dark trousers or a pair of contrasting chinos. You’ll look just as inspired hitting the lanes as you will the lounge. For more casual must-have wardrobe items, check out our guide to the best v-neck t-shirts.
Made from 100% easy care Polyester
Full button design
Charcoal and silver tonal paneling
Left chest embroidered with diamond shape detailing
- BrandBeRetro
5Platoon Guayabera Short Sleeve Cuban Men’s Shirt
A stylish and sharp inspired choice, this premium polyester and cotton mix shirt from Platoon is designed in the classic Cuban Guayabera style. Complete with four front patch pockets and beautiful embroidery, it’s an authentic-looking and comfortable to wear piece that is a versatile summer wardrobe staple. This shirt features all the usual Cuban inspired touches you’d expect to find, including a straight hem and button closure. It’s available in a beautiful range of colors and a full set of sizes and is an excellent garment to wear for a summer garden party or on your family vacation. Lightweight, breathable as well as being machine washable, this Platoon Guayabera Short Sleeve Shirt delivers a relaxed and casual silhouette. Be sure to pack it in your luggage next time you head out of town.
Classic relaxed style Cuban fit
Over fourteen different colors available
Short-sleeve design with embroidered detailing
Four front patch button pockets
- BrandPlatoon
6Cubavera Houndstooth Print Shirt with Insert Panels
Crafted from a lightweight and breathable Rayon and Polyester mix fabric, this houndstooth print short-sleeved shirt from the Cubavera Men’s collection will add a sense of vintage cool to your summer ensembles. It’s cut and designed in a traditional and relaxed, comfortable style that is easy to wear no matter what your size and stature. It provides plenty of movement and with the added feature of a Cuban collar, has a relaxed aesthetic. The contrasting insert with stitching detail elevates this shirt to a new sophisticated level. We recommend you wear this contemporary looking Cubavera Shirt with a pair of khaki shorts for a winning summer combination. It also makes a cool stylish gift for summer days.
Rayon and Polyester houndstooth fabric mix
Machine washable and easy to care for
Classic heritage Cuban style fit
Attractive contrast insert stitching detail
- BrandCubavera
- Weight4.5 Ounces
7BeRetro Short Sleeve Vintage Cuban Men’s Shirt
This vintage-inspired bowling style shirt from BeRetro is decorated with striped panel detailing, and is a very stylish choice. It’s been designed from 100% Polyester providing it with a soft and lightweight feel against the skin. It’s also super easy to take care of and is machine washable. The black and white bowling inspired color scheme to provide a stylish and suave overall impression. A soft bowling collar delivers a further relaxed silhouette while the embroidered design detailing on the left chest panel elevates this BeRetro Cuban shirt to a more sophisticated level. Whether your bowling or simply hanging out on a hot summer night, you will cut a stylish yet casual figure wearing this short-sleeved Cuban collar shirt from the BeRetro range. If you are also looking for a durable but stylish shirt for outdoor activities, check out our guide to the best tactical shirts and pick your favorite.
Made from 100% easy care Polyester
Full button design
Black and white attractive tonal paneling
Left chest panel embroidered with retro shape detailing
- BrandBeRetro
- Weight1 Pounds
8Cubavera Tropical Floral Print Shirt
Very much taking its inspiration from the Hawaiian shirt, this printed short-sleeved shirt from the Cubavera range is perfect holiday attire. The floral print is available in four different contemporary colors, each of which compliments well with jeans, shorts, or chinos for a relaxed and comfortable laid back look. The fabric is lightweight, breathable as well as benefiting from being machine washable. Whether you’re lucky enough to be enjoying a vacation in the Caribbean or just looking to recreate the taste and flavor of the Tropics back home, with this short-sleeve Cuban Collar Shirt in your collection, you will certainly look and feel the part.
You may also like some of the cool chess shirts from our list. Don’t miss them.
100% rayon fabric construction
Machine washable and easy to care for
Tropical floral print styling in a choice of colors
Breathable and lightweight, ideal for warm weather
- BrandCubavera
Cuban Collar Shirt Buying Guide & FAQ
How We Chose Our Selection Of Cuban Collar Shirts
Brand - With so many excellent recognized as well as new brands out there to choose from, we've tried to narrow down our recommendations to what we believe is the current best of the bunch. Sometimes it pays to look beyond the obvious and most popular choices to uncover some real hidden gems that might otherwise get overlooked.
Price - When it comes to clothing, markups can be astronomical, so it pays so consider the quality and give attention to the finishing touches like the stitching, choice of buttons and overall styling. If you are spending a decent amount of money on an item of clothing, you should expect it to last and withstand regular use. We always aim to strike a firm balance, offering up a range of price points to suit a variety of budgets so no-one need feel like they have to miss out on keeping up with the latest fashion trends due to monetary constraints. Not everyone can afford the latest Louis Vuitton after all!
Review - In lieu of stepping out of the office and strutting our stuff at the weekend in each of our recommended Cuban collar shirts, we pay attention to reviews from actual customers to gauge the overall reliability and effectiveness of the products we select. Reviews provide a more well rounded and informed background check on both the likely positives and negatives of purchasing a product.
Features To Look For In Cuban Collar Shirts
If you're not careful with how you style your Cuban collar shirt or what fabrics you opt for, you could quickly descend into kitsch territory rather than looking retro-cool. The trick is to look more like Elvis and less like your odd ball Uncle. To achieve that, it's important to pay attention to features like the material, style and size.
Material - Keep it lightweight and go for breathable fabrics such as poplin cotton or viscose. The best Cuban collar shirts make a great wardrobe staple for vacations and easy breezy summer nights, so keep your fabric choices and color options cool and casual for a louche vibe.
Style - There's no denying that the Cuban collar shirt is having a real fashion resurgence and can look great worn as part of your off-duty look. Make sure you don't look like you've just stepped off a cruise ship to Hawaii or been knocking down pins at the bowling alley! Wear your shirt solo with a pair of tailored trousers, smart shorts or chinos or try adding a trendy blazer for a more dandyesque summer wedding outfit.
Size - The Cuban collar shirt is universally flattering whether you have broad or narrow shoulders and with its boxy hem can hide a multitude of sins. Size accordingly so that you don't look like you've either been swamped by a shirt that's just too big or the buttons are bulging as you attempt to squeeze yourself into a size that's clearly too small!
Collar Shirt FAQ
Q: What is a Cuban collar shirt?
A: Popularised in the US in the 1900s, the iconic Cuban shirt has its origins in 18th century South America where back in the day, it served as a uniform for working-class men. It took the fashion world by storm in the 1950s, becoming somewhat of a wardrobe staple with celebrities like Elvis Presley seen wearing this popular collared shirt. Enjoying a resurgence currently in no small part due to variations hitting the catwalk shows of brands including Missoni and Luis Vuitton, its typified by having short sleeves, an open collar and a straight, boxy style hem. The overall silhouette is not dissimilar to a retro bowling shirt or a Hawaiian shirt but more sophisticated in its styling.
Q: How should I style a Cuban collar shirt?
A: This look is all about laid back, pared-down chic and lends itself to a Summer beach vibe. Don't be tempted to button up and wear with a necktie as this will totally spoil the look you're going for. Instead, keep it cool and casual with a pair of shorts or solid block-colored trousers, especially if your chosen Cuban Collar Shirt is loud in either the choice of color or print. If you have gone for the loose, boxy traditional fit, then keep the trousers more tapered. It also looks great with or without a blazer, especially when you wear your Cuban collar proudly over, not under, those blazer lapels. Think retro American advertising industry executive, channeling your inner Don Draper.
