The term ‘essential’ is thrown around more than dice on the Las Vegas strip. You only have to look at the fact that there’s an album called Bon Jovi: The Essentials for evidence of that. However, one piece to which the term has been correctly applied for more than 120 years is the best Oxford shirts for men.
Sitting alongside a well-fitting navy suit, a selection of white T-shirts and selvedge denim in the menswear hall of fame, the OCBD (that’s ‘Oxford cloth button-down’ to the uninitiated) is one of the few key sartorial building blocks guaranteed never to fall from favour.
Bought in classic shades of sky blue, pink and white, an Oxford shirt has the ability to add a casual lean to an otherwise formal outfit or dress up a relaxed chinos and sneakers combination.
“It’s truly one of the most versatile and timeless pieces a man can have in his wardrobe,” says Chris Gove, creative director of British menswear brand Percival. “An Oxford shirt can slot easily under a summer suit, or over a plain T-shirt; be fitted or slightly oversized; worn with the sleeves down to the wrists or rolled up, and in every case, it never looks out of place.”
It’s no overstatement to say that the OCBD is as near as you’ll get to the ultimate wardrobe cornerstone. But in case you needed further convincing, here’s everything you need to know about this menswear essential.
Three points about the shirt:
- The L’Estrange London All Day Oxford Shirt is a classic button-down shirt made with a slim fit for a modern look.
- It is made from a lightweight cotton poplin fabric for all-day comfort, and features a button-down collar, two functional chest pockets, and a curved hem.
- The shirt is available in a range of colors and sizes and is machine washable for easy maintenance.
Going from work to a fancy dinner party? Need something casual yet still refined? The All Day Oxford from L’Estrange is a must for any smart-casual-timeless wardrobe. Spun in Italy using real premium Italian oxford cloth, this Oxford was designed with durability and versatility in mind. Featuring a button-down collar, functional chest pockets and tailored as a slim fit, no one will mistake you for a slouch when you’re wearing this with trousers, jeans, a suit – you name it!
And you don’t need to stick to one colour! Luckily, the All Day Oxford comes in a few different colours to help spice things up.. On top of a classic white, invest in the navy or baby blue to add a pop to your outfits without sacrificing your comfort.
Three points about the shirt:
- The Appearance Oxford Shirt is a 100% cotton formal shirt made with a modern slim fit.
- It features a classic button-down collar, two functional chest pockets, and shoulder pleats for a timeless, iconic look.
- The shirt is both machine washable and dryer safe for easy maintenance, and is available in a range of sizes.
Looking to be the “Everyday Man” who really embodies “Everyday formal”? Not even sure what we are talking about? That’s ok! Just take a look at this 100% cotton Oxford shirt to see what we mean. At Appearance, the memo is: Every day formal that never goes out of style, is made sustainably, and consists of wardrobe staples you can go back to time and time again. Designed in Denmark and produced in Portugal, this brand breathes European flair and style.
This is also perfectly encapsulated by their Oxford shirt. Made with Pima Cotton and sporting the classic button-down collar, chest pockets, and shoulder pleats for that timeless, iconic look, this slim fit shirt is perfect for the office, for drinks after, and even for those more formal events you get invited to from time to time. Be daring in a baby pink version, or mysterious in a dark navy. Whatever colour you choose, you will be the air of sophistication.
Three points about the shirt:
- The Luca Faloni Oxford Shirt is a luxurious Italian-made tailored oxford shirt made from 100% cotton.
- It features a classic button-down collar, two hand-stitched chest pockets, and mother-of pearl buttons for a classic yet modern look.
- The shirt is available in a range of colors and sizes and is machine washable for easy maintenance.
If you’re looking for an Oxford shirt that showcases impeccable craftsmanship and care, look no further that Luca Faloni Oxford Cotton Shirt. Spun in the old Italian artisanal traditions, Luca Faloni uses pure Egyptian cotton when crafting their masterpieces – we mean shirts. Known for its hypoallergenic and breathable qualities, this cotton is perfect for everyday wear. Featuring mother-of pearl buttons and a classic “paramontura” collar (perfect for under a blazer), this Oxford is a modern twist on a timeless classic.
This shirt is definitely worth the investment, so even indulging in all four colours wouldn’t be a bad idea. If you had to choose though, the midnight blue might be a nice addition to your closet. Regardless of which colour you choose, a Luca Faloni in your rotation of button-downs will have everyone raving about how stylish you are.
Three points about the shirt:
- The ISTO Oxford Shirt is a classic slim-fit button-down shirt made from soft cotton for all-day comfort.
- The shirt features a classic button-down collar, two chest pockets, and shoulder pleats for a stylish and sophisticated look.
- It comes in a variety of colors and sizes and is machine washable for easy maintenance.
Quality Oxford without putting a dent in your wallet? The ISTO Cotton Oxford may be just what you need. Working with the best garment supplier and tailor in Portugal, ISTO has created a distinct and unique version of the classic Oxford. Slim-fit with soft cotton for all-day comfort, their attention to detail is what makes them special.
Featuring the classic button-down collar, chest pockets and shoulder pleats, what really gets us excited is the stripped designs they offer in blue, pink and green. Not only does it manage to stay cool, sophisticated and stylish, but it adds just the right amount of whimsy to any formal look. Or you can dress it down for a day out, casual drinks, or even a date!
Three points about the shirt:
- The Amazon Essentials Oxford Shirt is a classic formal shirt made from 100% cotton for comfort and durability.
- The shirt features a button-down collar, a single chest pocket, button cuffs, and a back yoke, making it a timeless and sophisticated addition to any wardrobe.
- It comes in a variety of colors and sizes and is machine washable for easy maintenance.
Sometimes, you just need an Oxford shirt that will come quickly, look good, and do the job. Luckily, Amazon’s Essentials does that and more. Made with 100% cotton for comfort and overall durability, the shirt sports your classic button-down collar, button cuffs, and a back yoke for that timeless sophistication that every gentleman on a budget needs. The beauty of Amazon? There is a wide variety of colours to choose from, and since the price point is not high at all, you can treat yourself to a few different colours if you would like.
Don’t snooze on this Amazon basic to help solidify and maximise your wardrobe without putting yourself into debt.
High-street outfitter Uniqlo is well-known for turning out quality wardrobe basics at wallet-friendly prices, and Oxford shirts are one of the things it does best.
Quality cotton, tasteful colours, a flattering fit and all this for less than half what most traditional brands cost. If that’s not worth braving the high street for, we’re not sure what is.
The OG of the OCBD, Oxford shirt inventors Brooks Brothers was founded in Manhattan over two centuries ago, making it the oldest continually trading men’s outfitter in the US.
The firm released its iconic Polo Button-Down Oxford shirt in 1896, and in the process created a key building block in many a stylish man’s wardrobe.
As the high street’s go-to spot for simple American classics, it stands to reason that Gap has an extensive collection of Oxford shirts.
Expect soft, casual cotton, cut slim but not too slim, deployed across short- and long-sleeved versions in a wide range of colours, stripes and checks.
It’s impossible to think of an Oxford shirt without preppy, Ivy-League style springing to mind. And you can’t think preppy, Ivy-League style without ending up at Ralph Lauren.
The New York label has made the look its calling card since 1967, and its fitted, flattering Oxford options are some of the best oxford shirts around.
The mod movement of the 1960s was one of the contributing factors that helped thrust the Oxford shirt into the mainstream, and it was Ben Sherman leading the charge.
Shirts by the British label have been passed from subculture to subculture, becoming iconic in the process. If you like your clothes to come with a story, it doesn’t get much better than this.
The Rest Of The Best
Headquartered in Stockholm but with roots in preppy Americana, Gant is often cited as the brand that brought button-down shirts to the mass market. It’s also credited for inventing the hanger loop – another key casual shirt detail that was quickly adopted elsewhere.
While timeless, the clever detailing and modern twists on Gant’s products keep things moving forward. For a quality Oxford shirt from one of the originators, look no further.
It should come as no great surprise that the old reliable of British department stores is well-stocked on the old reliability of men’s smart-casual dress codes.
With a strong offering from its in-house label, as well as plenty of recognizable names, the retailer is bound to have an Oxford shirt that fits your wardrobe.
One of America’s finest examples of classic, preppy style done well, J.Crew has become synonymous with easy-to-wear, modern wardrobe staples.
The brand’s approach has earned it legions of followers worldwide and its neatly fitted Oxfords are just one of the things that keep style-savvy shoppers coming back.
With a shopfront on Jermyn Street – the capital of British shirtmaking – Emma Willis creates some of the finest bespoke and ready-to-wear Oxfords on the face of the earth.
You’ll not see any fleeting trends among the shelves here – the focus is solely on traditional, all-English styles. So if you like the idea of timelessness, quality materials and craftsmanship, Willis is most certainly the woman to see.
Copenhagen-based label NN07 bills its products as the classics of tomorrow, and having kept a beady eye on its collections since 2007, we’d be inclined to agree.
The focus here is on simple wardrobe staples, an approach evident in its Oxford shirts, which feature a tidy slim-fit profile cut from resilient, wrinkle-resistant cotton.
What Is An Oxford Shirt?
Softer in its construction than a stiff dress shirt, and a tad more formal than your weekend flannel, the Oxford shirt is a solid, fail-safe option when you’re attempting to bridge the treacherous gap dividing smart and casual.
While the merits of owning an OCBD (or five) may come as no surprise, what might is that this staple has little to do with the English city with which it shares its name. In fact, the moniker is taken from the fact that it’s made exclusively from a thick, woven fabric known as Oxford cloth.
“Oxford cotton is created by weaving the cotton yarn in a certain way giving a textured rather than smooth finish,” explains Jermyn Street shirtmaker Emma Willis. “There are different types, starting with the classic Oxford, then the finer Prince Oxford, which has a slight sheen and more conspicuous weave.”
Despite often being referred to as an Oxford cloth button-down, not all are finished with a collar that fastens to the shirt. Those that do are inherently more casual, but smarter styles (most of which use collar stays to maintain their shape) still qualify as Oxford shirts if they’re cut from the right cloth.
History Of The Oxford Shirt
The Oxford shirt can be traced back to 19th century Scotland, where local mills were experimenting with different weaves and producing original fabrics. Four of these new types of cloth were named after the most prestigious universities of the day: Yale, Harvard, Cambridge and Oxford.
While the other three have since faded into sartorial obscurity, Oxford cloth has stood the test of time. This is thanks in no small part to Brooks Brothers, the oldest men’s clothing brand in the US.
In 1896, John E. Brooks noticed how English polo players pinned their collars down to keep them from flapping up during matches. Inspired by this, Brooks set about developing a type of shirt that used buttons to carry out the same task. The result was the Oxford shirt as we know it today and the end of the previous practice of men buying their shirts and collars separately.
Brooks Brothers early Oxford shirt catalogue
However, it didn’t take long for the OCBD to gallop off the playing field, no doubt due to the fact that it looked equally at home paired with a tie and jacket as it did on horseback.
The style hit its peak in the mid-20th century when Oxford shirts were adopted by the preppy Ivy League set on America’s east coast and later Vespa-riding mods in the UK. “When I think of button-down Oxfords, I tend to think of Ben Sherman and the 1960s,” says Christopher Mundy of Jermyn Street’s Budd Shirts. “It became a keen look for many, as a fashion.”
From there on out, the Oxford shirt never went away – and given what a versatile piece of kit it is, it’s unlikely that it ever will.
Why Do You Need An Oxford Shirt?
In a word: versatility. The Oxford shirt has an unparalleled ability to blend into any setting and as part of almost any dress code. You could just as easily wear one to a formal event as you could down the pub. There aren’t many items of clothing you can say that about.
“It works well with a button-down collar and button cuff, but also looks great worn open, with a traditional collar and button cuff,” says Willis. “The Oxford has become [even more] popular as men do not have to dress so formally all the time and it converts so well from suit to jeans.”
How To Wear An Oxford Shirt For Different Dress Codes
Whether you’re suiting up for a work meeting or cobbling together a casual outfit for the weekend, getting dressed is made infinitely easier with a selection of Oxford shirts to hand.
To give you a friendly nudge in the right direction, we asked stylist Sarah Gilfillan from personal shopping service Sartoria Lab to recommend four fail-safe ways to wear your OCBD, whatever the occasion.
Formal
Oxford cloth may not be as fancy as poplin or pique weaves commonly used on dress shirts, but it can still be worn with a suit if you know how to get it right.
“An Oxford shirt is not the most formal style, so when it comes to styling, up the formality with high-contrast colors,” suggests Gilfillan. “For example – a white Oxford shirt with a burgundy knitted tie, navy cotton suit and oxblood loafers.”
Business Casual
Understandably, business and casual aren’t two words that have always gone together, but as office dress codes continue to relax, their pairing is becoming increasingly common.
“An Oxford shirt is the perfect staple item for business casual dress,” says Gilfillan. “Worn with an unstructured blazer or as part of tailored separates, you’ll never look over or under-dressed.”
Smart Casual
For day-to-day duties, smart casual is the only way to go. Helpfully, the often tricky to dress for code is pretty much what the Oxford shirt was made for. To make your casual look that much easier opt for a non iron dress shirt.
“An excellent default option for smart casual, an almost denim-toned blue version works well with sand chinos, but there are endless other options, and you can play with tucking it in and leaving it out to change the vibe.”
Off-Duty
Dressing for downtime doesn’t always have to mean reverting to the same faithful hoodie or pizza-stained T-shirt. Instantly elevate your weekend attire by opting for a button-down in place of a sweat and earn yourself some off-duty style points in the process.
Switch out shoes for sneakers, throw on a casual jacket, and you’re pretty much there, according to Gilfillan. “A light Oxford shirt with jeans, a bomber jacket and trainers makes for a particularly strong weekend look.”
What to Look For When Buying The Best Oxford Shirt For Men
When it comes to the cornerstones of the male wardrobe, pale imitations are rarely a patch on the real deal. To make sure that your Oxford is (literally) cut from the right cloth, take note of these tips when searching for the perfect shirt.
Fabric
While it might be impossible to visually distinguish between an Oxford shirt crafted from cotton and one blended with manmade fibers such as polyester, you’ll only get comfortable, breathable and long-lasting wear from the former. Pure cotton Oxford shirts also offer a more pleasant hand feel, and will fare far better at keeping you cool in warmer temperatures.
Color
Depending on who you ask, different menswear experts will suggest a different starting point for your collection of Oxford shirts. Yet all agree on the holy trinity of colorways every man should own: sky blue, white and pink. This applies whether your Oxford is uniform in color or striped.
Cut
The enduring appeal of the Oxford shirt is its ability to be an everyman, which applies to fit as well as formality. Seek out designs that neatly follow your form without straining over your frame, looking out in particular for a box pleat (a rectangular fold of fabric that runs along the middle of the back) on the reverse for an increased range of movement.
Collar
Menswear purists will say that an Oxford shirt should feature a roll collar (where the lack of interlining causes the collar to rest in a curved shape) but straight collars (which, as you guessed, rest flat) offer a slightly cleaner finish. Oxford shirts without button-down collars, but still cut from the correct cloth, are usually reserved for formal outfits.
Details
As with any other area of the male wardrobe, the devil is in the detail. Play to the Oxford shirt’s casual heritage by avoiding tricky French cuffs in favour of standard button cuffs. As for the fastenings themselves, mother-of-pearl sets the bar because it gives a depth of colour and is more resistant to cracking.