The 7 Best Men’s Button-Up Shirts of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter
HomeHome > News > The 7 Best Men’s Button-Up Shirts of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

The 7 Best Men’s Button-Up Shirts of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

Nov 01, 2024

By Max Berlinger

After a fresh round of testing, we’ve made new picks for this guide.

A button-up shirt has undeniable utility: It’s the rare garment that’s equally well suited for work, special occasions, and the farmers market. But finding one that’s right for you can feel overwhelming.

Since 2019, we’ve tested over 50 shirts, rigorously evaluating their style, fit, quality, and value. We also solicited feedback from a panel of five testers, ranging in height from 5-foot-5 to 6-foot-5 and wearing men’s shirt sizes from S to 3XL.

Ultimately, seven winners emerged. We have four casual, oxford-style picks: a reliable crowd-pleaser; a luxury-logo classic; a splurge-worthy button-down with special details; and a slim, budget-friendly shirt. We also have three dress-shirt picks: a button-up with fantastic fabric and fit; a solid, remarkably inexpensive slim-cut option; and a deliciously lightweight and crisp poplin shirt.

Our picks are informed by feedback from testers ranging in height from 5-foot-5 to 6-foot-5 and wearing men’s shirt sizes from S to 3XL.

The button-ups we selected are well-designed classics, made to stand the test of time.

We assessed the shirts’ materials and construction, evaluating everything from fabric and stitching to collars and buttons.

Our picks cost from $40 to around $170. No matter the price, the shirts we chose are all worthy investments.

Advertisement

This well-priced oxford shirt comes in five cuts and a wide array of colors and prints. It’s made from soft cotton that feels comfy and lived-in, yet it still looks sharp.

The J.Crew Broken-In Organic Cotton Oxford Shirt is an easy one to recommend. It’s a long-time Wirecutter pick for a reason: It’s well priced, comfy, and good-looking. Made from soft midweight organic cotton, this workhorse comes in five different cuts and over a dozen solid colors and patterns.

It comes in a wide range of fits. The Broken-In Organic shirt is available in sizes XS to XXL, in up to five silhouettes (depending on the color): classic (a traditional, easy cut); slim (narrower in the body and sleeves); slim untucked (shorter in the body and sleeves than the slim); tall (longer than the classic in the body and sleeves); and relaxed (roomier in the chest and shoulders).

All of our panelists were able to land on a size and fit that worked for them. I’m 5-foot-8, and a medium in the slim untucked style worked best for me.

The fabric feels soft and broken-in from day one. True to its name, the Broken-In Organic shirt is made from 100% organic cotton that has a lived-in feel. It’s midweight and breathable. Interestingly, the white shirt we tested felt a bit stiffer and heavier than the versions we tried in different colors.

This is a J.Crew perennial. Sometimes you find your perfect shirt only for it to vanish—but J.Crew has been carrying the Broken-In Organic for years. It’s always available in classic colors, like white and navy, while dozens of other shades (think plaids and stripes) cycle in and out seasonally.

You get a lot of bang for your buck. For the price, the Broken-In Organic is well made; we didn’t spot any hanging threads, and the seams were even and well sewn. Although one panelist reported that the stitching on his shirt appeared to loosen in the laundry, we haven’t encountered similar issues.

Sizes: XS to XXLFits: classic, slim, slim untucked, tall, relaxedFabric: 100% organic cottonColors: dozens of solids and patterns (seasonal)

Classy and classic, this soft button-down shirt—available in uncommon colors and a Big & Tall range, up to 5XL—has timeless appeal. Unlike most oxfords, it doesn’t have a front pocket, so it’s easy to dress up.

Oxford shirts run the gamut from casual versions to more, well, buttoned-up ones. Ralph Lauren’s The Iconic Oxford Shirt manages to do both. This oxford doesn’t have a front pocket, so it can read dressier, yet it would be equally appropriate at an afternoon picnic. The shirt’s heathered material has a top-drawer feel. Plus, it comes in an appealing range of mostly pastel colors and two cuts, as well as an inclusive Big & Tall range.

The fabric looks and feels great. This shirt’s midweight cotton feels substantial but not remotely stiff, which is something multiple testers loved about it. (Ralph Lauren claims its top-secret wash was developed to create softness and character.) “My body felt great after wearing it all day,” noted one tester.

It’s an oxford with dress-shirt vibes. The Iconic Oxford forgoes the chest pocket usually found on more-casual button-down shirts, giving it a streamlined, upscale look. “Go to see the Philharmonic in Central Park in this,” said a panelist. “Fly a kite whilst sipping a tasty natural wine. The shirt wants you to do this.”

It comes in two fits—and in Big & Tall sizes. This shirt is available in (more generously cut) classic and slim fits, in sizes XS to 3XL, as well as in Big & Tall sizes up to 5XL Tall. It’s relaxed, without coming off as baggy or sloppy, and most testers were fans. (A couple of panelists thought the collar was a bit tight.) Our 6-foot-5 tester deemed his 2XL Tall shirt “a perfect fit,” adding, “Ralph Lauren should be commended for having a Big & Tall range; us big guys exist too, and we hate looking like overstuffed sausages.”

It’s available in an array of charming pastels. Craving some color? The Iconic Oxford comes in a mellow rainbow that includes soft pink, green, and yellow. The Thistle shade was a particular standout: “It’s a nice purple that really works for this style of shirt,” enthused a tester.

The classic logo is unmissable. Multiple panelists griped about the prominent Ralph Lauren logo on the shirt’s chest. (“My only complaint is the logo,” said one.) Still, this shirt is otherwise so appealing that we were willing to overlook the branding—though some might disagree.

Sizes: XS to 3XL, Big & Tall 1X to 5XL TallFits: classic, slimFabric: 100% cottonColors: seven

Advertisement

This unusually soft button-down shirt is casual yet elevated. It’s pricey, but it’s so well designed that it feels unmistakably special.

The Todd Snyder Slim Fit Favorite Oxford is everything you want an everyday button-down shirt to be: soft, flattering, and exceedingly well made. Our priciest oxford pick, it also feels the most distinctive, brimming with special design details.

The fabric is incredibly soft. The light-to-midweight Slim Fit Favorite is our softest, drapiest pick. (A Portuguese mill developed the fabric’s wash to mimic the feel of a beloved old shirt.) More than one panelist commented that the material felt soft but sturdy—not always a given. It’s also low-maintenance. We found it does well in the wash, and it doesn’t cry out for an iron if you hang it dry.

It has a slim, casual fit. This button-down oxford looks cool, modern, and effortless. It’s available in only one fit, which is cut fairly slim but not constraining or tight. (And the shirt runs a tad large.) Our 6-foot-tall, size-L panelist said: “The fit was very good for an off-the-rack shirt.”

The construction is beautiful. This is our most expensive oxford pick. Multiple panelists noted that it felt especially well made, and one praised the quality of the buttons. All of the seams were sturdily sewn and unpuckered, though I did notice loose threads in one buttonhole.

It’s chock-full of thoughtful details. This oxford is loaded with design touches, including reinforced gussets at the hem, a button on the back collar (to keep the neckband flat), a button on the front pocket, and a “locker loop,” should you want to hang the shirt on a hook. Most testers appreciated these details; one found them extraneous and fussy.

Sizes: XS to XXLFit: slimFabric: 100% cottonColors: three, rotating

This slim-cut shirt is sturdy, attractive, and priced for stocking up. The material is on the heavier side and will feel a bit stiff and rough until it gets broken in.

The Uniqlo Oxford Slim Shirt is proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a good button-down shirt. This is our most affordable oxford, and it punches way above its weight, with durable fabric and a stylish slim cut. It’s not perfect—there were some fit issues, and it isn’t as expertly constructed as our pricier picks—but its value is undeniable.

The cotton weave is hearty—and a bit rough. The Oxford Slim feels a bit rough and heavy upon arrival. (It will break in over time.) One tester noted that the fabric was “not as soft as the other oxfords,” but they acknowledged that it did feel sturdier. Uniqlo recommends washing this shirt in cold water and air-drying it, which exacerbates the stiffness. I ignored these instructions, laundering it in warm water and machine-drying it; my shirt didn’t shrink, and it emerged less stiff.

The value is unbeatable. For the price, the Oxford Slim over-delivers: It’s not disposable, fast fashion. The seams are even and lie flat, and the robust cotton is built to last. We did encounter some loose and hanging threads but nothing catastrophic.

It’s cut slim and runs small. Among our oxford picks, the aptly named Oxford Slim is the slimmest in the arms, shoulders, and torso. Plus, it runs small, which isn’t unusual for Uniqlo clothing. If you have a slighter frame, or you prefer close-fitting button-down shirts, this one’s silhouette could be just right; if not, you might have issues, or choose to size up one or two sizes. “It seems made for tall people who are very slim,” complained our 5-foot-5, size-S tester. Our 6-foot-5 tester sized up from a 2XL to a 3XL but still found the shirt too tight in the torso and shoulders.

The sleeve length can be tricky. Multiple testers struggled with this shirt’s sleeves, for different reasons. Our 5-foot-5, size-S panelist and our 6-foot-5, size-3XL panelist both found the sleeves too short—yep, weird—while our 6-foot, size-L tester complained they were too long. I’m 5-foot-7 and would’ve preferred another half-inch of sleeve on the size S shirt, but it didn’t bug me.

Sizes: XS to 3XLFit: slimFabric: 100% cottonColors: four

Advertisement

This dress shirt—available in almost a dozen colors and prints—is made from smooth, wrinkle-resistant fabric that has a touch of stretch. It comes in three cuts and is sized according to neck and sleeve measurements, delivering a more custom fit.

Proper Cloth is best known for its custom dress shirts. But we were thoroughly won over by the off-the-rack Proper Cloth The Non-Iron Stretch Shirt. As one tester put it: “It feels as I imagine a dress shirt should.”

This button-up shirt comes in lots of fetching prints, and it’s made from a supremely smooth cotton twill with a hint of stretch, which provides greater range of motion and keeps wrinkles at bay. It’s available in three different cuts, with neck and sleeve sizing that allows for a noticeably better fit.

The fabric is buttery-smooth, with a little stretch. This is our only pick with any stretch. The cotton twill contains 5% spandex; it's imperceptible to the eye but makes itself known. “Even though it’s fitted, I didn’t feel constricted,” said our 5-foot-5 panelist, who tested a size 15-32 slim cut.

The stretch content also helps this shirt live up to its “non-iron” promise. When it’s laundered according to instructions—wash in warm or cold, depending on the color, and tumble-dry low—the shirt consistently came out wrinkle-free. If I left the shirt sitting in the dryer (oops), any slight wrinkling was quickly undone with a steamer.

There are over 10 appealing colors and patterns. In a refreshing departure from safe solids, this shirt comes in a snazzy array of stripes, checks, and other prints. (Oddly, they’re all in the blue and white family.) Quipped one panelist, “If I worked on Wall Street, I’d have a small pile of these shirts.”

You get a close-to-custom fit. Proper Cloth’s specialty is bespoke apparel, so, unsurprisingly, it offers three types of fit customizations, and it earned the highest overall fit scores. The Non-Iron Stretch comes in three cuts (extra slim, slim, and classic), 12 collar sizes (14.5 to 21, the equivalent of XS to 5XL), and four sleeve lengths (32 to 36). “All of the measurements fit perfectly,” raved our 5-foot-5 tester of his size 15-32 slim-cut shirt. “Nothing was too big or too tight.”

To get a truly custom fit, you can also have this shirt made for your exact measurements, at no extra charge. (The process takes around two weeks.)

It’s supposed to shrink. This shirt has been sized with future shrinkage in mind. It’ll be slightly too large out of the box. And then, since it’s meant to go in the dryer (on low), it’ll shrink to the desired dimensions during the first couple launderings, according to Proper Cloth. We were dubious, but this turned out to be true.

Sizes: collar: 14.5-21 (XS to 5XL); sleeve: 32-36 (for heights from 5-foot-5 to 6-foot-4); also available in custom sizes (at no fee)Fits: extra slim, slim, classicFabric: 95% cotton twill, 5% spandexColors: over 10 colors and patterns

This sleek dress shirt looks and feels better than options that cost three times as much. It’s wrinkle-resistant, and it has a close fit that may be too slim for some.

Admittedly, we were skeptical about what $40 would buy you in a dress shirt. The answer: the Uniqlo Super Non-Iron Slim Shirt, Semi-Wide Collar, a slim-fitting, 100% cotton, wrinkle-resistant garment that’s simple and stylish. Does it have the fine fabric and meticulous construction of our other dress shirt picks? Nope. But we have yet to find a better option for a C-suite look on a shoestring budget.

Note: This shirt also comes in a version with a button-down collar.

The price is right. Currently around $40, the Super Non-Iron Slim Shirt more than holds its own. The cotton twill, though not as luxurious as the fabric of our other picks, is sturdy and smooth. One panelist noticed that some of the buttons on his shirt felt loose upon arrival, but they were still impressed by “the quality of the craftsmanship when compared to the price.”

This is our slimmest dress-shirt pick. The shirt is ideal for people with a smaller frame or those who prefer a close fit. It’s particularly slim in the shoulders and torso, with a sleek, graceful silhouette. It runs about a size small.

Although this is our only dress shirt pick that comes in alpha sizing (XS to XXL), testers had generally positive feedback about the fit. Our 5-foot-6, size-S tester said it was their favorite by far, awarding it high marks for the fit in the shoulder and chest.

It blends in … in a good way. One panelist described the Super Non-Iron Slim Shirt as “conservative” and “far from exciting.” For a dress shirt, that can be more of a selling point than a dig. With its clean design and slightly spread collar—to accommodate a necktie—it looks right at home in formal settings.

Laundry day will be a breeze. According to Uniqlo, in order to deter wrinkles, this shirt undergoes a “high-pressure press” and “baking process.” It also has a tape-like resin sewn into its seams, and the fabric has been treated with a “special substance.”

The sorcery works. I find this shirt presentable enough to wear straight from the dryer. It’s supposed to be washed in a cold gentle cycle and then tumble-dried on low—though sometimes it benefits from a quick steam.

Sizes: XS to 3XLFit: slimFabric: 100% cotton twillColors: white, black, blue

Advertisement

This expensive dress shirt—available only in white—has a flattering, slightly relaxed fit that works especially well on taller folks. Its thin poplin material feels remarkably crisp and cool and has a lovely, subtle sheen, but it does wrinkle easily.

The Ralph Lauren Custom Fit Poplin Shirt makes an impression. Wear it to a wedding, and you’ll be that memorably well-dressed guest; lose the tie, and you look effortlessly elegant for an alfresco dinner.

This button-up is expensive, and it feels like it: The fabric is luxurious and cool, with a papery crispness and luster that only tightly woven cotton poplin can deliver. (Just beware: It gets wrinkly fast, though not in an especially unsightly way.) The Custom Fit Poplin is available in a single cut and color, bright white, and it’s sized by neck circumference, which yielded an excellent fit for many testers.

The fabric feels deliciously lightweight. The Custom Fit Poplin is our most lightweight button-up pick. Its cotton poplin weave is unusually crisp and breathable—ideal for warmer weather. Praised one tester, “It’s delicate but feels strong.”

The fabric has downsides: This shirt is far more wrinkle-prone than our other picks, and it requires ironing or steaming to look polished again after being hung dry. Also, in certain lights it’s not 100% opaque, so an undershirt may be necessary.

It’s classically handsome. The Custom Fit Poplin looks like the platonic ideal of a dress shirt. It has a straight collar that’s equally fetching with or without a tie. And it has a split yoke, which means its upper back is sewn together in two diagonal pieces, reducing fabric strain and improving fit. (Our Proper Cloth dress shirt pick also has a split yoke; our Uniqlo dress pick does not.)

There’s just one cut and color choice … but it’s on point. This shirt is available in white in a single fit, which Ralph Lauren calls “trim.” We actually found it just right—not too fitted, not too billowy. The Custom Fit Poplin’s sizes are based on neck circumference (14.5 to 18.5).

This shirt scored the highest marks from our 6-foot-2, size-17.5 (XL), and 6-foot-5, size-18.5 (2XL) testers. Its sleeves run long—or “comically long,” according to our 5-foot-5, size-15 (S) tester, but he did say the shirt was nice enough to warrant getting it tailored.

(Note: According to a Ralph Lauren rep, the brand’s other Custom Fit Poplin Shirt models, which come in assorted colors, are not the same shirt; their collars are different.)

It has a low-key logo. Do you appreciate the Ralph Lauren aesthetic but not the branding? Unlike on our Ralph Lauren Iconic Oxford pick, the logo on this shirt is placed discreetly on the lower right hem, hidden from view.

Sizes: 14.5 to 18.5Fit: trimFabric: 100% cotton poplinColor: white

If you want a slightly stretchy oxford that comes in many colors and fits: The Bonobos Everyday Oxford Shirt comes in seven solid colors, plus lots more seasonal colors and patterns. It comes in four fits (tailored, slim, standard, and athletic) and three lengths, in sizes XS to XXL. The shirt’s fabric is 100% cotton with mechanical stretch (meaning the stretch comes from the construction, not synthetics), which we found a bit rough.

If you’re looking for a well-rounded dress shirt with a hint of stretch: The Brooks Brothers Stretch Supima Cotton Non-Iron Twill Ainsley Collar Dress Shirt is a cotton twill shirt that’s pretty dang similar to our Proper Cloth pick. The Stretch Supima won over a number of our testers. It has a subtle yet helpful 4% spandex content, and it is available in slim, regular, and traditional fits, with sizing based on neck and sleeve measurements. We seriously considered making it a pick, but the Proper Cloth shirt just felt like a more well-made, luxurious version—with better fabric and print options. Still, if you find yourself at a Brooks Brothers store—or you spot a deal on the Stretch Supima—it definitely won’t disappoint.

If you want a comfortable, breezy linen shirt: The Club Monaco Long-Sleeve Solid Linen Shirt—formerly called the Slim Linen Shirt, though the fit hasn’t changed—was our favorite of the linen shirts we previously tested. It wasn’t remotely coarse or itchy, even on the first wear. And though all linen wrinkles, it wrinkled less than most. (It skews more pleasantly disheveled than unkempt.) This shirt has a slim, tapered fit, and it comes in sizes XXS to 2XL, in more than a dozen colors (and stripes). Over the years, we’ve noticed that it goes in and out of stock seasonally, which is common for linen clothing.

If you want an exquisitely made oxford or dress shirt that’s not without risk: The two shirts that we tried from Kamakura—the Tokyo Slim Fit Button Down Oxford and the Kamakura New York Slim Fit Spread Broadcloth, which is cut for taller frames than the Tokyo—were special. They’re beautifully constructed and made from obviously high-end cotton. But the brand’s product descriptions confused us—it was difficult to parse the styles—and the sizing is extremely limited. (The Tokyo Slim Fit comes in numerical sizes 14½-32 to 17-34⅓, and the New York Slim Fit comes in sizes 39 to 43.) And if a Kamakura shirt doesn’t fit, you’re on the hook for the cost of return shipping (to a New York City address).

Advertisement

I’m a freelance style writer for Wirecutter. I’ve covered men’s fashion for publications including The New York Times, Bloomberg, GQ, and The Wall Street Journal. I have more than a few button-up shirts in my closet and strong opinions about what makes a good one.

The world is teeming with button-up shirts. Here, we focused on two styles: oxford button-downs and button-up dress shirts. The shirts we tested come in men’s sizes; they have straight seams, with minimal tapering at the hip.

For help decoding shirt jargon, see the section below.

In 2019, the first author of this guide, Justin Krajeski, researched over 100 shirts and tested 29 in person, with help from a five-person panel. In addition to oxfords and dress shirts, they tested a smaller batch of linen shirts. We have retained those results, but we find that linen shirts are highly subject to seasonal availability.

In 2024, we went back to the drawing board. I retested our previous picks and scoured the market for additional options, personally testing 21 different styles. I am 5-foot-8 and typically wear a men’s shirt in small/medium, or 15-33.

I examined the shirts carefully and wore each one for a full day. Then I laundered each one and wore it again for another day or more.

From there, we enlisted a five-person panel to further test my top 10 choices; the testers’ feedback informed our recommendations. We had four male-identifying testers and one non-binary tester; their sizes were 6-foot-5, size 2XL/3XL; 6-foot-2, size XL; 6 feet, size L; 5-foot-8, size S/M; and 5-foot-5, size S.

We judged the shirts based on the following criteria:

Fit and sizing: Men’s button-ups employ different sizing conventions: alpha (for example, XS to 3XL) and numeric (for example, 16-33, based on neck circumference and sleeve length). We sought shirts in an inclusive size range; unfortunately, many brands cap out at size 2XL. Oxford shirts generally use alpha sizing, while dress shirts are sized numerically, though there are (many) exceptions.

Some button-ups come in a variety of cuts, such as slim and tall; we encouraged our panelists to test the cut that appealed most.

We assessed how the shirts fit in key areas like the neck, shoulders, arms, and torso. (Unsurprisingly, there was no single “best” shirt for every body.)

Aesthetics: We looked for wearable styles that were trend-resistant and timeless. We considered it a plus if a shirt was offered in an appealing range of colors and patterns.

Fabric: We thought about fabric factors like texture, breathability, opacity, and range of motion. We especially liked easy-to-care-for materials.

Quality and durability: In search of high-quality, well-constructed shirts that would last, we hunted for those with even stitching, flat seams, few to no loose threads, well-built collars, and good buttons.

Value: We tested shirts priced from around $20 to $200. In every case, we evaluated whether the shirt delivered value for the price.

Advertisement

Dress shirts and oxford shirts are cut from a different cloth, quite literally.

Dress shirts are more formal; they tend to be made of thinner material with a smooth surface. In general, they don’t have front pockets, and they do have structured, button-free collars, to accommodate a necktie. Dress shirts are usually referred to as button-ups, since they fasten at the center with buttons.

Oxford shirts are more casual. They’re made from oxford cloth, which has a distinctive basket-weave pattern that’s known for its durability. Oxford shirts are thicker and more textured than dress shirts; they typically have a front pocket and a button-down collar (hence the reason they’re called button-downs, though, technically, they’re also button-ups).

Many consider it a badge of honor to wear an oxford for so long that the collar and sleeves begin to fray. Dress shirts, on the other hand, should never look anything but crisp.

This is not a comprehensive list of everything we’ve tested in previous iterations of this guide, just what’s still available.

The Bonobos Tech Button Down, made from 93% nylon and 7% spandex, comes in around 20 colors and patterns and multiple cuts. It used to be a Wirecutter pick, and some of our previous testers raved about its fit and comfort. But when we revisited it, in 2024, its material felt thin, inexpensive, and unmistakably “performance-fabric-y.” There were also some construction issues, like hanging threads and half-closed button holes.

The Brooks Brothers Stretch Madison Relaxed-Fit Dress Shirt has pleating around the wrists, which we found too stylized. Also, securing the top button was tricky and claustrophobic.

The slim-fit Club Monaco Stretch Poplin Dress Shirt contains 29% nylon and 4% elastane. The high stretch content made moving in this shirt easy, but it didn’t do much to stave off wrinkles, and it gave the material a slinky, slippery texture. Conversely, the Theory Sylvain Shirt in Good Cotton is made from a poplin that’s particularly papery and also thin. It did not feel special enough for the price—nearly $200 at the time of publication.

The $20 Costco-brand Kirkland Signature Men’s Traditional Fit Dress Shirt, available in white only, is well constructed and made from wrinkle-resistant Supima cotton. It’s cut very wide throughout the body and also runs large—all of our panelists found it much too big. But if you’re looking for a generous fit, this one is a steal.

The Untuckit Wrinkle-Free Las Cases Shirt was well constructed, but its cotton fabric felt scratchy, and the navy blue contrast stitching on the buttons and cuffs was too eye-catching. The fit didn’t work, either: The shoulders were too wide. Meanwhile, the stretchy Untuckit Wrinkle-Free Performance Gironde Shirt, made from 92% nylon and 8% elastane, felt more like activewear than a dress shirt.

The Alex Mill Mill Shirt in Cotton Poplin is well made and fits nicely. But the combo of its crinkly poplin fabric and casual design (button-down collar, front pocket) places it somewhere between a dress shirt and an oxford. Also, the white is slightly off-white, which can be divisive.

The Buck Mason Draped Twill One Pocket Shirt fit well. Unfortunately, the fabric—a cotton-lyocell blend—felt much too lightweight, making this appropriate for only the most casual and warm-weather occasions.

The Banana Republic Oxford Shirt, which we tried in the untucked fit, is made from a lightweight fabric that’s actually lovely. Alas, there were a number of stray threads on our test model, and the button holes were especially tight.

If it weren’t for the pocket strangely centered on the chest, the Bonobos Everyday Oxford Shirt could’ve been a good-looking option. Also, it was starchy and uncomfortable, with too-tight buttonholes.

The Abercrombie & Fitch Linen Button-Up Shirt was super-rumpled from the jump, with lots of loose threads along the seams. Plus, the stitching was bent and uneven, and the weave was quite transparent.

The Brooks Brothers Regent Regular-Fit Sport Shirt in Irish Linen usually costs over $100. That was too expensive to feel as coarse as it did, and its buttons were too tight. It did get points for expert stitching, however.

The H&M Regular Fit Linen Shirt was fairly well constructed, but it crinkled heavily in the back. Also, it was pretty itchy. The J.Crew Baird McNutt Irish Linen Shirt wasn’t itchy at all, and it comes in over a dozen colors and patterns. It is a touch see-through—but if you’re on vacation, that could matter less.

This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Jennifer Hunter. A previous version of this article was written by Justin Krajeski.

Advertisement

Max Berlinger

Max Berlinger is a freelance writer covering fashion, grooming, culture, and lifestyle for a variety of newspapers and magazines. His work can be found in The New York Times, GQ, the Wall Street Journal, Town & Country, Robb Report, New York Magazine, the Guardian, and many other publications. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

by Justin Krajeski

No wardrobe is complete without a great pair of jeans. We found five stylish options that will work for a range of body types and budgets.

by Sarah Gannett

Covering up is a great way to protect yourself from the sun. But you can do better than a white linen shirt.

by Eve O'Neill

We’ve found 7 pairs of rain boots that’ll do more than just keep your feet dry—they’ll match your style and environment no matter what you need.

by Justin Krajeski

Wirecutter staffers share their favorite lounge pants, sweatshirts, and slippers to wear while working from home.

Advertisement

It comes in a wide range of fits. The fabric feels soft and broken-in from day one. This is a J.Crew perennial. You get a lot of bang for your buck. Sizes:Fits: Fabric:Colors:The fabric looks and feels great. It’s an oxford with dress-shirt vibes.It comes in two fits—and in Big & Tall sizes. It’s available in an array of charming pastels. The classic logo is unmissable.Sizes:Fits:Fabric:Colors:The fabric is incredibly soft. It has a slim, casual fit. The construction is beautiful.It’s chock-full of thoughtful details. Sizes:Fit:Fabric:Colors:The cotton weave is hearty—and a bit rough. The value is unbeatable. It’s cut slim and runs small. The sleeve length can be tricky. Sizes:Fit:Fabric:Colors:The fabric is buttery-smooth, with a little stretch. There are over 10 appealing colors and patterns. You get a close-to-custom fit. It’s supposed to shrink.Sizes:Fits:Fabric:Colors:The price is right. This is our slimmest dress-shirt pick. It blends in … in a good way. Laundry day will be a breeze.Sizes:Fit:Fabric:Colors:The fabric feels deliciously lightweight. It’s classically handsome. There’s just one cut and color choice … but it’s on point. It has a low-key logo.Sizes:Fit:Fabric:Color:If you want a slightly stretchy oxford that comes in many colors and fits: If you’re looking for a well-rounded dress shirt with a hint of stretch:If you want a comfortable, breezy linen shirt: If you want an exquisitely made oxford or dress shirt that’s not without risk:Fit and sizing:Aesthetics:Fabric:Quality and durability:Value: