I have many of these shirts and I mostly use them for the office. Though they did require ironing, they were very soft and worked excellently in hot (90+) weather. In Winter, I pair them up with a cardigan sweater and get a good look out of it.
In the past two or three years, LL Bean has changed the fabric to be wrinkle free instead of just plain cotton. The first year they were just terrible, being very stiff and no longer as good on hot days. They subsequently toned down the amount of anti-wrinkle (plastic fibers or coating?) added into the fabric and they're better but the difference between the my older shirts and newer ones is still pretty great.
I am looking for a replacement and when I find one, I won't be purchasing these any more. If I want a plastic shirt, I'll just go out and buy one, thank you very much.
LLBean used to sell a comfortable chambray shirt in a variety of colors. This is not that shirt. The finish does indeed repel wrinkles, but it is also stiff and uncomfortable. It feels like it is coated with a thin layer of plastic even though the label says it is 100% cotton. I have two of the older "vintage shirts" and one of the new "easy care" shirts, which I seldom wear because it is simply uncomfortable.
The fabric treatment takes away all the pleasure and comfort of real chambray cloth. To me it's scratchy, and unwearable. Not a "sport" shirt, or comfortable to wear for a day of outside wear at all.
Please bring back the original chambray fabric. The "easy care, wrinkle resistant" treatment makes the fabric weird and the collar is totally stiff. Not comfortable or easy wearing.
