CPO Shirt – A Sailor’s Essential
Originally issued to US Navy Chief Petty Officers in the 1930s, the CPO shirt was designed as a hard-wearing layer that could withstand long days at sea. Cut from dense wool for warmth against biting winds, its practical details: button-front closure, dual chest pockets, and reinforced seams, made it indispensable on deck.
As sailors returned home, the utility and clean lines of the CPO shirt diffused into civilian wardrobes. By the 1960s, surplus pieces and reproductions became staples in workwear and outdoor clothing, adopted by everyone from dockworkers to hunters. Its blend of durability and understated style made it a natural bridge between military uniform and everyday wear, inspiring countless iterations from heritage brands.
This piece carries that same spirit of durability and utility. Worn open as an overshirt or buttoned as a mid-layer, the CPO shirt bridges military precision and everyday wear. Its history is stitched into every detail, yet it remains effortlessly at home in a modern wardrobe.
Note: All items are vintage, differ in pre-owned conditions, and exhibit sign of use. All pricing are set with flaws, age, and condition in mind. For CPO shirts specifically, only one single pocket first model CPO shirt is available.
Details:
100% Heavyweight wool for warmth and resilience
Chest pockets with scalloped flaps, shirts with one chest pocket date back to the early 1930s first model CPO shirt
Classic USN urea buttons with anchor motif
Model is 5'9 and wears size 21" width
