How we picked
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Fit and size
We recruited testers who wore sizes S to 3XL and looked for shirts in that range (though many brands cap at XXL).
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Quality and buttons
We looked for even stitching (with minimal to no loose threads!) and sturdy collars. We also checked for buttons that stay closed but are easy to undo in a pinch.
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Fabric
We sought shirts made with materials that are comfortable to wear and durable but still easy to care for (no dry-clean-only picks here!).
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Price
We considered shirts priced from $20 to $130, and found that the options in the $75-$100 range generally delivered an optimal combination of fit, style, quality, and comfort.
Sizing is key in all clothing choices. But it merits further mention in this guide, since button-ups employ two sizing conventions: alpha (S, M, L, XL) and numeric. For example, I’m a medium in some brands and a 16 x 33 (which represents neck circumference and sleeve length in inches) in others. We tried shirts from both sizing categories and enlisted a panel of five testers—who wear shirt sizes ranging from small to 3XL—to help us make our selections. In the end, we found four shirts—Oxford, dress, and linen—that stood out for their fit, quality, and all-day comfort.
Oxford cloth button-down shirts
A lightweight Oxford: J.Crew Broken-In Organic Cotton Oxford Shirt
How it feels: Light and soft, with a fit that felt customized.
Why it’s great: If you’re looking for a well-fitting, breathable Oxford that comes in a ton of cuts and colors, our panelists agree that the J.Crew Broken-In Organic Cotton Oxford Shirt is your best bet. Let’s start with the size range. This shirt comes in sizes XS to XXL, and a range of cuts: classic, slim, slim untucked, relaxed, and tall.
More fit options allow a shopper to zero in on body, sleeve, and hem measurements. In our testing and research, this level of customization wasn’t available with most Oxfords. 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.
In our wash tests, the sleeve measurement shrank an inch, so keep this in mind for sizing.
Because of the customization, our panelists were all able to find a size and fit they loved. “This was my favorite fit out of the Oxfords that I tried,” said Treye Green. “The arms hit at the right length, and there wasn’t any extra fabric when it was tucked in.”
The J.Crew Oxford is made from lightweight, 100% cotton, so it’s nice for warmer weather or layering under a sweater. With its thinner fabric, this shirt has a little more give and allows for a bit more movement than our Uniqlo Oxford Slim-Fit Long-Sleeve Shirt pick. And yet the J.Crew shirt still has solid construction—the buttons are snug, secure, and easy to fasten, with extra buttons sewn inside. And the collar stands firmly.
We tested the J.Crew Oxford shirt with mixed blue-and-white stripes (I’m a sucker for heavy New England vibes), but the color range is ample, with 17 colors and patterns available. If you like to mix it up when it comes to your wardrobe, you won’t find more variety than with this shirt.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The J.Crew Oxford feels less substantial than other Oxfords we wore. The fabric is light, and one tester thought the stitching seemed less sturdy and more likely to loosen over time. However, we’ve always found J.Crew’s clothing to be quite durable.
Sizes: XS to XXL
Fabric: 100% organic cotton
Front pocket: yes
Fit: classic, slim, slim untucked, tall, relaxed
Colors: rotating, up to 17 (including solids, stripes, and plaids)
A well-priced Oxford: Uniqlo Oxford Slim-Fit Long-Sleeve Shirt
How it feels: The Uniqlo shirt’s slim fit isn’t unwearable or stifling, but it is notable. This shirt is well-constructed enough to work into your weekly wardrobe.
Why it’s great: The Uniqlo Oxford Slim-Fit Long-Sleeve Shirt is a fairly good-quality Oxford button-down that’s decently priced and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. The shirt I tested had a few stray threads sticking out from the seams, but the combed-cotton fabric was thick. And the shirt has strong buttons and nice, rugged double-stitched seams. Though the Uniqlo shirt comes in fewer colors than our J.Crew Oxford pick, it’s also less than half the price. So the Uniqlo shirt is a great deal, especially if you want to try out a few unconventional colors.
This shirt comes in a wide variety of sizes: XXS through 3XL (though we’ve noticed that they aren’t always in stock). The shirt fit most of our panelists well in their normal sizes, but the biggest caveat is right there in the name: Slim-Fit. Curiously, the Uniqlo Oxford is offered only in a slim fit, with no other options.
In practical terms, that means the shoulder and chest measurements are an inch or so smaller than those of the brand’s regular-fit shirts, including Uniqlo’s flannel shirts. “It’s clear that Uniqlo is made for thinner people,” remarked test panelist Alan Henry after trying a 3XL, which had a chest measurement of 28 inches. (The brand’s regular 3XL measures 29.14 inches.) Even so, Alan found the fit wearable, as did his fellow panelists. If you’re worried about sizing issues, try it on in-store or order a few sizes online and factor in the $7 return shipping fee.
This all-cotton shirt instructs wearers to machine-wash but line-dry. That’s not always realistic, so we threw it in the dryer on low heat to see what would happen. The shirt shrank an inch in length and another inch in the sleeves; that’s not a huge amount, but it is more than on any other shirt we washed. Keep this in mind for sizing and when deciding how to launder this shirt.
The Uniqlo Oxford shirt comes in solid colors and stripes that are updated seasonally. I tested a navy shirt and was surprised at how polished, sleek, and expensive it felt, especially given the price. It’s also worth noting that although the lighter-color shirts have standard white buttons, the navy shirt had matching navy buttons, an unexpectedly elegant and cohesive touch.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although the Uniqlo Oxford’s fabric is generally comfortable, we preferred the more expensive J.Crew Oxford. Though both feel tough, the Uniqlo shirt was still stiff, even after weeks of testing and a few washes. That said, you’re paying about half the price for the Uniqlo shirt, and it’s a good-looking shirt, so this may be an acceptable trade-off.
As mentioned Uniqlo only makes this in a slim fit. If you prefer shirts that are a bit roomier, our other recommendations may suit you better.
Sizes: XXS to 3XL
Fabric: 100% cotton
Front pocket: yes
Colors: four solids (navy, blue, gray, off-white); two striped (gray, blue)
Dress shirt
A stylish dress shirt with a bit of stretch: Bonobos Tech Button Down
Note: Bonobos previously carried this shirt in extended sizes (up to 4XL), which we tested and liked; however, those have since been discontinued. The largest size this shirt is now available in is XXL.
How it feels: This smooth nylon and spandex button-up has just a bit of stretch, so it feels light and sleek against the skin, not cheap or staticky (like some synthetic blends). The sensation is completely different than what you get with most cotton shirts (which usually feel crisp and can drag against the skin).
Why it’s great: We have generally found Bonobos clothing to be comfortable and of high quality, so I was psyched to test its standard dress shirt. I wasn’t disappointed. Of the 12 dress shirts I tried, the Bonobos shirt fit and felt the best, and our panelists readily agreed.
The Tech Button Down comes in sizes XS to XXL; you also have a choice between a tailored, slim, standard, or athletic fit (based on chest and shoulder measurements) and regular, short, or long shirt length. As off-the-rack shirts go—that is, shirts that aren’t made especially for your body by a tailor—this is about as customized a fit as you can find. I loved the fit of my shirt, and so did every other panelist.
Like with most shirts we tested, this style has various sizes and colors that tend to go in and out of stock. But they’ve come back again every season reliably.
Senior staff writer Kimber Streams, who wore the Tech Button Down in a size S, found that the short length—which is 1.25 inches shorter than the regular—fit them better than any other button-up shirt. At 5-foot-6, they’re often left with too much bulk on dress shirts, making tucking unwieldy. Not so with the Bonobos shirt. Alan Henry wore a size 3XL (which has a 61-inch chest, 37-inch sleeve, and 33-inch body), and he loved the sizing and the shirt’s soft, pliant fabric. “It feels great with or without an undershirt,” he said. “The length of the sleeves and the width of the collar is perfect.” After it was machine-washed and -dried, this shirt shrank an inch in body length.
My test shirt (size medium regular) sat cleanly across my shoulders and tucked into my pants with minimal wrinkles. At 2 inches, the collar stood a little shorter than others we wore (most were around 2.5 inches); it looked streamlined, not diminutive, and still easily accommodated a standard tie. The collar wasn’t itchy or overly tight, and the stays (rigid plastic inserts that anchor a collar’s point) were thin and stable.
