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You know it's coming. That awkward stage between summer and fall where it's too cold to wear a sweater but too hot for just a t-shirt.

I can honestly say it's one of my most hated times of year – I just don't know what to wear to stay comfortable when the weather begins to change.

That was, at least, until I discovered the benefits of knitted men's shirts and polos.

Never heard of them? I hadn't either – so, in today's article, I'm passing down my newly discovered knowledge of knitted summer tops.

1. What Is A Knit Shirt For Men?
2. How To Style Summer Knitted Tops
3. Knit Shirt For Men Formality and Style
4. Who Should Wear Knit Shirts?
5. Caring for Your Knit Shirts

#1 What Is A Knit Shirt For Men?

A knit shirt for men is pretty much what it says on the box – a shirt that is knitted, usually from cotton or linen.

They are the perfect in-between garment for those transitional weather days where you need something a little more substantial than a t-shirt but don't want the extra weight of a sweater.

Plus, they come in a variety of styles and can be dressed up or down according to the occasion.

Historically speaking, knit shirts and polos are considered ‘retro' menswear – in that they were popular in the 60s and 70s but then fell out of fashion.

However, in recent years they have made a comeback and are now seen as stylish, modern garments.

So if you're looking for a shirt that will make you look cool and stylish while still being comfortable, then a knit shirt is definitely the way. Do some digging, and you'll be able to find these bad boys in a variety of different colors, patterns, and cuts.

Personally, I prefer to stick with the retro style, which usually features pastel colors in broad vertical stripes. But that's just my personal taste – so experiment with a few different options and work out which style is best for you.

#2 How To Style Summer Knitted Tops

Despite their rising popularity, knit summer shirts and polos won't suit every outfit you try them with. The key to looking good in a knitted shirt or polo is to think retro and do some research!

Get on the web and search for images of the garment being worn in times gone by. You'll see a lot of retro gents wearing them either with straight-leg slacks or slim-cut jeans.

It worked in the swinging sixties, and it'll work for you today. Opt for a classic pair of medium blue jeans, a pair of black leather penny loafers and a knitted shirt of your chosen design. Wear it with a few buttons undone to add a relaxed vibe to your outfit and quiff that hair if possible!

Alternatively, dress a knitted shirt up with a pair of slacks instead of jeans. Look for straight-cut, textured slacks with a roll-up hem. Tuck your knit shirt into them but let a bit of fabric hang loose. This will help you present an air of formality while still looking chilled out and relaxed in your new favorite shirt design.

#3 Formality and Style

Should you wear a knit shirt with a suit? No.

It's really not that kind of garment. When dressing up in formal attire, opt for a classic poplin button-down as you've always been taught to.

However, when smart-casual attire is on the table, the knit shirt really comes into its own.

As mentioned above, you can pair this garment with a pair of retro slacks to achieve a unique but clean-cut look. Looking to up your style game even further? Add a complementing blazer into the mix and really channel that '60s prom-night vibe'.

Remember, this look is all about taking the styles of the past and modernising them – so feel free to add your own modern flair:

• Switch out the penny loafers for white, minimalist sneakers.
• Change up the blazer and wear a bomber jacket.
• Could a slim-line tie work well with your shirt? Pick out a few and experiment to see what looks good

All in all, the beauty of the knitted shirt and knitted polo top is their versatility. There's plenty of room for experimentation, so gather up all of your style knowledge and put that garment to the test!

#4 Who Should Wear It?

Knit shirts aren't for everyone.

The fact is, without knowing how to style a knitted shirt correctly, you can easily put a foot wrong and end up looking like a reject from the set of Mad Men.

That's not to say that you can't look good in a knit shirt, in the right circumstances.

Let me put it this way: if you're the sort of guy who works in a big city office where a shirt and tie is mandatory uniform, then a knitted shirt probably isn't for you. Due to their retro nature, knitted shirts are relatively informal and best saved for more relaxed settings.

If you work in a more creative environment, or if you're looking for an outfit to take on your next big date, then a knitted shirt could be just what you need. With the right styling, a knitted shirt can make you look smart, stylish and altogether dapper – just remember to take your time, do your research and experiment with a few different looks before you settle on a style that suits you.

There's also the issue of age. I know – a lot of your guys probably remember part of the 60s when these shirts first came to be so popular. However, that doesn't mean you should try and revive your early years by wearing something that isn't right for you age range.

As a general rule, anyone up to the age of 55 can pull off a knitted shirt. It's a great garment for stylish dads and men looking to impress a date. However, if you're a grampa, then I'd suggest opting for something a bit more classic. After all, you want to look stylish – not like you're trying too hard to seem younger than your years.

#5 Caring for Your Knit Shirts

To enhance the appearance of your knit shirts, washing them properly is necessary. Knit shirts can be more sensitive in this regard than other fabrics because they are made in a different manner. Below are some care tips to make certain that your knit shirts remain healthy:

• Washing: As usual, first, read the care label. But in general, knitted tops can be machine washed on delicate spin with cold water to avoid shrinkage and damage to the fabric. A mild detergent should be used and bleach less or not used at all for its adverse effects on the fibers of the garment.

• Drying: Place the garments flat on the surface to avoid stretching and also retain their shape. If on a hanger, the time’s weight on the fabric makes it draw and oversized masses. In case you are forced to use a dryer, keep away from high heat.

• Ironing: Most knit tops are almost the same as most knits and there are no many wrinkles to be found in the garments if proper drying is undertaken. But if you feel you must, please do it on the lowest of the heat setting and also put some cloth in between the shirt and the iron to reduce the contact of heat to the shirt as this makes one end of the shirt scorched and shiny.

• Storage: It is best to store the knitwear shirts by folding them as opposed to hanging them on hangers. The fabric is likely to be stretched, and especially the shoulders when clothes are hung up. Hardly ever will it happen that the shape and structure of the shirt is lost while folding.

It is predicted that in the years to come, men’s knit shirts will become quite more popular partly due to the improvements in the fabric and how it is designed.

New fabric blends will improve moisture movement, the movement of air as well as the life of the fabrics while more daring graphics will create a modern take on the classic retro style.

Moreover, the movement towards more sustainable ways, with an increase in use of organic cotton and recyclable materials by the companies, will attract green consumers and add further value to the conventional knit shirt.

The post Guide to Men’s Knit Shirts: Styling Tips, Formality, and Care appeared first on Real Men Real Style.

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The Promised Land: A Crucial Locale

After four decades of living in a barren desert (Dt 1:3), God’s chosen people were to live in a fertile region located on highly traveled international caravan routes.

The land of Canaan was a vital location in the ancient world. It formed a strategic land bridge between Europe and Asia to the north and Africa to the south. Within its narrow boundaries were fertile fields, choice pasturage, strategic heights for cities, and well-established commercial trade routes. Surrounding peoples made this land bridge a crucial part of the ancient world. By planting his people in tiny Canaan, God would reveal his truth to the uttermost parts of the earth.¹

The Region

Canaan is part of the region that touches the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. North of the Mediterranean is Asia Minor, the current country of Turkey. A mountain chain stretches from west of the Black Sea, continues eastward beyond the Caspian Sea, curves to the southeast, and concludes at the Bay of Bengal, east of India. The range stretches north of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia into Asia. These mountains, the Balkans, Caucasus, Elburz, Hindu Kush, and Himalayan ranges, form a northern boundary and curb winter winds to produce a favorable climate for the area south of the range. The Syro-Arabian Desert constitutes a southern boundary to the region. The area that is between the mountains and the southern deserts and that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf forms the biblical world.²

The Arabian and Libyan Deserts prohibit population and travel in the largest land area of the region. These deserts and the Mediterranean Sea squeeze the productive land into an agriculturally productive area called the Fertile Crescent. The Fertile Crescent reaches from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers of Mesopotamia, arches northwest to Haran, west through Syria, southwest through Canaan, and concludes in the agriculturally rich delta and valley of the Nile River.

The Residents

Civilizations formed in the fertile river valleys throughout this region. In Asia Minor, the Halys River was the site of consolidation for Hittite military power.³ In Mesopotamia, the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers provided irrigation for farming. In Egypt, the annual floods of the Nile made fertile fields along its course and in the delta.

The Medes, a group of nomadic tribes, became a powerful Mesopotamian presence as they built cities and armies. The dynasties of the pharaohs established Egyptian monuments to their world-class power by building pyramids and armies. Between the armies of Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, and Egypt lay the land of Canaan.

During years of peace, travelers and traders traversed Canaan. Merchants from Mesopotamia traveled to Egypt and vice versa. Grain from Egypt made its way from the ports of Egypt to the maritime cities of Canaan. From there, Phoenician sailors connected Canaan to the rest of the world.

Conflict also came to the region of Canaan as ambitious pharaohs from Egypt and armies from Mesopotamia met to wage war in the valleys of Canaan. The breaks in the mountains on either side of the Jordan became battlefields for legendary conflicts. Sites such as Megiddo came to be known for battles and became symbols for future conflicts. The climactic battle of evil versus righteousness in Revelation 16:16 occurs in Armageddon (Hb har, “hill,” plus Megiddo).

Since Canaan was subject to commercial traffic and military encounters, a mixture of peoples ended up living there. The Hethites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites at the time of Joshua’s conquest reflect the variety and intermingling of nations after centuries of interchange and conquest.⁴ One of the peoples who inhabited part of the region had a long-lasting impact on the land; patriarchal Canaan came to be known as Palestine, a name derived from its Philistine inhabitants.⁵

Natural Divisions and Resources

In addition to being a crossroads for regional powers, Canaan had distinctive qualities within its borders that made it valuable to potential residents. The land promised to Abraham was approximately 150 miles long and 70 miles wide. The eastern and western boundaries of Canaan were the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Beer-sheba marked the southern border, and Dan was the northern limit. These borders expanded and decreased by military and commercial acquisitions during Israel’s history. For instance, after the conquest of Canaan, Israel inhabited the Trans­jordan Plateau. Over time, several sites in the plateau were lost and regained by Israel’s military forces.

Canaan is divided into four contrasting strips of land running north and south, each with unique, desirable traits. Geographical features form the designations for the different areas.

The Coastal Plain

The westernmost strip of land is the coastal plain, which begins at Gaza and continues north to Tyre. This coastal region possesses fertile farmland and is irrigated by springs and seasonal rainfall.⁶ Located in the southernmost region of the coastal plain was the plain of Philistia, which was the stronghold of Israel’s perennial enemy, the Philistines. The Philistines recognized the assets of the land and chose it as a home when they migrated from the island of Caphtor (Crete, Am 9:7). The productive farmland contributed to the Philistines’ wealth and political power. A major trade route, the Way of the Sea (Via Maris), connecting Egypt to Damascus, passed through the Philistine cities of the southwest plain.⁷

Moving north, the fertile plain of Sharon is the next division of the coastal plain. This area runs north from Joppa to Mount Carmel. This entire region was once covered by extensive forests.

Yet farther to the north, the verdant plains of Acco and Esdraelon complete the coastal region. From Tyre to the north, the coastland had natural ports that were manned mostly by Phoenician sailors. The best known of these ports were at Tyre and Sidon.⁸

The Central Hill Country—Moving eastward from the Mediterranean, the central hill country is the second strip of land. A ridge of mountains beginning in the north in Lebanon continues south to Beer-sheba. The mountains cause abrupt climatic changes and provide strategic locations for cities. The western side of the mountain ridge receives seasonal precipitation from atmospheric moisture from the Mediterranean. The resulting fertile hills of Judea are called the Shephelah. These hills ascend to the heights of Hebron and Jerusalem and provide defensible positions for its residents. The hills north of Jerusalem in Samaria are lower in altitude and create openness and accessibility. In peacetime, this convenience encouraged travel and trade. In times of war, however, the lower altitudes made the capital cities difficult to defend. North of Samaria is upper and lower Galilee. This country is suitable for vineyards and provides excellent pasturage for flocks.

On the eastern slopes of the mountains are the wilderness regions of Judea. Since the mountain heights block rainfall in this region, the limited vegetation can sustain only sparse flocks. The arid conditions provide natural defenses against aggressor armies. Near Jerusalem this rugged terrain slopes steeply downward to the Jordan River.

The Jordan River Valley—The third strip of land is the Jordan (or Rift) Valley. This valley is part of a geological rift that begins in Asia Minor and extends south to Victoria Falls in Zambia, Africa.⁹ Abundant springs flow from Mount Hermon to form tributaries that empty into the Sea of Galilee, which is nearly seven hundred feet below sea level.

The land around the Sea of Galilee is fertile. The Jordan River flows south for about sixty-five miles through dense vegetation and arid wilderness to the lowest body of water on earth, the Dead Sea, about thirteen hundred feet below sea level. Evaporation is the only outlet for all the water draining into the Dead Sea from the Jordan River. This stagnation prevents aquatic life but produces abundant minerals. The water and minerals supplied by the springs, river, and lakes create high demand for this part of Canaan.

The Transjordan Plateau—Yet farther east from the Mediterranean Sea is the fourth strip of land, the Transjordan Plateau. The land rises from the Jordan River Valley and reaches the plateau that extends eastward approximately thirty miles to the Arabian Desert. The fertile land of Bashan and Gilead in the north contrast with the arid heights of Moab and Edom on the southeastern shore of the Dead Sea.¹⁰ Before flowing into the Jordan, rivers irrigate and divide the northern and central Transjordan Plateau. The flocks Israel captured as they began their conquest of Canaan reflect the value of this highly productive region north of the Dead Sea.

Another major trade route of Canaan was located in this strip of land. The King’s Highway ran from the Gulf of Aqaba east of the Jordan to Damascus.¹¹ Caravans traveling to and from Arabia used this highway.

This article by Ken Cox was originally featured in Biblical Illustrator.

Want to learn more about the Land of Israel? Check out these two resources!

Luke in the Land Bible study

Follow Kristi McLelland through Israel as we study snapshots from the Gospel of Luke to see where the stories of the Bible took place. Over 7 sessions, challenge the way you read the accounts of Jesus through teaching videos that take you to locations in Israel like Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, Gethsemane, Jerusalem, and the road to Emmaus. Along the way, you’ll see how Jesus, the Messiah, brought His kingdom to earth for everybody.

The World of the Bible: Historical and Cultural Context 101

Taught by Jen Wilkin, Katie J. McCoy, Amy Williams, Kristie Anyabwile, and Courtney Veasey.

The Bible was written thousands of years ago to, by, and about people who were very different from us today. In this course, learn to see the Bible through the lens of a different time, place, and people. Through lectures, quizzes, and downloadable resources, learn about the lifestyles, values, outlooks, and geography that shaped Scripture. Put on the lenses of the Ancient Near East and see the Word of God in its world as an invaluable influence of how you understand its impact for us and for now.

Works Cited

1. J. McKee Adams, Biblical Backgrounds, rev. Joseph A. Callaway (Nashville: Broadman, 1965), 25.

2. William Sanford LaSor, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996), 619.

3. George L. Kelm, “Hittites and Hivites” in HolBD, 655.

4. Adams, Biblical Backgrounds, 25.

5. Merrill F. Unger, “Palestine” in The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, ed. R. K. Harrison (Chicago: Moody, 1988), 953.

6. Timothy Trammel, “Palestine” in HolBD, 1063.

7. LaSor, Hubbard, and Bush, Old Testament Survey, 622.

8. LaSor, Hubbard, and Bush, Old Testament Survey.

9. LaSor, Hubbard, and Bush, Old Testament Survey, 626.

10. Trammel, “Palestine,” 1064–68.

11. “Kings Highway” in HolBD, 847–48.

The post Navigating the Geography of the Promised Land appeared first on Lifeway Women.

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