Why Do Girls Wear Guys Shirts in Ireland?

In Ireland, where the weather shifts faster than a Galway pub quiz answer, layering isn’t just practical-it’s a cultural habit. And one of the most common, quietly rebellious layers you’ll see on streets from Cork to Derry is a girl wearing a guy’s shirt. Not just any shirt. Usually, it’s an old band tee, a flannel from a thrift store in Temple Bar, or a faded university hoodie that’s seen more Dublin nights than a student’s first pint of Guinness. It’s not about trying to look like a boy. It’s about comfort, attitude, and that uniquely Irish blend of practicality and style.

It’s Not a Trend. It’s a Survival Skill.

Irish weather doesn’t do seasons. It does rain, wind, and sudden sunshine-all in one afternoon. A guy’s shirt, especially one with a looser cut, works because it’s easy to throw over a thin sweater or a tank top when the cold hits. You don’t need to buy a new jacket. You just dig out that oversized guys shirts your brother left behind after uni, or pick one up for €5 at the Oxfam in Limerick. The sleeves roll up neatly. The hem hits just below the hips, perfect for tucking into high-waisted jeans or wearing loose with leggings. It’s the kind of thing you’d see on a student walking from Trinity to the DART station, or a mum grabbing coffee in Bray after dropping the kids at school.

There’s also the practical side: Irish homes are often drafty. Central heating is a luxury, not a given. In a 19th-century cottage in Connemara or a converted warehouse in Belfast, warmth comes from layers. A guy’s shirt, usually cotton or flannel, traps body heat better than a tight-fitting women’s top. It’s not fashion first-it’s function. But function, in Ireland, always finds its way into style.

The Band Tee Culture

Walk into any independent record shop in Galway, like Spudtown Records, and you’ll see racks of secondhand tees. Most are men’s sizes. Most are from bands that never made it big outside Ireland-The Saw Doctors, The Pogues, Hozier, or even local acts like The Academic. Girls buy them because they’re cheap, they carry stories, and they feel like belonging. Wearing a guy’s shirt with a faded U2 logo isn’t about the band-it’s about the memory. Maybe it was worn to a gig at the Olympia Theatre. Maybe it was bought on a school trip to Slane Castle. The shirt becomes a piece of shared Irish youth culture.

And let’s be honest: Irish boys don’t always care about their clothes. They’ll wear the same shirt for three weeks straight. That means the good ones-soft, washed out, slightly stretched-are free for the taking. It’s not theft. It’s tradition. A girl wearing her boyfriend’s shirt? That’s just Tuesday in Dublin.

Gender-Neutral Fashion Is Already Here

Irish fashion has always been more about attitude than labels. You won’t find many people in rural Mayo fussing over whether a shirt is ‘for men’ or ‘for women.’ What matters is whether it keeps you warm, fits right, and doesn’t make you look like you’re trying too hard. That’s why brands like Irish Linen Co. and McGee’s design their shirts with unisex cuts. Even Primark, the budget giant with stores in every town from Waterford to Sligo, sells oversized button-downs labeled ‘One Size’-and they sell out fast.

At events like the Galway International Oyster Festival or the Cork Jazz Festival, you’ll see women in men’s shirts paired with knee-high boots and a wool scarf. No one blinks. No one asks why. It’s just how things are done here. The idea of gendered clothing feels like something from a city abroad, not from a place where people still hang laundry on lines in the rain and don’t care if their socks match.

Where to Find the Best Guys Shirts in Ireland

If you’re looking to build your own collection, start local. The best finds aren’t in shopping centres-they’re in the back rooms of charity shops. Try:

• St. Vincent de Paul on Grafton Street, Dublin-go early on Saturday morning. The men’s section is always full of 90s band tees and flannels.
• Salvation Army in Limerick city-look for the brand ‘J. J. Kavanagh & Sons,’ an old Irish workwear label that made durable shirts for farmers and dockworkers.
• Thrift on the Green in Galway-specializes in vintage Irish university shirts from UCD, NUIG, and Trinity.
• Online: Depop.ie or Facebook Marketplace-search ‘men’s shirt Ireland’ and filter by size. You’ll find someone in Kerry selling a 2008 All-Ireland final tee for €8.

Pro tip: Look for shirts with small stains or faded logos. They’re usually the ones with history-and the most comfortable.

How to Style It Without Looking Like You’re Borrowing

Wearing a guy’s shirt doesn’t mean looking sloppy. In Ireland, the magic happens in the details:

• Tuck it just slightly in the front, leaving the back loose. It adds shape without being tight.
• Roll the sleeves to the forearms. It’s practical and looks intentional.
• Pair it with a belt-preferably a leather one from Claddagh Leather in Galway. It grounds the look.
• Wear it open over a thin knit. A cream or charcoal turtleneck from Wexford Wool makes the whole outfit feel polished.
• Don’t overdo accessories. One simple pendant or a pair of stud earrings is enough. Irish style says more with less.

And if you’re heading out for a night in Doolin? Throw on a denim jacket over it. No one will think twice. In fact, they’ll probably say, ‘Ah, you’ve got your da’s shirt on.’ And that’s the highest compliment you can get.

Why This Isn’t Just About Clothes

At its heart, wearing a guy’s shirt in Ireland is about rejecting the idea that clothes have to be gendered. It’s about choosing comfort over convention. It’s about making something old feel new again. It’s about taking something that was meant for someone else-and making it yours.

It’s also quietly political. In a country where people still talk about ‘what the neighbours will think,’ choosing to wear a shirt that doesn’t fit the ‘rules’ is a small act of freedom. It says: I don’t need to buy a new thing to feel good. I don’t need to follow a label to belong. I just need something warm, soft, and real.

And in Ireland, where the wind blows harder than the gossip, that’s more than fashion. It’s a way of life.