17 Best Dress Shirts for Men - Buy Side from WSJ | Chongqing BoldBridge Technologies Group

These insider-approved favorites are ideal for work, formal events and other moments where a dressed-up look is required

Written By

Written by

Contributor, Buy Side from WSJ

Leah Melby Clinton is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.

Written by

Contributor, Buy Side from WSJ

Kelsey Borovinsky is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.

Updated October 22, 2024, 9:33 AM EDT

$89

$138

$198

$179

$445 $312

$129

$65

$90 $53

$195

$138

$250

$118

$89

$125

$115 $75

$118

A good men’s dress shirt is a sartorial asset. The right one should be comfortable, flattering and work both on its own and under a jacket or sport coat. Since dress shirts are a closet staple, there are also hundreds to pick from, making a trusted recommendation invaluable. We polled personal stylists, fashion label founders and other dapper men working in the fashion industry to find out what they reach for regularly. These are their most-trusted styles.

$89 at Bonobos

Elizabeth Cardinal Tamkin, a New York City-based personal stylist and content director at Kule, a clothing brand known for its stripe, recommends Bonobos’ shirts for an under $100 option, especially because it comes in various colors and prints, is machine-washable, and has a unique moisture-wicking technology great for summertime wear, or for those who run hot. Though Tamkin recommends trying the Slim and Tailored options, it also comes in Standard and Athletic cuts.

$138 at Rhone

This Rhone shirt comes recommended in our guide to business casual as an option that offers an impressive balance of comfort and style. It’s made from a performance fabric designed to resist odors and wrinkles (great for hot weather and long commutes) and stretch, too. Shop this style in six colors, in both slim and classic fits.

$198 at Todd Snyder

“Todd Snyder makes my favorite men’s shirt,” says Tamkin. The 100% cotton shirt with a spread collar is “specifically designed to be perfect for layering under sweaters and jackets,” she adds, making it a dependable option for daily wear and dressed up occasions.

$179 at SuitSupply

This western-style cotton-linen shirt from Suit Supply is “definitely more refined than rugged, and a real must buy” if you’re looking to add something “different to your wardrobe in the summer months,” Nick Hems, a London-based men’s personal stylist. “Unlike some western or snap-front shirts, it looks great tucked in or out of your trousers.” Tailored to an extra-slim fit, this less traditional collared shirt, which comes in off-white and sizes XS through XXL, could also be worn unbuttoned with a T-shirt underneath for an even more casual look. A Buy Side editor just tested out the cotton-flannel version of the shirt, and found the sleeves to be narrower than he expected, but otherwise enjoyed it for a fall and winter office look.

$312 at Saks Fifth Avenue

$445 save $133

$445 at Mr Porter

“You’ll struggle to find a brand that does beachwear with the same panache as Orlebar Brown,” says Hems, which is why he recommends this tailored linen shirt for all vacation and summer evening plans. Thanks to its more open weave that lends itself to breathability, linen is the perfect lightweight fabric that’ll help you look sharp in warmer temperatures without overheating. “This lightweight shirt is being favoured already at the start of my summer shops with clients,” Hems said in an email.

$129 at Charles Tyrwhitt

A soft, long-sleeve polo shirt, like this Merino wool sweater from Charles Tyrwhitt, is a power player in any wardrobe thanks to its versatility, according to Hems. This style “can be dressed up under a blazer for a sharp and refined look that will also keep you warm,” he says, “or pared back with a pair of chinos and clean white sneakers.” This versatility also makes it a smart travel outfit choice, especially when you’re aiming to pack light.

$65 at Patagonia

$65 at Backcountry

“The world has definitely become more casual the last few years, so my day-to-day go-to is the Patagonia Daily Polo,” says Matthew Clark, executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Cheesecake Factory, who is based in Ventura, Calif. It’s become Clark’s polo of choice because of its lightweight, 100% cotton construction and variety of colors, and he likes supporting the sustainability efforts that the brand is known for. It’s also a great option if you are looking for a polo-style shirt with minimal branding, since it features a small tag with the brand’s name near the hem.

$53 at J.Crew

$90 save $37

For more dressed up occasions, like investor conferences or board meetings, Clark prefers J.Crew’s slim fit button down. These shirts “go with anything, a blazer and tie, or without,” he says. He also likes that the shirt is made from 100% cotton and the cut feels a bit more wearable than a more traditional dress shirt. Five cuts are available, including one that’s meant to be worn untucked, as well as a wide range of colors and patterns.

$195 at Nordstrom

$195 at Theory

This pick is a favorite among Los Angeles-based personal stylist Rayne Parvis’s clients, and for good reason. “Hands down, it’s my top selling button-up dress shirt,” she says. The compact knit fabric, a cotton-poly blend from a premiere Japanese mill, according to the brand, is resistant to snags and offers a structured fit. Parvis describes its everyman fit this way: “It enhances muscles if he’s in shape and still looks great and tailored even if he’s not,” she says. And since it comes in nine colors, “once a client knows he loves the fit, he gets it for different occasions,” she adds. Also worth noting: Since the fabric is machine washable, it’ll save on trips to the dry cleaners. The brand recommends hanging the shirt to dry and using a cool iron if needed.

$138 at Mizzen + Main

Mizzen + Main takes the moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric typically associated with workout wear and uses it on a classic-cut dress shirt, resulting in a versatile option that’s great for all seasons. “We get this question often: ‘Are those shirts as soft and comfortable as Mizzen + Main’s?’” says stylist Grant Alexander, owner and creative director of Chicago’s G Alxndr styling. “Most of the time the answer is no; just feel one and you’ll understand.” The spandex in the fabric provides wrinkle-resistant stretch and the wide variety of colors, prints and sizes (including trim and classic cuts and a tall length) means there’s one for any occasion.

$250 at Eton

“You know when you pick something up and instantly know it’s quality? That’s this shirt,” says Alexander. He loves the feel of the brand’s signature twill, made using extra-long staple cotton that’s known to be soft and durable with just the right amount of subtle shine. The thread count has a slightly heavier feel and “doesn’t wrinkle easily.” The men he styles, from corporate executives to start-up entrepreneurs, love that it doesn’t wrinkle and works for everything from a standard day at the office to a formal fundraising dinner.

$118 at Lululemon

This option from Lululemon has a similar fitness-inspired feel with a dressed up look, and it comes in a wide range of sizes, extending up to 5XL. Though it has the appearance of a traditional dress shirt, it’s actually made of a sweat-wicking cotton-polyester blend with four-way stretch. Additional room at the chest and waist means it won’t fit too snugly, allowing you to move. An underarm gusset is another helpful detail, featuring two seams rather than just one to add even more mobility.

$89 at SuitSupply

This shirt is “one of the best, actual slim-fit silhouettes,” according to Alexander, and is a top pick for his styling clients who ask for “modern” looks. Clients might not initially notice details like offset underarm seams, a stitch that allows the sleeves to follow the arm’s natural angles, but they do appreciate “the comfort and ease of movement” it provides. He routinely advises clients to wear this all-cotton option with jeans or slacks and says it looks just as good on its own as it does layered under a suit jacket.

$125 at Texas Standard

$75 at Cubavera

$115 save $40

A favorite of Alvie Franklin Faulkenbery IV, the Austin, Texas-based founder of the shoe brand Alvies is the Guayabera, an embroidered style with roots in the Philippines, Cuba, Mexico and other Latin American countries. The silhouette can run the gamut from casual, short-sleeve options to dressier versions with “a nice Texas spin,” notes Faulkenbery. “I wear them year-round to dinners and parties,” he says, preferring the U.S.-made pieces from Texas Standard. For a slightly more formal look, this long-sleeve pick is a solid option. Made entirely of linen, a fabric known for its lightweight, breathable feel (as well as its tendency to wrinkle), it’s a great alternative to traditional dress shirts for beachside weddings or other formal events in warm-weather locales.

$118 at Buck Mason

Nolan Beck-Rivera, a Richmond, Va.-based interior designer and owner of the home goods shop Jolene, likes this “lightweight, relaxed and comfortable” style for everyday and also for fancier moments: “It’s formal when it needs to be,” depending on what you pair it with. The shirt is made from cotton that’s been washed and brushed, giving it a soft, comfortable look associated with aged garments. The slim, tailored cut is flattering worn with jeans or slacks, and the back yoke detail helps to give the illusion of broader shoulders.

Leah Melby Clinton is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.

Kelsey Borovinsky is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.

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