But this style comes in many other colors and patterns. It feels great with or without an undershirt, he told me. 9 Plaid Flannel Button-Down Shirt, Men's Apt. The fabric is stiff and doesnt breathe well, Kimber said. A whopping 4. Sizes: XS to 4XLFabric: 93% nylon, 7% spandexFront pocket: noFit: slim, tailored, athletic (XXL and smaller only), prominent (XXL and larger only), standardLengths: short (XXL and smaller only), regular, longNumber of colors: 24 (XXL and smaller only), five (XXL and larger only). This shirt is not too long and not too short, and it has just enough room that you can move and stretch. The Alex Mill? Android, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Get 15% off when you sign up for our emails, California Transparency in Supply Chains Act. When all else fails, turn your button-up shirt into a paint smock, or upcycle it in other fun ways. Every button-up shirt will eventually reach the end of its lifetime in your closet, but the better you take care of it, the longer it will last. Northern Lights Plaid: Dark Borealis Green (NOLG). Flexible shipping options are available. But friends who wore it didnt agree and found it to be ill fitting. Tester fit: I wore 16 x 33; Kimber and Thorin both wore 15 x 33; Treye wore 15 x 32. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. In practical terms, that means the shoulder and chest measurements are an inch or so smaller than those of the brands regular-fit shirts, including Uniqlos flannel shirts. Like the H&M Regular Fit Linen Shirt, the Abercrombie & Fitch Linen Button-Up Shirt (now sold out) is super-rumpled to start, with lots of loose threads along the seams. The J.Crew Broken-In Cotton Oxford Shirt is constructed from a pre-laundred, ultra-soft cotton. After separating the wheat from the chaff during my personal testing, I put together a diverse panel of testers to give me feedback on the best button-up shirts. The Bonobos sizing options are unprecedented for a mass retailereight sizes, with a wide variety of fits and lengths. How to improve your shirts sustainability, J.Crew Broken-In Organic Cotton Oxford Shirt, Banana Republic Slim-Fit Non-Iron Dress Shirt, Uniqlo Men Super Non-Iron Slim-Fit Long-Sleeve Shirt, J.Crew Bowery Wrinkle-Free Stretch Cotton Shirt, Brooks Brothers Stretch Madison Relaxed-Fit Dress Shirt, Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down Oxford Regent Shirt, Banana Republic Untucked Standard-Fit Cotton Oxford Shirt, Alex Mill Mill Shirt in Garment Dyed Oxford, Abercrombie & Fitch Linen Button-Up Shirt, Banana Republic Untucked Slim-Fit Linen-Cotton Shirt, Brooks Brothers Regent Regular-Fit Sport Shirt in Irish Linen, Untuckit Wrinkle-Resistant Linen Crianza Shirt, The Mens Travel Clothes I Pack No Matter Where Im Going, Our Favorite Clothes to Wear While Working From Home. Learn more about our environmental and social responsibility program. The H&M dress shirt we tested, for example, was $5 more, and it looked and felt extremely cheap. In our wash tests, the sleeve measurement shrank an inch, so keep this in mind for sizing. If youre the sort of dresser who likes to mix it up, you wont find more variety than with this shirt. But there were a number of stray threads on the shirt I received, and the button holes were especially tight. I dismissed the Uniqlo Men Super Non-Iron Slim-Fit Long-Sleeve Shirt because its stock was too spotty. Well keep an eye on this shirt and report any issues. He previously wrote about tech at Wirecutter. Its a touch see-through, though, which is less of a dealbreaker if youre wearing it while on vacation. So get the Stretch Poplin shirt only if youre handy with an iron, committed to dry cleaning, or unconcerned with a few creases. A nicely priced Oxford: Uniqlo Oxford Slim-Fit Long-Sleeve Shirt. To check for shrinkage, I measured the sleeve and body length of each shirt, and then washed and dried it according to its care label. The rest of us chimed in with our own varied complaints about texture and blousy-ness. One tester was so enthusiastic about his Bonobos shirt that the one he tested wasnt enough. And the collar stands firmly. To try shirts from both sizing categories, we enlisted a group of five testers: Wired service editor Alan Henry, Wirecutter senior staff writer Kimber Streams, Wirecutter editors Treye Green and Thorin Klosowski, and style writer Justin Krajeski (thats me). How it feels: This is the lightest, softest Oxford button-down weve worn in a while, with a more-customized fit. Well give you trade-in credit and make sure your gear is in goodhands. Everything we make has an impact on people and the planet. Even today, it is more pleasantly disheveled than distractingly unkempt. This shirt was spacious enough for me to easily lift my arms and have a good range of motion, said Treye, who wore a 15 x 32. Price: I considered a range of button-up shirts priced between about $20 and $130. The best stay buttoned and pop out with a flick of the thumb. I tested the navy and was surprised at how polished, sleek, and expensive it felt, especially for something costing $30. The J.Crew Bowery Wrinkle-Free Stretch Cotton Shirt was pretty big and lumpy, at least on me. This all-cotton shirt instructs wearers to machine-wash but line-dry. But if youre looking for variety, youll have to go elsewhere. The rumpled look is part of the dealits perfect for hot summer days, vacations, or other less-iron-crisp moments. Theyre some of the most comfortable and well-fitting dress shirts Ive ever tried.. If you arent concerned about making any money back, Give Back Box is a vendor service that gives to retailers and charities to help those in needthough items generally have to be in excellent condition. But it is also, in fact, a button-down because its collar is secured by buttons. These are the basic wardrobe elementstee, pants, shorts, jacket, socks, and underwearthat keep our traveler comfortable regardless of his destination. (The brands regular 3XL measures 29 1/7 inches.) Its also worth mentioning that not everyone loves lineneven very nice linen. During my initial testing, I looked for shirts with even stitching at the seams, few to no loose threads, and well-built collars. Quality: I was looking for high-quality, well-constructed button-ups that would last for years. It has an unusually cut collar thats flatter, wider, and less pointed than those on the shirts we recommend above. The thin polyester/cotton blend was reminiscent of my elementary school uniform (and not in a good way). Theyre called Oxford shirts because theyre made from Oxford cloth, with a durable basket-weave pattern. Sizes: XXS to 3XLFabric: 100% cottonFront pocket: yesNumber of colors: five (navy, pale blue, yellow, gray, off-white). In my first round of testing, I wore each shirt for a few days. Though the Uniqlo shirt comes in fewer colors than the J.Crew shirt, its also less than half the price. And yet the J.Crew shirt also has solid constructionthe buttons are snug, secure, and easy to fasten, and there are extras sewn inside. Weve pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. The H&M Slim Fit CoolMax Shirt was so synthetic that I found it distracting. But no matter a shirts composition, we insisted the fabric felt comfortable against the skin, and that it was durable and opaque enough that it didnt require an undershirt. Two significant issues stood out, though. Because we know prioritizing durability results in consuming less energy, wasting less water and creating less trash. Unlike some synthetic blends we tried, this fabric didnt feel slippery or overly thin; it didnt feel like the kind of fabric you should be very careful wearing around a fire pit. I found the Alex Mill Mill Shirt in Garment Dyed Oxfords long sleeves oddly short. Wirecutter staffers share their favorite lounge pants, sweatshirts, and slippers to wear while working from home. The Banana Republic Untucked Standard-Fit Cotton Oxford Shirts thin-feeling fabric is actually lovely. The shirt shrank an inch in length and another inch in the sleeves, but it was otherwise unnoticeable. The cut is generous, ideal for someone with broad shoulders, big arms, and a wide chest. Keep this in mind for sizing and when deciding how to clean the Uniqlo shirt. Get instructions now. Whats the difference between an Oxford shirt and a dress shirt? Its one of the longest shirts we recommend. Its clear that Uniqlo is definitely made for thinner people, Alan remarked after testing a 3XL, which had a chest measurement of 28 inches. In this guide, we also recommend a linen shirt that has a distinctly airy look and feel, compared with shirts in the other two categories covered here. Alan wore a size 3XL (which has a 61-inch chest, 37-inch sleeve, and 33-inch body), and he loved the sizing and the shirts soft, pliant fabric. This was my favorite fit out of the Oxfords that I tried, Treye said. I saw another jump between shirts that cost $30 and those that were $75. Its one of only two shirts we recommend with a high-quality thread shank to secure the buttons and make them easier to fasten. And although the Untuckit is well constructed, the cotton fabric feels scratchy, which is unfortunate for a shirt thats around $100. I particularly loved the stylish details, like the white shell buttons (on the white shirt I tried). The well-made Kirkland Mens Tailored Fit Dress Shirt is nicely priced, and its fit is roomy, not slim. Track orders, save products, easy hassle-free returns & exchanges. After getting a sense of the feel, I eliminated ones with thin- or starchy-feeling fabric, transparent fabric, ragged stitching and frayed seams, or flimsy buttons and irregular button holes. Thats not always realistic, so we threw it in the dryer on low heat to see what would happen. And the design allows for micro sleeve adjustments, thanks to the two buttons on the wrists. Not so with the Bonobos. I recruited panel testers of different sizes to wear each shirt, from S to 3XL. And it comes in a wide range of colors and sizes, more than for any other shirt we tested. Because of the customization, our panelists were all able to find a size and fit they loved. Concerned about the environmental impact? I despise transparent dress shirtsin dressy settings, your nipples should never show throughand the Bonobos shirt offers full coverage, full stop. The collar wasnt itchy or overly tight, and the stays (rigid plastic inserts that anchor a collars point) were thin and stable. Its also pretty itchy, similar to many of the less-successful linen shirts I tested. No nipple peeks at all, even without an undershirt, which wasnt the case with a few of the other dress shirts I tested (the horror). Sign up for exclusive offers, original stories, activism awareness, events and more. And, based on specs and user reviews, I narrowed the field to 29 highly rated models: 12 dress shirts, nine Oxfords, and eight linen shirts. *At the time of publishing, the price was $30. They rotate oftenthis exact pattern is already sold out. The sensation is completely different than what you get with most cotton shirts (which usually feel crisp and can drag against the skin). If youre looking for an exceptionally soft dress shirt, I love the Banana Republic Slim-Fit Non-Iron Dress Shirt. Some linen shirts we saw needed to be hand-washed, but this one is machine-washable and can tolerate the dryer, which helps cut down on wrinkles. Of the 12 dress shirts I tried, the Bonobos shirt fit and felt the best, and our panelists readily agreed. In the dress shirt category, I looked for shirts with sturdy collar stays. Sign up for exclusive offers, original stories, activism awareness, events and more from Patagonia. Learn more. (For example, theres a Banana Republic logo on a floppy tag on the bottom of the front of the shirt.) A note of warning for those with long torsos: The Club Monaco shirt is a little shorter in the body than other linen shirts. threader vintagedesi But when I did get my hands on one that fit, it was pleasantly unstarchy. How it feels: The Club Monaco Slim Linen Shirt feels smooth, well constructed, and breathable but not flimsy. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). The dark blue threading along the wrist-and-arm buttonholes is eye-catchingmaybe too much so. A roomy, affordable dress shirt: Kirkland Mens Tailored Fit Dress Shirt. I didnt find anything more than $100 that I thought justified the cost. Unfortunately, it feels starchy and uncomfortable, too, with inaccessibly tight buttonholes. Tester fit: I wore M regular, Alan wore 3XL regular, Kimber wore S short, and Treye and Thorin both wore S slim. You can also elongate a shirts life by washing in cold water and ironing on low heat (when necessary). The fabric is totally opaque and feels durable, especially for the price. The shirt sat cleanly across my shoulders and tucked into my pants with minimal wrinkles. However, weve always found J.Crews clothing to be quite durable. In our tests, it shrank only half an inch in both body and sleeve length. This shirt comes in sizes XS to XXL and in a range of cuts: classic, slim, and tall. That said, youre paying about half the price for the Uniqlo, and its a good-looking shirt, so this may be an acceptable trade-off. Dress shirts and Oxford shirts differ from one another because dress shirts feel more formal, theyre made of thinner material, and they have stiff, buttonless collars. Be aware that J.Crew often sells groups of colors and patterns on different product pages, so its worth doing a site search to see all of the available options. So the Uniqlo shirt is a great deal, especially if you want to try out a few unconventional colors. For a slimmer Oxford shirt, the Club Monaco Long Sleeve Oxford Shirt is a great, narrow-fitting option that comes in solid and striped varieties. To get a range of opinions, I sent them to a panel of writers and editors whose opinions I trust. How it feels: The smooth nylon has just a bit of stretch, so the shirt feels light and sleek against the skin, not cheap or staticky (like some synthetic blends). For example, Im a medium and also a 16 x 33 (which represents neck circumference and sleeve length in inches). If youre worried about sizing issues, test it out in-store, or order a few sizes online and factor in the $7 return shipping fee. Because it is pure cotton, this shirt is not stretchy like the Bonobos shirt (if you favor the give of spandex, this isnt the shirt for you). For this piece, we focused on button-up shirts marketed to men, though these styles can be worn by people of any gender. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. The extended-size range goes from 2XL to 4XL and is currently offered in standard and prominent fit. Its also worth noting that although the other colors have standard white buttons, the navy and yellow feature colored buttons to match the shirt, an especially elegant and cohesive touch. Some of our panelists thought that the cotton weave was rough and itchy, especially compared with the feel of the Bonobos shirt. Though other dress shirts Treye wore were tight around the neck (even when he ordered his exact measurement), the Kirkland was pleasantly loose, with a thin, affixed collar stay that kept the collar from drooping or sagging. Dress shirts, on the other hand, should never look anything but crisp and new. (We tested the Kamakura New York Slim Fit in the dress-shirt category, too, and we encountered these same perks and issues.). The Bonobos Washed Button-Down Shirt (which also comes in Extended Sizes) is lighter and looser-feeling than the other dress shirts. So if a shirt you order from this company doesnt fit, youll have to return it to Japan. The arms hit at the right length, and there wasnt any extra fabric when it was tucked in. The J.Crew Oxford is made from lightweight, 100% cotton, so its nice for warmer weather or layering under a sweater. For the price, no other dress shirt came close to Kirklands quality. A solid dress shirt in tons of sizes: Bonobos Tech Button Down. Like the Bonobos, this one is extremely light-feeling. I really think the Untuckit Wrinkle-Resistant Linen Crianza Shirt is corny-looking (along with Untuckits dress-shirt offering). We recommend wearing an undershirt, to prevent pit stains and excessive wear. And thats an honest, subjective reaction to fabric that isnt natural, like cotton or linen. Though a bit rigid at first, the affordable Uniqlo Oxford Slim-Fit Long-Sleeve Shirt is polished and comfortable enough to wear on a regular workday or at the weekend. Even so, Alan found the fit wearable, as did his fellow panelists. A group called SMART (Secondary Materials And Recycled Textiles) offers a ton of information about how and where to recycle your clothes. In those cases, I recommend checking out the J.Crew Baird McNutt Irish Linen Shirt instead. It sits a little too high on the waist, runs a little too long in the arms, and hugs the neck too tightly. Points for expert stitching, demerits for the dreaded tight buttons. Its weave is more textured than that of cotton, and many people relish how the coarse, breathable fabric feels against their skin. Once they tucked the shirt in, the extra fabric wasnt a problem for any testers. Bonobos has since updated the pricing, and all sizes now cost $99. (I spotted just a couple of loose threads, significantly fewer than on other shirts at this price point.) Pleaseenable JavaScript in your browser; it's quick and easy! In general, that wasnt something that irked our testersor something they even noticedexcept when it came to length. Honestly, Im about to go buy more of these shirts, Alan wrote. I noticed a ton of wrinkles, though. I agreed. J.Crews website describes it as being more casual than your dressiest shirt, but it looks too frumpy to compete in this category. Flaws but not dealbreakers: When we originally published this guide, extended sizes of this pick cost $118 $20 more than the standard-size shirt. The J.Crew Oxford is a light, comfy shirt that comes in several cuts, for a more-precise fit, and a wide array of colors and prints (which change often). A final high-end touch: The last button hole is horizontal, rather than vertical; this is to prevent the fabric from gaping over the stomach and keep it secure. Buy used, trade in and fix your gear through Worn Wear. As with most shirts we tested, with this one various sizes and colors tend to go in and out of stock. If you are using a screen reader and having difficulty please call us at 1-800-638-6464. Im a style writer, which means I compare, test, and report on wearable items. The Kamakura Tokyo Slim Fit is a really special Oxford shirt, with clean construction and beautifully tight stitching. After three years, these five boxer briefs are the most comfy, supportive, and good-looking we could find, and they start at less than four bucks a pair. That being said, the shirt also wasnt so thick that it made me hot or sweaty. How it feels: The fit is more relaxed, and the fabric is substantial, if a little stiffit wears like a shirt that will last a while. Flaws but not dealbreakers: The J.Crew shirt feels less substantial than other Oxfords we wore. At 5-foot-6, theyre often left with too much bulk on dress shirts, which makes tucking unwieldy. Why not trade it in? 9 Premier Flex Slim-Fit Spread-Collar Dress Shirt, Men's Smith's Workwear Relaxed-Fit Buffalo Plaid Flannel Button-Down Shirt, Men's Tommy Hilfiger Custom Fit Essential Stretch Oxford Shirt, Big & Tall Tommy Hilfiger Flex End-On-End Button-Down Shirt, Men's Croft & Barrow Pattern Easy-Care Button-Down Shirt, Big & Tall Apt. Flaws but not dealbreakers: This shirt feels stiff at first, but it softens after repeated wears. Kimber Streams, a senior staff writer who is non-binary, enhanced the scope and feel of this guide with their participation. This shirt is well-constructed enough to work into your weekly wardrobe. And they all found the shirt fit well, if not exactly tailored (perhaps a bit of a stretch from the Kirkland product-naming department). The testers wore sizes ranging from small to 3XL (in the entries below, we specify which testers wore which sizes; it varied by brand). Second, the stock and sizing are both extremely limited. Most shirts revealed about 2 inches. If your button-up shirt is worn out, you can textile recycle it, a process by which old clothes are recovered for reuse. I brushed up on the difference between button-up shirts and button-down shirts. I started by researching hundreds of button-up shirts. We independently review everything we recommend. Thats because, as we noted, its a cotton shirt, without the silky feel of a synthetic, and that distinction is a matter of preference. Its worth mentioning that the size 4X chest measurement goes up to 64 inches, the most generous we saw for any shirt in any category. Sizes: XS to XXL (the tall fit comes only in sizes M to XL)Fabric: 100% organic cottonFront pocket: yesFit: classic, slim, slim untucked, tall,relaxedNumber of colors: up to 15 (including white, blue, several stripes, plaids). Subscribe now for unlimited access. Buttons: Some shirts were difficult to button and unbutton, while others were too lax. The Club Monaco comes in XS to XXL, or 35 inches to 47 inches across the chest and 32 inches to 38 inches in the sleeve. Even worse, the stitching looks unevenbent and wrinkledand the weave is quite transparent, so youll probably need an undershirt. I spent a month obsessing over minute features that distinguish one shirt from another. Thats not a huge amount, but it is more than on any other shirt we washed. A slim, breezy linen shirt: Club Monaco Slim Linen Shirt. Hes very well versed in carrying. Another nice touch: two replacement buttons sewn inside the bottom of the placket. We tested a preppy blue-and-white-striped shirt. So this element gave the J.Crew shirt an advantage, especially for those who often have trouble finding just the right fit from a standard shirt. Curiously, the Uniqlo Oxford is offered only in a slim fit, with no regular option. Why its great: We found Bonobos clothing to be comfortable and of high quality, so I was psyched to test its standard dress shirt. A white T-shirt is the unsung hero of many outfits, and we found five different high-quality, stylish shirts to suit a variety of budgets and sizes. (I wasnt part of the panel, since Id done the initial testing and research.) Airy fabric plus tricky buttons: a frustrating combo nobody needs. If youre looking for a sportier dress shirt, the Club Monaco Stretch Poplin Dress Shirt looks sharp and streamlined, but it isnt as soft or comfortable as the Bonobos shirt we recommend. Orders are shipped within 1-2 business days and arrive within 3-10 business days. There was a significant difference in quality between $20 shirts and those that cost $30. But the value was immediately apparent. However, the wide collar is unusual, and this shirt is $10 more than the widely available Kirkland shirt. Need it sooner? Sizing is key in all clothing choices. 9 Stretch Flannel Untucked-Fit Shirt, Men's Lands' End Textured Button-Down Shirt, Big & Tall Dickies Button-Down Work Shirt. The synthetic fabric is a mix of 93% nylon and 7% spandex, so it has a subtle stretch and feels smooth. (He wore the shirt in size S.), Sizes: XS to XXLFabric: 100% linenFront pocket: yesFit: slimNumber of colors: four (white, pale blue, medium blue, navy). Most of our picks are machine-washable. Lets start with the size range. Andyou guessed ittheir collars button down. Justin Krajeski is a staff writer reporting on everyday carry at Wirecutter. Because the Uniqlo shirt costs about a third of the price of other Oxfords, there are some trade-offslike how stiff the fabric feels. The soft and stretchy Bonobos Tech Button Down is durable and handsome. Still, we looked for shirts that offered an even wider variety of sizes. In our testing and research, this level of customization wasnt available with most Oxfords. Then I measured again to calculate the difference. But theyve come back every season for at least two years, so we feel confident that Bonobos will keep making this model. There are online sites where you can sell second-hand clothing, like ThredUp, Poshmark, and Ebay. We're sorry, JavaScript is required to shop Kohls.com. A lightweight Oxford: J.Crew Broken-In Organic Cotton Oxford Shirt. The Uniqlo Oxford comes in five colors: off-white, gray, yellow, blue, and navy (though these update seasonally). The Uniqlo shirt is shorter than some button-ups we tried29 inches; this would be tricky only if you prefer a tucked look, or if you have a long torso. The Club Monaco Slim Linen Shirt was the least transparent linen we tested. shirt gingham shirts check dress brown features button collar down poly cotton We also looked for fabrics that are easy to care for. Our panel testers didnt like the Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down Oxford Regent Shirt, which now appears to be out of stock. And despite being one of the most expensive linen shirts we brought in to test, it wasnt soft.