I’m a shorter guy, standing at 5’6″, a good 3 inches under the average male height in America.
Ask any guy around my height what his biggest struggle is when it comes to style and most likely it’s finding clothes that actually fit.
Many of the big retail chains offer sizes that look great on a mannequin, but not so much on us.
And so, when I first tried out Ash & Erie, I was pleasantly surprised by how well their shirts and jeans fit off-the-rack, it’s like a miracle.
From appropriately proportioned details like collars and cuffs along with a proper sleeve and shirt length — it really does go a long way in achieving the perfect fit.
In this editorial, I’m going to share some of my thoughts on Ash & Erie’s new knitwear, including sweaters, a polo shirt, a crew neck t-shirt, a long sleeve henley, and a few pairs of pants.
If you’re already sold on Ash & Erie, be sure to use the limited time code GENT-WIN20 for 20% off your order.
You can watch the try-on haul of 15 pieces from the Ash & Erie collection — just hit the play button below.
Subscribe to the Gentleman Within YouTube channel.
Now let’s start things off with a quick rundown of the company.
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About Ash & Erie
Ash & Erie is more than just a clothing brand for shorter men, they’re all about instilling confidence and empowering the men that wear their clothes.
There’s a stigma that comes with being a short man. That it’s not cool or desirable or even masculine to be short, and so the mainstream fashion industry has completely ignored this segment of the male population.
Ash & Erie exists to reverse some of those norms and help shorter men to look and feel their best. It doesn’t matter what race you are or the color of your skin; if you’re short, then Ash & Erie wants to help you.
They initially launched with a handful of button down shirts and jeans, and they are slowly expanding their collection into knitwear and beyond.
Now let’s get into the knitwear, starting with their quarter-zip and crew neck sweaters.
Merino Wool Sweaters
The sweater is undoubtedly a men’s fall and winter style essential. It’s not only stylish, but a functional garment of clothing that can be worn on its own, over a button up and under a jacket or blazer. The styling potential is endless.
Ash & Erie’s sweaters are made with 30% extrafine merino wool, a soft and luxurious winter fabric, similar in appearance and feeling to cashmere. The rest is a blend of 35% viscose and 35% nylon knit fabric. And as such, the fabric is super soft to the touch. They currently offer a quarter-zip in charcoal, blue and burgundy.
Additionally you can pick up a v-neck or crew-neck in charcoal in sizes ranging from XS-XXL. Ash & Erie’s merino wool sweaters make for the perfect smart casual layering pieces in cooler temperatures.
In terms of the fit, these sweaters are some of the best fitting in my entire collection. The sleeve and body length is spot on and there’s no excess fabric which is a common problem with off the rack sweaters.
Details:
- Comes in sizes XS-XXL
- Quarter-zip, Crew neck and V-neck styles
- 30% merino wool, 35% viscose, 35% nylon
- Dry clean or cold hand wash and lay flat to dry
Crew Neck T-Shirt
Just like a sweater, the t-shirt is a style staple that’s not only appropriate for winter, but for year-round wear. It’s simply a classic that will never go out of style.
And so, I was super excited to hear that Ash & Erie was coming out with a line of t-shirts. I have to say that their first design iteration is to be applauded.
How I Like My T-Shirts To Fit
I’m very particular about the fit of my t-shirts, and thus had high expectations for Ash & Erie’s new collection of basic tees. First, thing I take a look at is the length of the shirt. It should land around mid-fly.
Secondly, I pay attention to the shoulders and overall fit and length of the sleeves. The shoulder seam should be right around the shoulder bone, I always feel this out to make sure it’s a proper shoulder fit. And for the sleeve length, I prefer it to land around mid-bicep and form fitting.
Third, it’s the overall drape, how does the t-shirt’s material lay on my body? Is it a more snug, tight fit or a looser more free-flowing fit? I used to be all about tighter t-shirts that accentuate the glamour muscles, and while I still wear more snug fitting tees, I prefer a slightly roomier fit these days.
Ash & Erie’s size small is spot on in terms of what I currently look for in the fit of my shirts. There’s the right amount of fabric in the chest down through the waist, the sleeves land around mid-bicep and are nice and fitted.
My Favorite Thing About Ash & Erie T-Shirts
Besides the stellar fit, there’s a small design detail that I find quite attractive and it’s the shape of the shirt’s bottom hem. Instead of the typical flat hem, Ash & Erie’s tees have a curved fishtail hem that give this simple basic unique character. Overall, I’m impressed with the casual, yet polished nature of their t-shirts.
Details:
- Comes in sizes XS-XXL
- Super soft, breathable 100% preshrunk cotton
- Currently available in Jet Black, Heather Light Blue & Heather Blue colors
- Wash on cold and tumble dry low for best results
Daily Polo Shirt
I like my polo shirts to fit in a similar way to my t-shirts, and that’s relatively snug yet well fitted, not overly loose and long. I’m happy to report that Ash & Erie’s new polo fit just as nicely as their t-shirts, if not better.
Again, the length of the polo hits right around mid-fly, just the way that I like it. When I raise my hands up in the air, my stomach is not visible (a good test to see if a shirt is the right length).
The sleeves hit right at mid-bicep and wrap snugly around my arms which is exactly how I prefer my polos to fit. The ribbed cuffs can really help to accentuate those bicep gains in the gym.
As for the build, Ash & Erie polo shirts are made with premium pique cotton with a bit of stretch. It’s got a worn in feel just like the t-shirt. They’re currently available in versatile colors of black, navy and grey.
And finally there is a basic split hem bottom that’s slightly longer in the back, which is a stylistic detail that’s casual while providing a more distinctive look. Also notice the button right breast pocket, another subtle, stylish detail.
Details:
- Comes in sizes XS-XXL
- Super soft premium 95% pre-shrunk cotton and 5% spandex
- Currently available in black, navy and grey
- Wash on cold and tumble dry low for best results
Long Sleeve Henley Shirt
The henley is a shirt style that can look amazing on men with a more muscular build. Look at guys like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ryan Gosling or Michael B. Jordan for example.
This casual style essential is good layer to throw on under a button down or jacket or just wear it as a standalone piece, it’ll look great way. I Ash & Erie’s henley casually with a pair of cotton twill pants and white sneakers with the gumsole.
While it doesn’t fit me quite as well as the t-shirt and polos do (I clearly need to get back to the weight room), it’s still a properly fitting. The shirt and shirt sleeves are the right length. It’s a roomier fit, but this is mainly because the henley is again best suited for guys who workout. In my case, the long sleeve henley would look best layered underneath an unbuttoned flannel shirt, vest or jacket.
Finally, the Ash & Erie henley comes in 3 versatile colors of olive, white and grey and sizes of XS through XXL. And just like the t-shirt, the henley features the fishtail bottom hem detail which I think is a nice touch.
Details:
- Comes in sizes XS-XXL
- Super soft premium 50% cotton jersey and 50% polyester
- Currently available in heather olive, white and heather charcoal
- Wash on cold and tumble dry low for best results
5-Pocket Cotton Twill Pants
As Ash & Erie says, their 5-pocket cotton twill pants are chino style, but with a jean look. That’s the perfect way to describe them. It’s like combining the best of both world of chinos and jeans and you have the ever versatile and stylish 5-pocket twills.
While you can still dress them up like you would with chinos, I styled them with a pair of white leather sneakers and Ash & Erie’s navy polo shirt for a smart casual, off-duty look.
The cotton twill pants come in 3 light colors of steel blue, olive green and pebble grey. And they are ultra-comfortable since they have 2% elastane which gives it a little bit of stretch.
Details:
- There’s a size for every man 5’8″ and under
- Made with premium twill fabric, 98% cotton jersey and 2% elastane
- Currently available in olive green, steel blue and pebble grey
- Wash on cold with likes colors and hang dry or tumble dry low
Ash & Erie Essential Jeans
Finally, the last piece featured in this editorial is the classic, dark blue jeans. I covered them initially in my original Ash & Erie review.
You can never go wrong with a pair of dark wash jeans. Ash & Erie currently has an indigo wash, mid-blue wash and midnight black wash. It pretty much covers all your bases when it comes to jeans, except they’re missing a light wash (not quite as versatile as the other 3).
Remember that you can wear jeans with a sport coat or blazer. It helps if they’re darker wash, like Ash & Erie’s indigo wash essential jeans.
Just like chinos, jeans can work well with a smart casual aesthetic. Granted it’s not as refined as a pair of slacks, it’s still a great way to channel that air of off-duty sophistication.
Ash & Erie jeans are slim fitting and fit nice and snug in the waist, hips with a moderate taper down towards the ankle for a streamlined silhouette. In addition to the indigo wash, I have the black pair as well. The difference is in the materials as the black jeans have quite a bit more stretch I’ve noticed. But the overall fit is similar.
Since I started wearing their jeans last year, they’ve become a go-to pair that I wear with casual and smart casual looks all year round. They’ve gotten plenty of wear and have proven to be quite durable over the past year and a half I’ve been wearing them.
Details:
- There’s a size for every man 5’8″ and under
- Made with 11.5 oz, 99% cotton and 1% spandex
- Currently available in dark indigo wash, mid wash and black
- Wash on cold with likes colors and hang dry or tumble dry low
Want to give Ash & Erie a try? Use the limited time code GENT-WIN20 for 20% off your order.
Wrapping Up
There you have it, I’ve covered a handful of pieces from Ash & Erie’s new knitwear, in addition to their jeans and cotton twill pants.
All in all, Ash & Erie’s current collection of style staples are ideal for shorter men who are looking to dress better without much effort at all. They offer premium casual and smart casual garments that are made in the USA.
If you’ve been on the fence with Ash & Erie — they are a brand that I support and recommend all men of shorter stature check out. I want to thank them again for supporting Gentleman Within.
After reading this editorial, what are your thoughts on Ash & Erie knitwear?
Let’s continue the discussion over in the Gentlemen Within Private Facebook Community.
Looking forward to seeing you in there.
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