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Every well-rounded closet needs a good white button-down; it’s timeless, versatile, and easy to style. But much like shopping for any other wardrobe staple (think white T-shirts, trench coats, black blazers, etc.), there is an art to finding one that is absolutely perfect.
There are so many factors to consider when shopping for a white button-down, from fabric and quality to style and fit. Do you like a crisp and slim-fit oxford? An oversize shirt that can be dressed up or down? Or what about a boxy white button-down that’s made from 100 percent cotton? The options are endless, so the shopping process can feel overwhelming.
Luckily, the Cut Shop team did the hard work for you by rounding up the 11 best button-down shirts on the market. Below, our editors have put tons of white button-down shirts to the test over the years, and these are the standouts that earned a permanent spot in our closet.
Our Top Picks:
The Best Oversize Button-down
The Frankie Shop Della Midweight Button Up Shirt
There is something about this shirt that just makes me feel incredibly cool. For a super-oversize button-up with drop shoulders, it’s surprisingly flattering because the luxurious, 100-percent-modal fabric moves with the body instead of looking stiff and shapeless. The monogram detailing on the front pocket makes this a standout piece.
The Best Button-down With Batwing Sleeves
COS Batwing-Sleeve Twill Shirt
My beloved COS button-down was a thrift find from years ago, so it’s no longer available. As a loyal COS customer, though, I can definitely vouch for the quality and comfort of the brand’s designs. If you prefer tailored button-downs and think oversize ones tend to look sloppy, this shirt might change your mind. It’s fitted throughout but has wide-cut batwing sleeves, so it’s the best of both worlds.
The Best Boxy Button-down
Djerf Avenue Breezy Shirt White
Behold, the ultimate boxy button-down. This one from Matilda Djerf’s line is great for tall girls who like a little crop or short girls who don’t want to feel like they’re being swallowed by a long shirt. I love layering it under sweaters or rolling up the sleeves if I’m going for a casual look. Size up if you prefer an oversize fit.
More Tried-and-True Picks:
The Best Menswear Option
Luca Faloni Oxford Cotton Shirt
This classic oxford is a favorite of the Cut’s fashion-market editor, Cortne Bonilla, who actually prefers menswear options when it comes to white button-downs and basic T-shirts. “Men’s shirts are crafted with a roomier, boxier fit, and this one tucks so easily into skirts and trousers,” she says.
The Best Classic Oxford
Naomi Nomi the New Oxford
“Naomi Nomi’s bread and butter is an oxford, and she creates them to fit perfectly: structured but still easy to wear, as a white button-down should be,” the Cut’s editorial assistant, Brooke LaMantia, says of this durable, weighted shirt. It’s crafted from supersoft 100 percent cotton and locally sourced mother-of-pearl buttons.
The Other Menswear Favorite
COS Button-down Collar Oxford Shirt
Bonilla also recommends this shirt from COS, which features a tailored hem, long cuff sleeves, and a buttoned-down collar that evokes a true menswear look. “There’s just something about this shirt — it fits me better than any womenswear brand I’ve tried as of late, and the cotton is just buttery soft,” she says.
The One With a Split Back
Modern Citizen Kyle Oversized Split-Back Shirt
The Cut’s shopping writer, Chinea Rodriguez, suggests Modern Citizen for white button-downs that are “not superthick but still nice and crisp.” This oversize option has a slit in the back that makes it feel a bit more unique (that design detail will also help with airflow during the hot summer months).
The Best Button-down for Layering
Re Ona Artist Shirt
Rodriguez also loves layering this 100-percent-cotton button-down over tank tops. “It has superthick material and a boxy, oversize fit,” she says.
The Going-Out Button-down
Reformation Jodie Shirt
If you already own a basic white button-down (and you’re starting to get bored of it), try Reformation’s fitted take on the closet staple. Designed in collaboration with permanent “It” girl Camille Rowe, this shirt features thoughtfully placed seams that will create the illusion of an hourglass shape. It’s perfect for your next night out.
The Best Everyday Button-down
Everlane the Relaxed Oxford Shirt
Everlane is my go-to for closet staples, and this oxford shirt is excellent. Not only does it have a nice drape and a classic, slouchy fit, but it’s also made of high-quality mid-weight fabric that will last you forever.
The Best Happy Medium
J.Crew Garçon Classic Shirt
This crisp button-down touts a “not too slim, not too relaxed, just right” fit, which makes it so versatile and easy to style. You can monogram this shirt for an additional $10, plus it’s available in a range of sizes: zero to 24 and classic, petite, or tall.
