Travel Product Reviews
Travel Tuesday: Why I Love RSVLTS Shirts for Travel
I’ll admit that I am not the snappiest dressier by any means. In fact, my style is not only simple but hasn’t changed in 20 years or so. Thus, the vast majority of my wardrobe consists of jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies. Nevertheless, there are times when I need to dress it up a bit — and, specifically, business trips I take where I’ll need to pack at least a couple of collared shirts. The problem is that the former go-tos for these situations were notoriously wrinkly, which really did me more harm than good. That’s why, today, I wanted to talk about RSVLTS shirts and why I love them for travel.
In the interest of full disclosure, a couple of my RSVLTS shirts were provided to my wife as the Disney site we work for has an affiliate relationship with them. However, I’ve since gone on to purchase items directly from them as well.
What are RSVLTS Shirts and Why are They Great for Travel?
What is RSVLTS?
First of all, before you ask, it’s pronounced “Roosevelts.” In recent years, the New Jersey-based brand has made a name for itself not only for its unique fabric mix but also for the numerous pop culture-inspired designs it offers. These days, it seems as though they’re rolling out new designs three times a week or more, with such properties as Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel, and even National Lampoon represented.
While the company offers a number of clothing items and accessories, its claim to fame is its short-sleeve button-up “Kunuflex” shirts. More recently, they’ve also expanded into flannels, which bare the “Borlandflex” branding (a name that’s inspired by a certain Home Improvement sidekick). Elsewhere, I’ve also recently ordered a regular tee shirt as well as a beanie from them, while my wife has a pair of their shorts. All in all, there’s no shortage of items — both licensed and non — to discover on their site.
My experience and why I like them
Being Disney fans — which includes the likes of Marvel and Star Wars as well — what first led us to RSVLTS was its releasing themed items for various properties under the Walt Disney Company umbrella. As for the first shirt I actually got from them, that’d be my Miles Morales Spider-Man shirt. This was quickly joined by a pair of Star Wars selections, including a very loud Stormtrooper shirt and a much more subtle Millennium Falcon pattern.
As for traveling with RSLVTS, it started with a visit to Las Vegas. Knowing that we had some nice dinners planned with our boss, I decided to pack a couple of button-ups. To my surprise, when it came to time wear them, there were no wrinkles or fold creases to be found. This kind of blew my mind as such issues have been a struggle for me in the past.
To be clear, it’s not that Kunuflex shirts can’t be wrinkled — it’s just that, in my experience, it takes a lot for them to take on such form. This stands in contrast to my other button-ups that show winkles mere seconds after I finish ironing them. Meanwhile, I’ve had no issues throwing RSVLTS shirts in my suitcase like normal, pulling one out when it’s time to don it, and having it look perfect.
I will say that the designs I have from RSLVTS so far are more on the playful side, although the Spider-Man one is probably the most “passable.” That said, there are also more subtle or even generic offerings from the brand that might suit those who don’t think pop culture shirts would be appropriate attire. On that note, my most recent purchase from RSLVTS was actually inspired by a franchise I’ve never seen anything from: Chucky (Child’s Play). In this case, I picked up a flannel that’s inspired by Chucky’s sweater and bears only a couple of small nods to the killer doll. To be honest, I have yet to travel with this one and I don’t know if it can stand up to wrinkles as well as the Kunuflex can, but I have found it to be comfortable and enjoy the look of it so far.
A few cons
Let me start with what I think is the biggest downside of RSVLTS: the price. These days, it seems as though most of their designs fetch $70. Interestingly, my flannel — which is long sleeves instead of short — was only $2 more than that, which struck me as a bit odd (though I’m not going to complain). Because of this, as much as I love the shirts I have, I certainly wouldn’t have as many if half of them weren’t provided to us.
Another downside is that I could see the fabric used not being for everyone. While I like how well the Kunuflex shirts breathe and, as I mentioned, don’t wrinkle easily, I’d understand if someone not being a fan of how they feel. Similarly, if you’re expecting a thick, heavy flannel, then the Borlandflex options may not be for you.
Rounding out the downsides, I should mention again that a lot of RSVLTS shirts are pop culture-inspired. As a result, even if you’re a fan of the properties in question, you might not want to spend the money on a shirt that might not fit the implied dress code. But, if you have looser guidelines or can find a less obvious design, you might be able to get away with it.
Final Thoughts on RSVLTS (and Traveling with Them)
To paraphrase an overcited commercial campaign, I may not always need to wear a collared shirt, but when I do, I prefer RSVLTS. While it was the Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars tie-ins that brought me to the brand, it’s the unique, breathable, and wrinkle-resistant materials that’s made me a real fan — especially when I need to take my business casual outfits on the road. Of course, at $70 a pop and new designs coming out fast and furious, it can be easy to get overwhelmed or assume these shirts just aren’t worth it. But, should you come across the right design at the right price, I’d definitely recommend picking up one or two for your next business (casual) trip.
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