My Favorite Shirt Ripped

Romanticizing a shirt

It happened last week. I was pushing my sleeves up when I heard a rip. It was underneath my jacket, so I didn't immediately see the extent of the damage, and frankly, I forgot about it until the next day when I went to put my shirt on and saw the large tear in my forearm.

I've written about how a small tatter or fray here or there is a good thing, but unfortunately, there's no coming back from a six-inch gash in the sleeve. It was the end of an era, as I had just gotten the collar to be the perfect level of worn-in without looking bad. The collar roll on the shirt has been perfect for years, but with great sadness, I'll have to start the break-in process from scratch yet again.

I think that's the case for spending up, in some cases. If it's a cheaper garment, the clothing will, more often than not, just fall apart. But if it's well made, it will break in and yield a nice patina. That's what you want. You want it to be worn in. I don't think you need a lot of things, just a few things that you really love that are durable and can withstand the demands of heavy use (and industrial-grade washing machines).

I now face this dilemma: Should I simply replace the shirt, risking disappointment, by seeking a new one that matches its performance and fit, or do I branch out and try something new?

And, too, the question lingers: What fate befits this shirt? It has been my faithful companion for nearly a decade, worn almost daily. Is it not a form of sacrilege to discard it?

As I contemplate the rip in this moment, I realize this shirt can still have a purpose. Perhaps it can be resigned to just being a summer shirt, worn only with the sleeves worn all the way up. That sounds good. I'm going to go with that.

Let this be the case for writing things out and thinking about your thoughts. I sat down to write a memoriam for this shirt, and I'm leaving full of excitement that the shirt can live its second life to fit a specific void in my wardrobe. More to come on this developing story in the summer.