Kavu Bamboo Havana Shirt : Cool Nights

There's something intrinsically cool about a black Havana button-down shirt -- and there's something even cooler about Kavu's bamboo version. This shirt's trim lines, subtle texture, and contrast stitching are the only reasons I clean up well after a long day outside. I mean, it actually makes me appear stylish and well-dressed.

As I noted in my review of Kavu's bamboo polo, it's hard for me to find clothes that fit my tall, thin frame. Button down shirts tend to make me look more ridiculous than most shirts, since they're usually made of a fair amount of fabric. But Kavu's sizing is spot on for me. The size large is the perfect length and width. I think this might be due to a few small pleats on the back of the shirt.

Despite its decidedly night--time appeal, the Havana actually feels like a performance garment. It's a heavier weave seems to keep me warmer in cooler and air-conditioned climes, while its superior wicking and breathing qualities keep me cool and dry when I'm in the hot summer sun. All that is a result of the bamboo fabric. 

I feel ecologically responsible wearing alternative, natural materials. Bamboo grows faster than almost all other plants on earth, so it's renewable and sustainable. It doesn't require much water, pesticides or fertilizer, and becuase of its natural bacterial resistance, it doesn't need any additional treatments.

Bottom Line: Good looking button-downs shirt that'll work worldwide, from Costa Rica's surf towns to the Rocky mountain pubs.-- N.W. (July '08) 

Price: $60 Click to Purchase

Manufacturer's Site: www.kavu.com