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Pretty much every man looks good in an oxford button-down. The shirt that helped birth the Ivy Style movement is meant to be rugged and easy to care for and to look just as good freshly ironed and worn with a tie as it does rumpled and paired with jeans. Because the oxford shirt has been around for so long, it’s gone through plenty of its own trend cycles — from the slimmer fits of the early 2010s to the current resurgence of more voluminous cuts that were popular in ’90s.
To find the very best oxford shirts, no matter which style you prefer, I talked to menswear writers, models and actors, clothing designers, and photographers about the ones they buy again and again. I also grilled my husband — a teacher who routinely wears an oxford while bike-commuting to school — about his favorites and touched and tried on the most recommended shirts myself to get a feel for the fabric, buttons, collar, and fit.
What we’re looking for
Fabric
According to image consultant Patrick Kenger, the difference between a standard button-down and an oxford shirt is the use of oxford cloth, which is thicker than the fabric used for most dress shirts. Oxford cloth was traditionally made of cotton, with a basket weave that gives it a more textured feel and makes it more durable and easy to mend if it frays or tears.
These days, there are a lot of oxfords that have the shirt’s trademark characteristics but are made from a different cotton weave or a different fabric altogether. And lots of brands don’t specify whether the cotton they use is in fact Oxford cloth. But nearly all of the shirts on this list are made of 100 percent cotton with one exception that has a bit of spandex blended in for stretch.
Fit and sizing
Many brands make oxford shirts in multiple cuts, including slim fit, which is tapered and slimmer in the arms, chest, and body. This style was especially popular in the early 2010s, but recent trends have sparked a return to roomier cuts inspired by the original Brooks Brothers oxford; the key to this baggier look is to choose a shirt that fits your shoulders correctly, so that the fit looks intentional and not messy. For each shirt below, I have noted all of the fits available. I also prioritized brands that carry a wide range of sizes and fits to accommodate different body types, sizes, and style preferences.
Note that some brands list measurements for sleeve and hem length or neck and chest diameter; paying close attention to those will help you achieve a more custom-feeling fit. A good rule of thumb is to measure a shirt you feel good in and compare it to a brand’s online measurements to be sure you’re buying the right size for the look you want.
Style details
In their most traditional form, oxford shirts have buttons at the collar points, a reinforced chest pocket, pleated sleeves, and back details like a box pleat (to allow for comfortable movement) and a locker loop (originally added so that college students could hang their shirts on the hook in their lockers). I’ve made note of these details as well as which of our picks come in additional colors below.
Best oxford shirt overall
Fabric: 100 percent organic cotton | Fit and sizing: Classic fit, slim fit, slim untucked fit, tall fit, relaxed fit; XS–XXL | Style details: Chest pocket, pleated back and sleeves, locker loop, 7 colors and multiple patterns
J.Crew’s Broken-In Organic oxford shirt epitomizes the casual ease that makes the shirts so popular. It’s made from organic cotton and affordable enough to buy multiples. The shirt is a longtime favorite of my husband, Jacob Cohen, as well as photographer-slash-rug dealer Mikael Kennedy, both of whom wear oxford button-downs as often as they wear T-shirts. “They’re not disposable feeling, but they don’t feel precious either,” Kennedy says, adding that he got married in one he bought on sale for $30. Miles Garber, the co-founder of candle company Hands, and Tim Melideo, who runs the men’s-fashion website Stay Classic, also recommend the shirt to anyone dipping their toe into more formal dressing or just looking for a go-to suit shirt.
Cohen is a fourth-grade teacher and wears oxford shirts to work almost every day, including during his bike commute in all kinds of weather. This one is a go-to because it stands up so well to constant movement, sweat, and frequent washing. It also looks good even after he’s chased children around all day and feels about as comfortable as any T-shirt, never tight or constricting.
One of the J.Crew oxford’s greatest attributes is that it’s available in five different fits (not including a short-sleeved version) meant to accommodate a variety of tastes and body types. Cohen wears the classic fit, as it gives him room to move, or to layer over a T-shirt. It is prewashed to create a more lived-in feel and comes in many different colors and patterns, from classic white and blue to plaid and seasonal prints. The shirt also has callbacks to classic oxford details with a reinforced chest pocket, back pleat, and locker loop.
Best less-expensive oxford shirt overall
Fabric: 100 percent cotton | Fit and sizing: Slim fit; XXS–XXXL | Style details: Chest pocket, pleated back and sleeves, locker loop, 4 colors
Uniqlo’s oxford shirt is another go-to of Cohen’s. It’s less expensive than J.Crew’s oxford but no less dependable: The tradeoff for the lower price is that it only comes in one cut (slim) and fewer colors (blue, white, navy, and gray) than J. Crew’s oxford shirt, but it has a wider size range and still features classic oxford details. At last count, Cohen had six of them hanging in his closet, along with two from J.Crew and one from Buck Mason. The Uniqlo shirts are the workhorse of his wardrobe: durable, slim but not tight, casual yet professional, and the perfect partner to a lightweight sweater. They have a slightly more nubby texture than J.Crew’s broken-in oxford shirts, and are therefore less formal-looking. The length is also spot-on for Cohen, who is 5 foot 10 inches tall and says the shirts are long enough to tuck in but don’t look sloppy if left untucked.
Other Uniqlo-oxford-shirt devotees include Strategist columnist Chris Black; Timothy Grindle, the co-owner of Boulder-based clothing company Canoe Club; and Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa. Black has been wearing the same slim-fit oxford shirt in light blue for nearly a decade and loves it so much he’s even had his repaired. Rellosa appreciates that the shirts feel broken in and comfortable right out of the gate: “The collar doesn’t poke my neck or feel too boxy when I’m wearing it under a sweater or a jacket,” he says, noting that it also looks great unbuttoned in the summer.
Best slim-fit Oxford Shirt
Fabric: 100 percent cotton | Fit and sizing: Slim fit; XXS–XXXL | Style details: Chest pocket, pleated back, no locker loop, 6 colors
Buck Mason’s oxford has a more tailored fit and a longer collar than Uniqlo’s slim-fit oxford. And like our top-pick J.Crew oxford, it works well for formal occasions but is durable enough for everyday wear. Cohen has worn his Buck Mason oxford with a suit, but also over swim trunks to the beach. He’s not normally a big fan of slim-cut shirts as they make him feel uncomfortably penned-in. But he says this one leaves just the right amount of room for easy movement and modesty. The only real drawback is that in white, the fabric is a tiny bit sheer. But that’s not uncommon when it comes to cotton that is specifically woven for breathability, as this is.
Best regular-fit oxford shirt
Fabric: 100 percent cotton | Fit and sizing: Regular fit; XS–XXXL | Style details: Chest pocket, no back pleat, locker loop, 4 colors
aThe quality and style chops of Madewell’s men’s clothing have largely gone under the radar. But the brand make such excellent basics that, if given the choice, I would always pick something from the men’s department over the women’s — including this Vintage-Worn Oxford shirt that I like to throw on over a bra or my pajamas in the morning. It has a shorter collar than some of the other shirts on this list, which is less than ideal according to oxford shirt traditionalists. That aside, it has a very desirable combination of durability mixed with a worn-in feeling out of the gate. The soft feel of the fabric makes it perfect for layering with everything from a bikini to a tee and a pair of pleated trousers.
Best oxford shirt with stretch
Fabric: 95 percent cotton, 5% spandex | Fit and sizing: Regular fit; XS–XXL | Style details: Chest pocket, pleated back and sleeves, no locker loop, 4 colors and multiple patterns
This list would not be complete without a shirt from the brand that invented the oxford shirt. But while it’s a classic in the menswear world, many men find Brooks Brothers shirts too roomy for their taste. That said, the Brooks Brothers Regent Regular-Fit sport shirt is among Black’s favorite button-downs. He actually ranks the Brooks Brothers Regent oxford a step above the Uniqlo oxford he also loves; comparing the two, Black says the Regent is more heavy-duty and cut a little bit slimmer than Brooks Brothers’ traditional oxfords, but is still relaxed enough to throw on with anything.
The Regent is also the shirt that fashion designer Bob Mackie has been buying and wearing since 1957. Mackie’s loyalty is due to the great fit and the fabric, which he says holds up really well over time (“I have shirts that are almost 20 years old that look brand new”) The one Mackie bought decades ago probably didn’t have stretch like this modern version does; it’s a non-traditional, but practical, addition. Because the Regent is the only shirt on this list that has spandex as part of its fabric composition, it’s a good option for anyone who moves around a lot, or who simply wants extra comfort. As a bonus, the stretch makes the shirt less wrinkle-prone, so it has a more ironed look without actually requiring any ironing.
One caveat is that the basic white and light-blue colors of this shirt are so popular that they frequently sell out. So if you happen to see them in stock, as they are right now, don’t dillydally. In addition to solid white, gray, light blue, and navy, Brooks Brothers also makes the Regent in more than a dozen striped, windowpane, checked, and plaid patterns.
Best oxford shirt for tall people
Fabric: 100 percent cotton | Fit and sizing: Traditional fit; neck sizes 14.5 inches to 18 inches; sleeve lengths 32 inches to 37 inches | Style details: Chest pocket, pleated back and sleeves, no locker loop, 3 colors
Kyle Andrew, an actor and model, recommended L.L.Bean’s oxford shirt because it has a classic look but is available with sleeve lengths as long as 37 inches, making the style more accessible for taller people like himself. Shirts with sleeves at 36 or 37 inches will also be two inches longer in the body from top to bottom, according to the brand; you can also choose the size for your neck — in increments of a half-inch ranging from 14.5 to 18 inches — to get an even more personalized fit. But Andrew promises the shirt will appeal to wearers of all sizes because it is “truly wrinkle-free to wear right out of the dryer and holds its shape and fit.” He adds that he’s put several friends onto the shirt in the past, and they always end up with multiples.” The shirt comes in three colors, white, light blue, and a darker French blue.
Best oxford shirt with multiple lengths
Fabric: 100 percent cotton with mechanical stretch | Fit and sizing: Slim fit, tailored fit, standard fit; regular, short, or long lengths; XS–XXL | Style details: Chest pocket, pleated sleeves, no back pleat or locker loop, 16 colors and patterns
The Bonobos Stretch Oxford is one of the only shirts on the list that I don’t own or haven’t personally put my hands on. But I have heard great things about it from multiple sources, and I love the fact that it comes in different lengths without a made-to-order price tag. Among its other noteworthy features is that it’s made using Bonobos’s mechanical stretch fabric, which is 100 percent cotton but woven in such a way that it moves with you but doesn’t require any spandex or other stretch materials.
Dave Bowden, founder of men’s style blog Irreverent Gent, first discovered the shirt when Tan France recommended one on Queer Eye. And writer John Jannuzzi told us he owns it in a bunch of different colors and lengths. “I keep the shorter ones around because they sit at the perfect spot for when I wear them untucked. The long ones I keep on hand for more dressed-up occasions — the extra material gives that little bit of security that won’t come loose if you’re dancing at wedding or something,” he says.
Bowden also called out the shirt’s perfect “button stance” — if you leave the top buttons open, he explains, it’s “low enough to look casual but not so low that it reveals too much chest hair.” There are three fits to choose from: The slim fit has a slight taper at the waist, the tailored fit is the narrowest with a more pronounced taper at the waist, and the standard fit will be roomier and closer to other brands’ classic fit. The shirt is available in a range of 16 colors and patterns, from classic white all the way to a lilac stripe.
Best oxford shirt with long collar
Fabric: 100 percent cotton | Fit and sizing: Classic fit; XS–XXL | Style details: chest pocket; pleated back and sleeves; locker loop, 4 colors
Wythe’s oxford shirt is an ode to the Brooks Brothers original and celebrates many of the details that oxford-shirt enthusiasts look for. It has a longer collar length and a pronounced collar roll, which gives this updated version a boost of character, according to Grindle. Former Strategist writer Jordan Bowman praised the Wythe oxford for its lightweight, soft-on-the-skin feel and rugged durability. “It’s prewashed, so it already feels like you picked it out of a thrift store,” he says, adding that its classic silhouette drapes equally well when unbuttoned or tucked in and worn with a sports coat. The Wythe oxford has many traditional details, including a locker loop, a reinforced chest pocket, and a back pleat. The color range is somewhat limited to white, blue, blue-and-white stripes, or green-and-white stripes. But, Bowman says, “you can’t go wrong with a classic color if you’re building out a wardrobe.”
Best splurge-worthy oxford shirt
Fabric: 100 percent cotton | Fit and sizing: Regular fit; XS–XXXL | Style details: Chest pocket, pleated back and sleeves, locker loop, 29 colors
Many of the folks I talked to said that one of the most rewarding things about a good oxford shirt is the way it softens and breaks in over time. That “gets better with age” quality comes down to the fabric used to make a shirt, with the general wisdom being that the tougher and higher-quality the cotton, the better-looking the shirt will become, even if it may start out a little more stiff.
This splurge-worthy choice comes from British haberdashery Drake’s, which has its own shirt factory in Somerset, and is worth a look if you want a shirt made with the highest-quality oxford cloth. Stephen Pulvirent, the manager of editorial operations at watch website Hodinkee, says he cycled through oxfords from “Gap to Brooks Brothers to Kamakura” before landing on Drake’s for its “fantastic” fabric. “It softens up quickly without feeling frail or too fuzzy, and it’s not so structured so as to look dressy at all,” he says. The shirt has a classic silhouette with a classic pronounced collar roll that Ivy Style fanatics drool over, and it comes in more than two dozen colors. Actor Adam Scott named the shirt something he can’t live without, calling the quality and fit “a level above everything else.”
Author David Coggins adds that while Drake’s shirts are “good right out of the gate,” after being washed a dozen or so times, they “get increasingly softer and enter their beloved phase, which lasts for years.”
Best made-to-order oxford shirt
Fabric: 100 percent cotton | Fit and sizing: Standard fit, slim fit, full fit; made to measure | Style details: Optional chest pocket, pleated back and sleeves, no locker loop, 18 colors
Junior’s, a haberdashery based in Philadelphia, makes made-to-order oxford shirts that cost less than the oxford from Drake’s but are semi-bespoke. Mark Gisi, the founder of branding agency Eastern Standard, says he was drawn to Junior’s because its shirts are made in the U.S. with a traditional heavy oxford cloth and have that really nice, long collar with a roll that diehards look for. As for the made-to-order process, Junior’s allows you to customize your neck and sleeve measurements as well as fit type, and promises to deliver your newly made shirt in four to six weeks. Gisi says his buying experience was enjoyable and included direct communication with the company’s founder, which gave it “more of a personal touch.” The made-to-order oxford is available in 18 colors.
Our experts
• Kyle Andrew, an actor and model
• Chris Black, Strategist columnist and brand consultant
• Dave Bowden, men’s style blog Irreverent Gent
• Jordan Bowman, former Strategist writer
• Jordan Bunker, menswear writer
• David Coggins, author
• Miles Garber, co-founder of candle company Hands
• Mark Gisi, founder of branding agency Eastern Standard
• Timothy Grindle, co-owner of clothing company Canoe Club
• Derek Guy, editor at Put This On and blogger at Die, Workwear
• John Jannuzzi, writer and author of How to Wear Socks
• Patrick Kenger, consultant
• Mikael Kennedy, photographer
• Bob Mackie, fashion designer
• Tim Melideo, men’s fashion website Stay Classic
• Stephen Pulvirent, manager of editorial operations at Hodinkee
• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist writer
• Chris Wallace, former U.S. editor for men’s fashion website Mr. Porter
Additional reporting by Jordan Bowman and Ambar Pardilla
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