Silk Tops & Shirts / Shop Men's Luxury Silk Tops!

The tees are knitted from 100% mulberry silk jersey. They stretch, sit close to the body and behave like a very fine T-shirt — the reason to buy one is that it layers under a jacket without the bulk of cotton.

The shirts are woven 19 momme silk with about 5% spandex, with a lapel collar and buttons. They hold their structure, have a visible sheen and are cut as a business or evening shirt.

The two shirts are sized by chest measurement in inches — S (36), M (38), L (40), XL (42) — so take your chest measurement and read it directly off the label rather than converting from your usual shirt size.

The knitted tees use plain letter sizes, S to XL, and have give. Every product page carries its own full chart in centimetres and inches.

That is what the 19 momme woven shirts are cut for. The lapel collar sits flat under a jacket rather than bunching, and the spandex in the weave keeps the shoulders from pulling when you move.

The knitted tee is the better answer under an unstructured jacket or a knit — it adds no thickness at all, which is the main reason to wear silk as a base layer.

The 19 momme woven shirts crease less than a lightweight silk would — the weight is what resists it — but they will crease more than a treated cotton poplin. Hanging them in a steamy bathroom takes most of it out without an iron.

Silk moves moisture away from the skin rather than holding it, so it stays drier in heat than cotton does. It will still show a mark if you sweat heavily, and pale colours show it most.

Temperature and weight. Silk moves heat away quickly, so it wears cooler than cotton in summer and warmer than cotton under a coat in winter — one shirt covers more of the year. It is also lighter for the same coverage, which is what makes it work as a layer.

Cotton wins on ease of care. Silk asks for cool water and a gentle detergent in return for the way it wears.

Hand wash in cool water, no hotter than 35 °C, with a mild silk detergent. Press it into the water and swirl; never rub, wring or twist. Rinse in cool water, press the water out in a towel, then dry on a shaped hanger in the shade so the shoulders keep their line.

Avoid bleach, enzyme detergents, the tumble dryer and direct heat. Iron inside out on the silk setting or 110 °C maximum, over a pressing cloth, while the fabric is slightly damp.