Yes, It's Time to Start Wearing Dress Shirts Again. (2024)

This dress shirt by Calvin Klein features a spread collar, and regular one-button barrel cuffs and is constructed in a performance stretch fabric that, despite the top’s more tailored fit, makes moving around an easy feat. And thanks to the cotton and elastane blend, the shirt wicks moisture and resists wrinkles, guaranteeing you’ll feel as cool as you look.

If fit and fabric are the two most important features of a dress shirt - which they are - then Todd Snyder paired with Thomas Mason is a match made in sartorial heaven. Todd Snyder, the designer, spent over a decade mastering the dimensions of men’s formalwear while designing for Ralph Lauren and J.Crew before going solo. All that expertise is on display in this spread collar dress shirt with a French placket and no pocket, in a cotton poplin fabric from Thomas Mason.

“Single Needle,” being the operative term here, is a sewing technique that stitches each piece of the shirt together from both sides, creating a much stronger connection than more common methods. Buck Mason added another unique touch by mercerizing the fabric, which improves durability while adding a slight luster. As a final touch, the cotton is peached, which is a brushing process that adds the kind of softness found in your favorite t-shirt that has been worn and washed a hundred times.

Oxford cloth has a hearty weight and durability, balanced out by a softness that just gets better with age. It makes for a shirt that you will enjoy wearing pretty much anywhere, with anything from a tie and blazer, to running shorts and flip-flops. All that comfort and function usually comes at a price, but Everlane sells one of the finest organic cotton oxfords out there at an unbelievable bargain. The fit is traditionally slouchy, with a single pleated back and pleated cuffs.

The right chambray dress shirt, like this one from Ralph Lauren, can handle casual or formal with equal fluency. Add a twist of texture to your suit and tie, or put a classy edge on your chino shorts and canvas sneakers. The classic fit is a little loose in the shoulders and body, without getting baggy or messy. A small but impactful detail is the replacement of a chest pocket with the embroidered Polo pony.

You need a white dress shirt—that's for damn sure. But finding the best white dress shirt needs more than just your weathered eye. You need to get down the fabric (from twill to Sea Island) that suits you, the style (from collar to cuff) that flatters you, and the size (from neck to sleeve) that actually fits you. As such, opt for Suitsupply's customization service that lets you own the very best white dress shirt, tailored to you and you only.

Untuckit prioritizes a comfortable fit more than any other dress shirt company. The cropped body design that looks good untucked is the brand’s trademark, but the shoulders, chest, and sleeves are all optimized for all day comfort. The Allen Shirt, as well as many other options, come in a wide range of sizes and three different fits to complement any body time. Plenty of fabric options are available, but the simple windowpane design is a foolproof pick.

The last thing you want to encounter while donning a dress shirt is perspiration—the dread of all businessmen! In with the save, thankfully, is Mack Weldon and its oxford shirt featuring thermal regulation built into it to prevent sweating. Even more so, it's got underarm sweat guards for when your nervous system just won't chill. Its easy classic fit that can be tucked or untucked is a plus.

A blue and white striped oxford shirt is one of those pieces that fits into every man’s wardrobe, regardless of personal style. It is so well established and so well explored that you can plug it in with just about any outfit and it just works. There are plenty of options out there, but the Jack Shirt from Taylor Stitch offers a rich and hearty fabric in the archetypical design. It also has a button down collar with a third button in the back, and pointed cuff plackets.

Now, dressy stuff can feel a bit agonizing at times the longer you wear it. Rhone's iconic Commuter dress shirt, however, won't let you sacrifice comfort for style or vice versa. Made with ultra-stretchy fabric that has no cotton, it'll move with you and even let you show off your gains. It also meets several other practical requirements, including built-in anti-odor control, an athletic cut, and a lightweight feel. You can even score on nice checkered or striped options.

J.Crew's Ludlow line has elevated the brand to a formal menswear staple in closets across the US. Boasting a tuxedo cut, it's truly meant for all of your formal gatherings. Its silky finish will also wow. But don't just put it under a blazer or garnish it with a tie. Feel free to dress it down with casual jackets or coats—and you'll still look elevated with the Ludlow.

The beauty of a short sleeve dress shirt? You can throw it under a blazer and still look as polished as a traditional button-up, without losing your cool. This one is rendered in the oxford style to make it all the more formal.

Truth be told: you can probably do a light jog on the treadmill in this dress shirt and everything will turn out fine. That's how much of a workhorse Apollo is. Not only is it made with NASA-grade temperature regulation in a fabric that is 19 times more breathable than basic cotton knit, but it's also sweat-wicking and wrinkle-resistant. Therefore, Apollo is a dress shirt that can stand up to all occasions: commutes, work from XYZ, date night, etc.

Not only is this a slick button-up that’s easy to pair with a range of different pants styles to multiply your smart casual outfit options, but it is also a dress shirt built with movement in mind—hence the four-way stretch. Its classic fit, while not really tailored or tapered, adds just enough formality without veering too far, especially with a worn-in look to boot.

Lovers of looking on fleek on the go, rejoice: because with Bugatchi's unparalleled eight-way stretch and breathability, you'll truly look your best in a dress shirt that has gotten the best of both worlds—form and function—in spades. The brand's line of OoohCotton® shirts features quick drying and anti-wrinkling properties. It's the performance shirting you need whenever you're out and about, in Bugatchi's solid tones or lustrous prints.

If you need a dress shirt to look like the wolf of Wall Street who's ready to take on the stock market, then you better get a wingman that is as reliable as Mizzen & Main's Leeward. Not only does it have the practical schticks from four-way stretch to sweat-wicking to wrinkle resistance to back you up, but its many neat patterns from plaid to geo print will also flatter you as well. Now that's a dependable dress shirt.

Once the temperature breaks 80, you'll probably want to switch to a linen dress shirt. While the lightweight fabric is a go-to for summer, more linen dress shirts can be billowy and itchy. Luca Faloni fixes that with a lightly leaner silhouette that's dressy enough for the office.

For this story, we tested more than 30 dress shirts in the past year and evaluated their fit, construction, and just how great they looked. We also consulted with our fashion director, Ted Stafford, who has more than 20 years of menswear experience, on his go-to picks for the best dress shirts for men.