While it may be a trope to call an article of clothing “versatile,” the white button-down is nothing if not multipurpose. Though not quite as basic as a white tee or the classic Hanes tank, it can be worn for a nearly endless variety of occasions, from a job interview to a wedding, easily dressed up or down depending on what you need.
As my college rabbi once told me, real style shines through when you have to wear the same thing as everyone else. Which, unlike him, you don’t. But you do need a good white button-down. So, to clarify the best options out there, I asked 11 cool people for their favorites.
Best everyday men’s white button-downs
“The biggest misconception with dress shirts is that baggy or excess fabric is bad,” says Sam Vita, an actor and style adviser at Suit Supply. “A lot of guys want their shirts to be as slim as possible, but mobility is very important.”
For Vita, the shirt that best accomplishes the trinity is the Uniqlo Non-Iron Slim-Fit Long-Sleeve Shirt. While marketed as oversize, he says it lays “very flattering on men’s bodies,” a hybrid between a tailored and Japanese-streetwear fit. Belt, loafers, and a short bomber jacket and you’re ready to go — “a no-brainer blend.”
The sentiment was shared by Marcus Maddox, an NYC-based art and fashion photographer. “What makes a good white button-down is high-quality materials,” he says. “I want it to be pretty substantial, to feel thick.” So for under $45, the Uniqlo white button-down is unmatched. “Just tuck it into some slacks with a cropped jacket,” he says, or button it down with a tie.
Actor George Olesky says that the Standard Poplin Dress Shirt from Banana Republic is the way to go. “The shoulder seam comes just off the shoulder,” he says, and the “collar isn’t hideous like most white dress shirts.” You can roll the cuffs without bulk, and even the chunky pockets feel well placed. Olesky says he bought his shirt at Lot Less for $8, but you can also cop a new one for pretty cheap. He wears his tucked in with a thin, subtle belt and chunky boots, with a little bit of fabric pulled above his hips, so when he moves, the shirt doesn’t shoot up.
Maddox also says that his favorite everyday shirt is the Dwell Box Shirt from British menswear brand Olive Clothing — a veritable ode to the oversize box-cut button-down. “They’ve got very good quality cotton,” he says. “And all the pieces last a long time.” The shirt has a wide collar with long, oversize sleeves, so Maddox wears the first two buttons undone with a white tank top underneath. “I often wear it on set,” he says, because “it’s substantial and doesn’t look cheap.”
For New Jersey–based singer and designer Groovy, the Dickies Work Shirt is a must-have. “It’s super-comfortable and lightweight, but also durable because it’s used for workwear,” he says. With a big belt buckle layered with a jacket, you get this classic ’90s oversize feel, he adds. “It’s reliable, but it’s also perfect for the club.”
Playwright Matthew Gasda says a Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Oxford is the ticket. “It’s soft, simple, and classic,” he says, an homage to writers like Mary McCarthy, who wrote about the brand in the 1950s. If you’ve been to any of Gasda’s “living room” plays, you may have encountered him in a button-down with a bookish, semiformal look: paired with a tweed jacket and corduroys. He prefers to thrift — “It’s always fun to find one in good condition,” he says — but he’ll also occasionally buy them new.
The go-to for Jon Feldman, the owner of Williamsburg-based vintage shop Grand Street Local, is the Ralph Lauren Classic Oxford. “It’s definitely popping back pretty hard,” he says. For Feldman, a white oxford tucked in with a denim sports coat is classic cool — “like Billy Crystal, but in a cool way.” A lot of us remember our fathers wearing the Ralph Lauren oxford back in the day, he says, which gives the shirt an “old-timey, vintage feel.” You can dress it up or dress it down and pull off a more boxy, early-’80s look.
For Robert Bolton, founder of the trend-forecasting studio From Later, the best heavier-weight button-down is the Cotton Poplin from Snow Peak. “It’s actually a Japanese camping brand,” he says, that mostly sells gear. But it also sells apparel that’s elegant and lightweight, equally at home in a strategy session or at the top of a mountain. “It’s like wearing a multi-tool,” Bolton says, adding that the fabric is incredibly soft and fits close to the body to keep in warmth. It also has dual side pockets, which makes it “perfect for travel.”
Best formal men’s white button-downs
Two separate people flagged the Signature Twill from Eton. “I love how stiff the collar and cuffs are,” said Dalya Benor, a fashion writer and founder of the jewelry brand Tutti Bene. “It makes me feel like a rich banker, and my outfit looks way more put-together and expensive than it is.”
Vita from Suit Supply agrees. He says the fabric for the Royal Oxford sold by Suit Supply comes from Eton, so if it ever runs out of fabric, it just send customers to its store.
Benor also recommends the Jersey Button Down from Lady White and the Model One from Cobra, both fashion brands based in L.A. “My boyfriend, the artist Adam Alessi, has both of these shirts in his closet,” she says, adding that he’s much more of a laid-back, fuss-free guy when it comes to style. “The quality is unparalleled,” she says, “and in our household, the clothing serves as a two-for-one deal: I wear these items as much as Adam does.”
When it comes to shirts for special occasions, some say you should never spend more than $200. Even with protective chemicals, a white shirt will always eventually yellow from sweat, says Vita.
But for Geoffrey Mak, a fashion writer and the author of Mean Boys, pragmatism isn’t really the point. That’s why he rocks the Cocoon Shirt in white from Balenciaga. “The texture is breathable but thick enough where you don’t see the lines of my undershirt,” he says. “It has the logo, embroidered in white, on the cuff, next to a spot of sauce that never came out in the dry cleaning. And what’s a shirt without a battle scar or two?” Mak adds. “If you don’t have one, then you’re not having enough fun.”
According to patented white button-down connoisseur David Soroudi, a real-estate finance director based in L.A., when you’re buying in the high end of the market, you have to know that it’s more like buying a piece of art than a practical garment. “It’s a totally different animal,” he says. And for that, the handmade Essential White Button Down from 100 Hands is unmatched. “Even the long seams are done by hand,” he says, “which is absurd.” Soroudi copped his at a clearance sale: “I promise I didn’t spend $400 on a shirt.”
NYC-based fashion model Shaminder Biring says he’s been rocking the Everyday Dress Shirt from Express for nearly 15 years. It’s machine washable and a classic slim fit that’s not too rough or too soft. “It just feels so good,” he says. With dark blue jeans, or a suit and tie, it’s a great combo on set or even at a business meeting: “A perfect amount of material for a suit or something more casual,” says Biring.
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