Kate Agathon

The Dovetail Workwear Zeller DX Work Shirt is a hard working durable denim work shirt with stylish western features that will take you from work to happy hour meet ups with friends.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Dovetail Workwear Zeller DX Work Shirt when you put it on is its weight. Not as heavy as a denim jacket, but not as thin as so-called fashion denim (I’ve worn plenty of denim shirts that were more chambray than denim), the work shirt is clearly designed for work and outdoor adventures.

 

Western influence

I was initially interested in the Dovetail Workwear Zeller DX Work Shirt because of its obvious western design: stylized yoke on the back, pointed collar and pocket flaps, printed cuffs, and mother of pearl snaps. It reminded me of my youth growing up in a small agricultural community located on the southeastern plains of Colorado.

 

In addition to the evident design details described above, Dovetail Workwear thoughtfully included some subtle practical details as well, including: shoulder darts, a hidden snap, locker loop, longer hemline, microfiber shirt tail (to wipe off greasy sunglasses), and a hidden zip pocket (it wouldn’t be Dovetail Workwear without a discreet extra pocket).

 

Available in two colors (Black and Indigo Denim) and seven sizes (XS to XXXL), the Zeller DX work shirt is constructed from 77 percent cotton, 21 percent polyester, and 2 percent spandex. Its weight makes you know it is designed for hard, dirty work, not just looks.

I liked the sturdiness of the denim material- knowing that it would be difficult to rip or snag even when I’m working in the warehouse at my weekend job. Paired with a wool base layer underneath, the shirt kept me warm in the warehouse throughout the day.

 

For someone like me who is not use to wearing shirts that are of a thicker, heftier material, I initially felt like I was wearing a shacket. But, the more I wore it, the more I got used to it. And when the temperatures cooled, I was glad for its weight.

 

Additional thoughts

The Dovetail Workwear Zeller DX work shirt can be worn on its own, or paired with an underlayer. Although the denim material was not scratchy, I preferred to wear a camisole or base layer underneath.

 

I liked the paisley print material on the cuffs and along the collar. That unexpected subtle pop of printed fabric looks nice when I roll the cuffs and are reminiscent of Robert Graham shirts so popular with urban men.

It also took me some time to get used to the longer hemline, but I was grateful for it whenever I found myself sitting on a cold surface like a metal bench, or just a fallen log near the trail.

 

Final thoughts? I liked the overall style of the Dovetail Workwear Zeller DX work shirt, and it is a refreshing change from wearing fall flannel shirts. In a mountain town where I live, the Dovetail Workwear Zeller DX work shirt is super practical for work and outdoor fun.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.