A skull and butterfly print shirt is the softer skull for men who don't do goth: wear the royal-blue Skull and Butterfly shirt buttoned to the collar with slim charcoal wool trousers, black suede Chelsea boots and a navy wool overcoat. The butterflies take the edge off; the skulls keep it interesting.
This is day 20 of our daily Dark Season series. Yesterday we packed for the clifftops in What to Wear to Whitby Goth Weekend. Today is for the man who likes the idea of a skull but not the eyeliner that tends to come with it.
What is a skull and butterfly print shirt?
It is the oldest double act in art. Dutch painters put skulls beside butterflies in seventeenth-century still lifes to say one thing: life is short, and beautiful because of it. The skull is the full stop; the butterfly is the comma. Put them on a shirt and you get a memento mori that reads as romance rather than menace. For the full history of the motif, see our men's skull shirts guide.
Is a skull and butterfly shirt too goth for a normal man?
No. Goth is black on black with silver hardware. This print sits on royal blue, and the skulls are gold and ivory, wrapped in flowers and wings. From across a bar it reads as a rich botanical; up close it rewards the second look. That is the whole trick, and it is why the print passes at a dinner, a gallery opening or a Halloween party where half the room is in rented capes. If you want the full dress-code answer, read Is a Skull Shirt Smart Casual?
How should a man wear a skull and butterfly shirt?
Keep everything else quiet. Button to the collar, or undo exactly the top one button - never two for this print, because the collar frames the pattern. Tuck it into charcoal or black trousers with a clean waistband. If you roll sleeves for a warm room, fold the cuff twice so it sits exactly two fingers below the elbow. Shoes: black suede Chelsea boots in autumn, black leather loafers indoors. The cut is tailored-slim; if you are between sizes, size up.
What colours go with a skull and butterfly print?
Pull one colour out of the print and leave the rest alone. With royal blue and gold, the safe partners are charcoal, black and deep navy. For a warmer look, a rust or tobacco-brown suede jacket echoes the orange in the wings. Avoid a second pattern anywhere above the knee.
| Element | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Trousers | Charcoal wool or black slim chinos | Ripped jeans or combat trousers |
| Layer | Navy overcoat or rust suede jacket, open | Studded leather or a patterned blazer |
| Shoes | Black suede Chelsea boots | Creepers or platform boots |
| Accessories | One silver ring, a plain steel watch | Skull rings, chains, a bandana |
| Buttons | To the collar, or top one undone | Open to the sternum |
Can I wear a skull and butterfly shirt to a Halloween party?
It is close to the perfect answer. Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October this year, and the man in the good shirt always beats the man in the rubber mask by about ten o'clock. The print carries the theme without asking anyone to guess who you are meant to be. We go further in Halloween Outfits for Men Without a Costume.
Taking someone to dinner instead? Better still. It is a talking point that is not a joke, and it says you have taste and a sense of humour in one move. Wear it with the top one button undone, dark trousers and loafers. More ideas in our date night outfits guide.
What not to wear with a skull and butterfly shirt
- A leather biker jacket with studs - it tips the print into costume.
- A skull tie, skull cufflinks or a skull anything else.
- A white T-shirt showing at the neck.
- Pale stone chinos - they wash out the blue.
- Trainers with coloured soles.
- Black nail varnish, unless it was already your thing.
- A second printed layer of any kind.
Three outfit edits
1. The private view
The Skull and Butterfly Print Shirt, buttoned to the collar, black Claudio Lugli Fitted Chinos, black suede Chelsea boots, navy overcoat. Browse the rest of the Claudio Lugli Printed Shirts Collection for alternatives.
2. The Halloween Saturday
The Skull Flocking Shirt tucked into charcoal Claudio Lugli Fitted Chinos, black leather loafers, no jacket. The texture does the talking.
3. The late-season lunch
The Exotic Birds and Botanicals Print Shirt with navy Claudio Lugli Fitted Chinos and brown suede loafers. Bank a sunny weekend abroad with the Claudio Lugli Short-Sleeve Prints Collection and Claudio Lugli Fitted Chino Shorts.
FAQ
What does a skull and butterfly mean?
Life is short and beautiful - a memento mori with hope attached.
Is a skull and butterfly shirt goth?
No - on royal blue with gold skulls it reads as botanical first, goth never.
Can I wear it to work?
Yes, buttoned to the collar under a navy blazer on a Friday.
How do Claudio Lugli shirts fit?
Tailored-slim; if you are between sizes, size up.
What shoes go with a skull and butterfly shirt?
Black suede Chelsea boots, or black leather loafers indoors.
