noun /ˈdres ˌʃɜː˞t/
A formal shirt, usually for men, intended to be worn with a jacket and tie or bow tie.
Odds are, a dress shirt is an item that you’re (hopefully) familiar with. From creative men with extraordinary style until suit-and-tie professionals: there’s no possibility to deny you’re either wearing one or needing one. Formal shirts exist in all forms and shapes, to – luckily – serve us men of all forms and shapes.
Since the history of dress shirts goes all the way back to the mid-1800s – when both women and men were wearing them in great numbers – you can probably imagine the broad selection that’s just a click away from us right now. An assortment broad enough to endlessly amaze ourselves about all those similar-looking white oxfords, playful prints, and different types of collars. And to – admit it – get lost in the trends within the wonderful world of shirts.
But where to start?
To guide you along the way, here’s The Male Report on the 11 best dress shirts. Our stylist especially looked out for shirts on the following criteria to help you find your go-to choice:
- Sustainability and durability
- Style and timelessness
- Fit and comfort
- Formality
- Pricing
- Brands from around the world
Whether you’re picking just one style, two, or all eleven of the selection: tie or no tie, you’ll look like you know what you’re talking about, without making any effort. Our pleasure.
The Male Report’s all-time favorite: Filippa K Lewis Shirt
Learning from the Swedish finest: this regular fit, pure cotton poplin shirt made by the female-founded Filippa K will make you look presentable at any occasion. The Scandinavian brand follows the trend of sustainability and strongly believes in offering her customers transparency on the production process. The Portuguese manufacturer completed the shirt with a unique enzyme finish, adding luxurious softness and body to the fabric.
Yours for $165
Stylists’ tip: wear in a minimalist style look with tailored, navy blue pants. Also goes great with a check-patterned pair of pants.
Best high-end: Eton’s Signature Twill
Continuing on Scandinavian influences: with almost a hundred years of knowledge, shirt connoisseur Eton developed their most iconic shirt. According to Eton, “the hue is hand-picked and easy to love. It is not too dusty, not too bright, it is the perfect blue, like the sky”. Now doesn’t that sound promising to us men? Available in four different fits, and a big bonus that’s worth every dollar: the design is finished with crease resistance. “You will look and feel perfect 24/7.”
Yours for $250
Best budget choice: Uniqlo’s Easy Care Comfort Shirt
With the extra comfortable feeling of a t-shirt, Uniqlo for men knocked it out of the park with this budget-friendly long-sleeved shirt. Easy to iron, crispy white, and available in the wide size range from XXS to 3XL, the Japanese brand undoubtedly understands what we need.
Yours for $29.90
Stylists’ tip: since this is a more casual basic option, take a walk on the wild side with the rest of your clothing. Wear with a printed pullover, and show off that collar and cuffs.
Best oxford shirt: Bonobos Daily Grind Wrinkle Free Shirt
Customizable down to the last detail, Bonobos knows how to satisfy its customers. The soft, but sleek shirt made by Bonobos is the top choice to update your daily grind. And for not even a 100 bucks, it’s yours. With great compliments to the US-found brand: if you love this shirt as much as we do: buy in bulk, using their special deal: get 2 for $150 or 3 for $225.
Yours for $98
The Specialist: Stenströms Blue Striped Slimline Shirt
Stenströms is exactly a shirt maker that deserves the name of A Specialist. With knowledge and hard work that goes back for 120+ years, the Swedish August Stenström has set the bar high for his competitors. And this is indeed a hard one to beat, if not impossible. Selected on the soft cotton quality, the slim – but not too slim – flexible fit, and thin white vertical stripes in bouclé, and the beige mother of pearl buttons: this is a winner.
Good to know: a made-to-measure service is available too.
Yours for $220
Stylists’ tip: show that spread and let the print do its job. Wear with either a little more smart casual with a pair of office-approved jeans or (light)grey slim-fit pants.
Best Non-Iron Dress Shirt: Hugo Boss Slim-fit Diamond Structure
For the travelers amongst us men (or when you just hate ironing): Hugo Boss dedicated this piece of art to you. According to Boss, this formal, white dress shirt is designed to keep the luxury traveler in mind. And that shows: the detailed diamond structure of the fabric definitely looks luxe. Made out of 100% cotton and in good slim-fit shape: what do you want more?
Yours for $298
Best Relaxed Fit Dress Shirt: McGregor Poplin Stretch Shirt
Of course, we couldn’t go on without including old classic McGregor New York on the list. With its bright white look, button-down collar, and extra comfortable relaxed fit, it’s a classic one-fits-almost-all. This little more casual shirt is composed out of mostly cotton, combined with a pleasant amount of elastane, and has a subtle embroidery on the chest.
Yours for $95
Stylists’ tip: this basic is easy to pair up with any of your favorite pieces of clothing. Try a comfortable blazer to step up your game a little.
Best Slim-Fit choice: Calvin Kleins Temperature Regulation Dress Shirt
Not only providing you with the best fit of all, Calvin Klein decided to take it up a notch by equipping their best-selling, extra slim-fit shirt with a temperature regulating fabric. Meaning a lot of good: when it’s cold, the shirt will keep you warm. Are the temperatures rising, the shirt will keep you cool. So if you’re aiming for a fitted, minimalist appearance: this is your best choice.
Yours for $75
Best Printed Dress Shirt: Paul Smith
Ready to take a little fun from your wardrobe to work? This Italian crafted, cotton shirt by Paul Smith is exactly what you’ll need to look professional while adding a little wink as well as a lot of character to your outfit. Not only the playful print is detailed, but it also goes all the way until the pearlescent buttons and printed cuff linings.
Yours for $125
Stylists’ tip: most men would go for a more minimal style bottom on this one. But we advise you: be a daredevil and pair up with high-quality pants with character in the form of a subtle print.
Best Quality: Suitsupply Egyptian Cotton Slim-Fit Shirt
Coming from a small country doesn’t mean doing small business: Dutch found company Suitsupply earned its stripes with stores in 25 different countries around the world. They know suits. And more important: they know shirts. This luxurious Egyptian cotton overhemd (dutch for shirt) has a slim-cut, widespread collar, and a split yoke. All yours in the blink of an eye: their online shop is clear, clean, and easy to navigate.
Good to know: a made-to-measure service is available too.
Yours for $129
Best White Shirt: Brooks Brothers’ Regent Fitted Dress Shirt
Available in three other colors, this white favorite of ours is a classic. The Brooks Brothers’ shirt out of their luxury collection is simply timeless. Not a fan of their Regent Fit (modern trim fit, slimmer to the body)? One of the two other available cuts will probably match you.
Yours for $168
Stylists’ tip: this shirt simply goes well with all kinds of colors. Match this great buy with suit pants or an unwashed pair of jeans and a suit jacket.
A mini-guide on making your choice
Now that we’ve shown you our personal selection, it’s time for you to make your choice. Our stylist provides you with two final tips to take into consideration to tie the knot on your decision.
Which fabric is best for you?
There are a few things to pay great attention to when purchasing a shirt. First, find out what fabric will match you and the labor you’ll do wearing it. Most dress shirts are made out of cotton, a cotton blend, but also different types of synthetic materials are used to put together a shirt. Some are likely to last longer than others – and in this case, the cost will play a big part in that as well.
A few things to mind on: are you likely to sweat a lot? Try to stay away from synthetic materials. Looking for a non-iron option? High chance a lot of these are made out of synthetic materials to keep creases away, like polyester. Something more breathable like cotton or linen is in this situation your go-to. But, before we scare you with the idea of ironing your shirts, lucky you: there are a few non-iron shirts on the market made out of nothing but cotton.
Are you ready to invest a little more to make your shirts last longer? Get your hands on a shirt made out of a fabric blend, preferably containing cotton, stretch (if preferred), and polyester or rayon.
How should a dress shirt fit?
Not only the choices in quality and material, cuffs and collars can be somewhat overwhelming, but also the wide range of fits and sizes in shirts can seem too much sometimes. But once you’ve found yourself a flattering fit that matches your body type, it only gets easier.
Are you narrowly built? Avoid buying big, regular fitted shirts in which you and your physique are likely to disappear. Instead, go for a slim-cut or a fitted option. For the larger guys upon us, find yourself something that is not too tight like a regular fit.
When you experience some fit challenges, a made-to-measure shirt is probably a great option for you. Good news: it may sound expensive, but a wide range of brands (including Suitsupply and Stenströms) offers custom shirts for men with more modest budgets.
Not sure what size to buy? Take some time to visit a local shirt specialist, tailor, or department store – they aren’t hard to find. The measurements you’ll need are as follows: chest, neck, sleeve, and waist. In this case, the neck and sleeve size is the most important. But: don’t forget to consider the overall fit of your shirt. Easy does it.
One last Stylist-tip: pay attention to the type of button (mother-of-pearl is our personal favorite), the cuffs, and the type of collar you choose. Great style is in the details.
