They are this season's 'must have'. Men shopping with their wife all over them in Bluewater yesterday. Only a short window of opportunity for retailers to cash in before people move on. I'm still looking for just the right one. Probably find it in TKMaxx June time (joke)

Yes. There are quite a lot of board shirt 'style' in at TKMaxx right now. Usually every one has a little bit of unwanted detail. Whether its the material or got a logo etc. A lot of them are too slim in my size. But sizing up swamps. Not quite right.
I'll probably pick one up once they hit the clearance rail. Just to fill a gap until the right one at the right price comes along

I was in Fat Face and tried on a few. A couple were ok so I was ready to buy. Called the wife over to get the seal of approval. Big mistake. She burst out laughing and shook her head. I left the shop empty handed

Polyester?  What's happening out there?

Mrs W bought me a Pendleton one a few years ago and I wore it once or twice for diplomatic reasons, but there’s a hipster vibe to them that puts me off. I’m lacking the back buckle rolled up selvedge Levis, Red Wing logging boots and big beard to go with the shirt.

Aren't they meant to be worn loose and untucked, over a white T-shirt? Isn't that the look? Looks great on some people, particularly those tonsorially-favoured who can conjure up a luxuriant quiff. Pas moi sadly. The untucked thing kills it for me. Always have to tuck in and did right through the 90s despite the influence of slouchy Britpop on sartorial conventions. Most men went untucked from 92 to 98, including some Ivyists I know. But Pendleton - well they are, or were, a magnificent company producing a glorious range of plaids of countless different hues which I particularly love in the form of their Topster jackets (49ers were the ladies' version). I have half a dozen with one special version much more closely modelled on a classic sack which is a thing of complete perfection. I wear it, gingerly, a few times a year on special days and then return it to its hanger, kiss it, and replace its protective sheath before returning it to rest in darkness.

I'm still looking for the perfect board shirt. I have a dodgy one that I wear for working in the forest but I want I good one. I sometimes feel that I could design my own shirt but I want to buy one off the shelf. I had a great Levi's one in the 90s and gave it to charity. Because of hipster connotations. I wish I still had it now.

Re TRS's posting above, Pendleton did do some magnificent clothing before relocating to (I think) Mexico (and finally China?).  I still have a navy cardigan from around 2006-7 with welted pockets and was only thinking the other day that I was a fool to sell the green version that John Simons identified as a golf cardigan.  I was wearing that, with rather the worse-for-wear Levis chinos the lunchtime I first set eyes on the saintly TRS at Bar Italia.  We did neck espresso and chew the Ivy fat at a rate of ten to the dozen.  Later, I had my picture taken in the basement at Chiltern Street.  All copies have either been sold on Ebay else burned in a fiery furnace.

Untucked.  Not really for me, either.  Sometimes, though, when buying on Ebay, there wasn't much alternative.  The sizing of the shirt would often be wrong so you ended up wearing it untucked whether you liked it or not.  I remember a particularly annoying specimen in yellow.  The shirt/jacket idea also displeased me.

'The Dales'.  I live about thirty minutes drive from the Derbyshire variety.  The next town on is very Young Farmer and the look Tom outlines above ^.  Yet it was the only place for basics like underwear, socks and sweaters.  A shop window was full of dealer boots, check shirts, poor quality Harris tweed.  Alan Paine was to be found inside; nothing much more.  Next stop John Smedley: the factory shop.  I cannot get excited.  Their product, compared to what I was picking up in local charity shops fifteen or so years ago (the old 'Lea Mills' label: sea island cotton) is very bland.  I was far more pleased with the Peter Geeson I picked up for a few pounds on Ebay.