T-Shirt Series: Our Legacy Boucle
A thorough review of a designer t-shirt from a peculiar fabric.
TL;DR This is the first t-shirt in the series that falls into the Special category. Thanks to its unique boucle fabric, the tee plays almost a dress role in my wardrobe.
In case you have already read my reviews of the Arpenteur Pontus t-shirt, JJJJound Standard Issue t-shirt, Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt, Rassvet Dog T-Shirt, All Blues Co. Pocket Tee, or paa Pocket Tee, feel free to skip the Introduction and Review Criteria sections and proceed straight to the review itself below.
Introduction
Throughout much of my adult life, I have been an avid wearer of shirts. By adult life, I mean the phase when I started paying an unhealthy amount of attention to the clothing I wear. No, I'm not referring to formal shirts worn with suits (thank goodness!). I'm talking about OCBD (a shirt made of Oxford cloth with a button-down collar) inspired by the Ivy style. Why settle for a t-shirt when an OCBD can serve the same functions while presenting a more sophisticated appearance?
That's why I only recently started embracing t-shirts. I still like to believe that I wear OCBDs more often, but honestly, that's not entirely true.
Since I have accumulated quite a few t-shirts, I thought it would be worthwhile to conduct formal reviews of them. Apparently, even such a basic item might turn up very differently depending on fabric and construction. The goal is to identify what I like and dislike about t-shirts in general, and hopefully assist you in making better decisions for your future purchases as well.
Hopefully, I will stay committed, and these reviews will eventually form a comprehensive t-shirt series. Time will tell.
Small ask: If you find this article exciting or helpful, I’d be incredibly grateful if you helped others discover it, too. Sharing it with friends, commenting on the blog, or simply hitting ❤️ are all a huge help. Thank you!
Review criteria
The inspiration for these reviews comes from Heddels' Great White T-Shirt Review, conducted by David Shuck. He thoroughly reviewed 18 white t-shirts available for under $100. I consider this to be the best source for making an informed decision when purchasing such a simple item as a basic t-shirt. In fact, I was inspired to buy two different t-shirts based on Heddels' review. Hopefully, they will make an appearance in my series one day too.
I want to emphasize that I am not attempting to duplicate what David Shuck has already accomplished at Heddels. Instead, I aim to offer a more personal and subjective perspective on the matter, spilling out beyond just white tees. With that being said, I will still include objective parameters such as item measurements and fabric composition. Please, do not hesitate to ask for more details in the comments section below the post if you feel like something’s missing.
To make the reviews more applicable, I will categorize each of my t-shirts into one of the following four categories:
Merch: These t-shirts were not specifically designed as merchandise. But they turned out to hold more symbolic value for me rather than practical. Typically, these are lower-quality t-shirts that I would not recommend purchasing.
Basics: These are reliable everyday staples. They are well-made enough for everyday use, and there is nothing inherently wrong with them. Usually, you don't need to look beyond this category.
Heavy: Some t-shirts are just built to be sturdier. They might not necessarily need to be, but they are. Some people might even consider them to be overkill.
Special: Certain t-shirts are celebrated for their form, not function. I perceive them more like art. Sometimes they might be even impractical, but there is something about their fabric, cut, or fit that makes them stand out. They are beautiful.
IMPORTANT Price is not a determining factor in my evaluations. The most expensive t-shirt could be of the lowest quality, while an unassuming one might turn out to be heavyweight. Ultimately, this review focuses on value rather than price.
Our Legacy SS16 — G/W Pique Boucle
Specifications
Year purchased: 2017
Fabric: 91% Cotton, 9% Polyester
Made in: Portugal
Construction: Overlock side seams
Size: XL (52)
Post-wash measurements:
Pit-to-pit: 55 cm (21.7 in)
Shoulder width: 47.5 cm (17.9 in)
Sleeve length: 23 cm (9.1 in)
Sleeve opening: 18 cm (7.1 in)
Body length: 74 cm (29.1 in)
Weight: 240 g
Fits: Small
Price: €70 (purchased on sale)
Category: Special
About The Brand
Our Legacy’s journey in the world of fashion has been nothing short of remarkable. In the early 2010s, when I started following the brand, it had already been a strong favorite among the still niche plethora of #menswear enthusiasts. Those were the years before Our Legacy has been sending models down runways in Paris, and the brand’s core offerings were its 1950s button-down shirts and the ever-changing Shield Jacket. Two decades after its inception, Our Legacy is in its peak — although almost revolutionized — form, pulling off collaborations with Emporio Armani and Paraboot and deservedly relishing the GQ’s biggest little fashion brand in the world title.
I ended up wearing this t-shirt accidentally. My friend went to a huge department store sale, and I asked him to buy it for my other friend’s birthday. But it turned out to fit small, so I had to keep it to myself. What a sacrifice!
Fabric
Oh, what a beautiful fabric this is! Three-dimensional, both visually and literally. Its thick, curled yarn makes for an irregular slubby texture, resulting in a garment that reminds me of a shrunk version of a rug.
Besides optical and tactile impressions, the boucle yarn gives the material thickness, bringing it closer to a toweling fabric. The material has decent vertical stretch and almost no horizontal stretch.
Beauty doesn’t come without compromise. The voluminous boucle yarn is prone to catching on things. Not only does the fabric cover with pellets that I have to cut with nail scissors every once in a while, but it may also develop scars revealing more of the inside threads.
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Construction and details
The Our Legacy t-shirt features a moderate collar rib. It is neither too snug nor too loose and hasn’t stretched over time. The overlock stitching that fixes the collar is narrow and clean.
The overlock stitching on the hem and sleeves is shabbier than on the collar, but its flaws get lost in the sea of boucle fibers.
There is an additional label woven into the left side seam, providing care instructions and fabric and country of origin information.
Fit
As I mentioned earlier, the t-shirt fits small. It’s got decent length but feels slim throughout the body. Maybe it’s due to the lack of horizontal stretch in the fabric. But most of my other tees fit boxier. Because of the long, narrow fit, I only wear the t-shirt tucked in.
Verdict
I don’t know if there is such thing as a luxury t-shirt, but this is how I feel about this boucle tee from Our Legacy. The beauty of its fabric is on the brink of impracticality. Indeed, I mostly wear it on occasion. Partly because I want to preserve it from the thorny world outside. But mostly due to the fact that it feels dressier, almost calling for something special. In fact, what better candidate for being the first tee in the t-shirt series that falls into the Special category?
How do you feel about this t-shirt from Our Legacy? Have you ever indulged in the concept of luxury tees?
If you have any questions or feel that something is missing, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments section of this article. I'm here to help! 🙌
I would greatly appreciate it if you share this t-shirt review with your friends or hit a ❤️ and restack the article here on Substack to help others discover it too.
Lastly, in case you missed them, check out my reviews of the JJJJound Standard Issue t-shirt, paa Pocket Tee, All Blues Co. Pocket Tee, Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt, Rassvet Dog T-Shirt, and Arpenteur Pontus tee.