Well, ExOfficio has done it again. Somehow, they keep making travel shirts I would happily sleep in, they’re so comfortable. Even more remarkable: they don’t look like something I’d sleep in. The ExOfficio Wanderlux Crossfront is the perfect example. Right out of the box or off the rack, it’s immediately obvious this shirt is one of the softest you’ll ever wear. But it’s unusual, asymmetrical design makes it somehow exotic-looking.
When I first tried it on, I actually wasn’t sure I was sold on the design. The Wanderlux is made of a stretch fabric with a v-neck and layered folds of material. At first, I tried to find some sort of function in the style: are there hidden pockets in these folds? Zippered RFID compartments? But nope, it’s just a shirt with a very different-looking style.
Right away, I loved the uber-soft feel to the shirt; truly, you have to feel it to believe it. But it took me a few wears to decide whether I liked the design. My conclusion: I definitely do. When you’re traveling a lot and often wearing the same things over and over, it’s very nice to have some variety in the design. Plus, the Wanderlux gets lots of compliments, which is always a pick-me-up.
So what is this amazingly soft fabric? It’s a jersey blend of polyester and spandex, which sounds so very…normal. It’s not. It’s somehow stretchy and soft, tough and delicate.It’s quick-dry and resists moisture, which means you don’t smell after a long flight. I rinsed it off in a hotel room and it dried before I was back from dinner.
In addition to the v-neck, the Wanderlux has nice accents on the cuffs, and a layered look on the bottom hem. I find it flattering on a mostly-but-not-quite-flat stomach, especially on a long travel day. It’s fairly lightweight, so even though I’ve been testing it out on cool fall days, I can see it doing well in spring and on warmer days in early summer. I don’t love that the lower layer of the v-neck can bunch up (it’s not a mock v-neck…the material goes all the way across), but aside from straightening it a few times a day, it’s not a big deal.
Pick up the Wanderlux Crossfront in sizes XS-XL in several jewel tones: black, dark green, marina (rich blue), creamy white, and lupine (soft lavender). It retails for $60 on the ExOfficio site, and can also be found at CampMor and Moosejaw.