# Being a question about Tony Soprano's shirts & Opinions of TV show fashions in general **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790 "2013-10-09T17:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/1 "2013-10-09T17:42:33Z")
I love the shirts that Hank Schrader wore on several episodes of BREAKING BAD: they’re colorful and drape well for a guy with a paunch. [Example 1](http://fashionista.com/uploads/2013/09/hank.jpg) [Example 2](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cz7YdHqEBKo/Twbt0j-QJaI/AAAAAAAAcg0/L7XWXXu3O3E/s1600/hank_breaking_bad_shirt.jpg) [Tony Soprano](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rxo0wKeNaNY/TwyI9wTxMyI/AAAAAAAAck0/afOntrWm8TE/s1600/tony_soprano_shirt_miami_style.jpg) and [Charlie Harper](http://galeri4.uludagsozluk.com/102/barney-stinson-vs-charlie-harper_184980.jpg) from _Two and a Half Men_ wore a similar style. The self serving question: does anybody know if these kind of loose shirts have a name? (I actually have a couple of similar ones but would like to get some more and am not sure what style to seek.) The Far More Universal Question: What TV show characters clothing styles do you like? Or, who would you most seek to dress like if budget and dress code and all allowed? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/2 "2013-10-09T17:52:01Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The Far More Universal Question: > > What TV show characters clothing styles do you like? Or, who would you most seek to dress like if budget and dress code and all allowed? Thomas Magnum of course. 😛 As to what they are called, I’ve seen both Bowling Shirts and [Caribbean Camp Shirts](http://www.bowlingshirt.com/bowling-shirts/retro/caribbean/blank/). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/3 "2013-10-09T18:01:30Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Thomas Magnum of course. 😛 > > As to what they are called, I’ve seen both Bowling Shirts and [Caribbean Camp Shirts](http://www.bowlingshirt.com/bowling-shirts/retro/caribbean/blank/). Caribbean Camp… perfect! Thanks! I also like the [restrained gaudy style](http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/27/breaking-bad-an-appreciation-of-saul-goodmans-sartorialism-4125752/) of Saul Goodman on _Breaking Bad_- he would stand out in a courtroom without being disrespectful. Though the steampunk aesthete of the outer world aristocrats in _Firefly_ would be my real preference for formal wear. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/4 "2013-10-09T18:05:22Z")
Bowling shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/5 "2013-10-09T18:36:48Z")
Also known as panel shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/6 "2013-10-09T18:38:31Z")
I was consdering getting some. Wife says they’re fugly. What do other women think of them? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/7 "2013-10-09T18:40:08Z")
I’m not a wife, but I always associated them with New Jersey and 2001. Not my cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/8 "2013-10-09T19:18:03Z")
I would like bowling shirts fine, except that they are now and forever associated with Charlie Sheen in my mind. TV’s best dressed man was [Al from Quantum Leap](http://www.seriessub.com/series/actors/16051.jpg), IMO, but Saul Goodman’s style is excellent and much more reasonable for fellas who are not Dean Stockwell. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/9 "2013-10-09T19:21:45Z")
I always called them Cosmo Kramer shirts. As for my preferred style, I’d love to wear Star Trek uniforms at all times. Preferably of the Deep Space 9 variety. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/10 "2013-10-09T19:41:58Z")
Tony and his gang dressed like bums-I preferred don Corleone’s men! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/11 "2013-10-10T22:37:53Z")
I can only call them “Regular Guy” shirts, as in Rodney Dangerfield’s clothes in “Easy Money”. . ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/12 "2013-10-10T22:55:16Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I was consdering getting some. > Wife says they’re fugly. > > What do other women think of them? I like them. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/13 "2013-10-11T12:07:17Z")
I like them too. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/14 "2013-10-11T14:59:05Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I always called them Cosmo Kramer shirts. IIRC, those were Ban-Lon shirts, worn for retro-ironic chic. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/15 "2013-10-11T15:12:06Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > IIRC, those were Ban-Lon shirts, worn for retro-ironic chic. Well he was a hipster-doofus. ---
**Author:** ![TimToyGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@TimToyGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimToyGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/16 "2013-10-11T21:28:59Z")
In the case of Charlie and Tony, I believe they specifically were wearing shirts made by Nat Nast, or something very similar. They are probably the best known brand of men’s casual shirts with that retro-50’s panel or colorblock design. They’re very nice, a bit spendy for casual wear, but not too ‘fashion’ oriented. Tim ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/17 "2013-10-14T16:13:16Z")
Hank wore quite a few Tommy Bahama shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/18 "2013-10-14T17:41:24Z")
Woman chiming in: when I was trying to find shirts for my husband to wear in Miami, “Cubavera” was a search term that worked well. I think it’s a brand. I like the shirts. I don’t want my husband to look like Walter White, Season 1. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-question-about-tony-sopranos-shirts-opinions-of-tv-show-fashions-in-general/670790/19 "2013-10-14T17:52:13Z")
Some of the ones you pictured were [guayaberas](https://www.google.com/search?q=guayabera+shirts&num=100&client=firefox-a&hs=ZBT&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=8i5cUuHKBqTL2QXz0YDYBw&ved=0CGgQsAQ&biw=1131&bih=813&dpr=1).