Most men get poolside dressing badly wrong. They either overthink it, arriving in something that looks like it belongs at a beach resort opening, or they underthink it, pulling on a faded printed shirt that has seen better years. The pool shirt sits in a very specific gap in the wardrobe and it needs to do a few things well. A good one should have a collar that holds its shape even when worn open to the third button. The fabric needs to breathe but not turn translucent the moment it catches any moisture. The print or colour should read as considered without looking like it was selected by an algorithm trying to seem fun. We have also been paying attention to length because a pool shirt worn untucked should skim the hip cleanly, not billow. These are the ones that understand the assignment and dress it up just enough without trying too hard.