The Best Women’s Button-Up Shirts
A high-quality oxford at a great price: Quince Organic Cotton Relaxed Oxford Shirt
Top pick
I’ve always been a little skeptical of Quince — the ever-growing source of dupes for everything from cashmere to couches — with valid reason. (The offerings can be pretty hit-or-miss.) But I was quickly humbled by the Quince Organic Cotton Relaxed Oxford Shirt.
The first thing that struck me about this button-up, aside from its cheerful price, was the substantial feel of the sturdy oxford cotton fabric and the thick, well-attached buttons. On the body, the shirt’s fabric feels smooth, and the material’s weight drapes nicely without clinging to the body. The cut is relaxed — loose yet not oversize — and it runs true to size.
The style defies trends. Made from durable oxford fabric (which has a distinctive basket-weave pattern), oxford shirts have been around since the late 19th century. In the 1950s, they entered the American wardrobe as part of the preppy look.
The Relaxed Oxford Shirt is roomy throughout the body and sleeves, without veering into oversize territory. (Our 6-foot-tall tester said she could’ve used more length in both, but the width was okay.) The shirt is about hip length, and it looks equally good tucked and untucked. It can be worn with a blazer and trousers for a professional look, or roll up the sleeves and wear it open over a T-shirt with jeans.
This shirt could cost a lot more than it does. The Relaxed Oxford Shirt has thick, sturdy buttons that are well-attached and clean, flat seams: It looks high-quality. I wore it for a cross-country flight, and felt like I could trick United into letting me sit in business class (but I’m risk-averse, so I waddled back to 37F as planned). At the end of the long travel day, the shirt still looked fresh.
The 100% cotton fabric is hearty. The oxford material has a nice weight to it: The shirt hangs on the body without clinging, it holds its shape throughout the day, and it’s quick to release creases before they become wrinkles. Because of this heartiness, the shirt is best suited to wear in cooler climates (including in oppressively cold office air conditioning).
Quince makes a terrific linen button-up, too. We also tested the Quince 100% European Linen Long Sleeve Shirt, which has a slimmer fit than the Relaxed Oxford Shirt. When we machine-washed and -dried the linen version, it shrank by 4.35%, so with this one, we suggest going up a size.
Flaws but not dealbreakers:
- Taller people may find the Quince Organic Cotton Relaxed Oxford Shirt’s sleeves and overall length to be too short.
- The heavy fabric may be too warm for some climates or tastes.
Specs:
- Sizes: XS to XL
- Material: 100% cotton
- Colors: white and pale blue
- Shrinkage (after machine-washing on cold and low-heat drying): 0.60%
A roomy fit that doesn’t overwhelm: AYR The Deep End
Top pick
Prior to testing, AYR’s The Deep End had been on my radar for a few years. And this shirt — from the Los Angeles–based brand that makes some of our favorite women’s jeans — didn’t disappoint.
The AYR button-up has a lean-yet-loose silhouette. Compared with those on most relaxed shirts we tried, this shirt’s sleeves are slimmer, which our petite testers found especially flattering. The Deep End shirt comes in a variety of colors and fabrics — including cotton oxford, denim, and stretch silk — that change seasonally.
The cut is long, roomy, and — surprise! — a hit with petites. The Deep End’s biggest fans were our two petite, 5-foot-3 testers (size XL and size S). They both said they appreciated that this shirt had a cool, relaxed look without being too voluminous or swallowing them up. The cut, though roomy, is straight, the collar is fairly dainty, and the sleeves are slim compared with the body.
Our tallest tester (6-foot, size M) didn’t fare so well fit-wise. “Aw, man, I really wanted to love this shirt!” she said. “But the scale and proportions were just so off on me — the sleeves were too short, and it just hung wrong.” (We found multiple reviews online featuring similar complaints, and pleading with AYR to make tall sizes.)
It has off-the-clock appeal. The easy silhouette and casual patch pocket lend the shirt a languid feel, especially when the sleeves are rolled up and an extra button is undone. It wouldn’t look out of place in a more-formal environment (depending on the material), but it also brings big Saturday-errands energy.
The fabric options vary. Our testing took place over the summer, so we tried the shirt’s linen version, which, according to a brand rep, will be brought back in the spring. We also tested the cotton oxford version, which is available year-round.
The linen version got mixed reviews from our panelists. Two testers said it was soft and comfortable, and two others said they experienced varying degrees of itchiness. (And it was very wrinkle-prone, even by linen standards.) The mid-weight oxford cotton is nice, and it keeps its shape without being heavy; this version has a more-defined silhouette than its linen counterpart.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- The Deep End shirt’s buttons have lettering that reads “All Year Round” (for AYR). It isn’t very noticeable, but it’s worth mentioning in case you dislike branding.
- The shirt’s proportions may not work well for tall people and those with long arms.
- Although the overall construction was good, we did spot a few loose fibers around the cuffs.
Specs:
A sophisticated, distinctive button-up: TWP Next Morning Shirt
Top pick
If you’ve covered all of your bases on traditional button-ups, and you’re ready to level up, the TWP Next Morning Shirt is an investment piece that makes a statement. This sophisticated shirt has a relaxed fit and an elevated design, and it comes in a variety of high-quality fabrics and stylish colors. Among the thoughtful details are pre-rolled cuffs that button into place and a distinctive, elongating neckline.
The sleeves are unique. When I took this shirt out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the end of each sleeve had been fashioned into a tidy cuffed position. (Two small buttons hold each sleeve in place, with no rolling necessary.) This is a cool detail that gives the sleeves a more-interesting look. One panelist opted to wear the sleeves long and unbuttoned, which emphasized their generous width.
We do have concerns about the overall sturdiness of the fastening mechanism: On my shirt, I noticed that the buttonholes had stretched out after I’d pulled the button through a few times. Another tester said it seemed like the buttons themselves weren’t sewn on securely enough, especially considering the job they’re tasked with.
It has an elongating neckline. The Next Morning Shirt is the only button-up we tried that didn’t have a full placket of buttons. It’s intentionally missing the top two buttons, giving it a V-neck shape. According to fashion stylist JenniLee, “Most women button up [their shirts] too high.” JenniLee recommends that the sliver of exposed décolletage be roughly the same length as that of your head to create the illusion of a long neck. This shirt’s neckline delivers that automatically, though our bustiest tester (34DD bra size, M/L TWP shirt size) found it too plunging.
The cut is boxy, with a longer back. The shirt has a wide, short body, with a straight front hem that sits at the hips. The back has a longer, rounded tail, with curved side slits that enable easy tucking in front. There’s a box pleat on the back yoke that creates a breezy silhouette (and allows for added movement).
Sizes are limited. TWP shirts come in just three sizes: P, XS/S (approximately 00 to 4), and M/L (6 to 12). Our tester, who tried the M/L, typically wears a size 12 in tops and a size 34DD bra; it fit her, but she doubts that it would fit busts beyond DD.
The fabric and color options are luxe. TWP makes this button-up in a variety of fabric options, including linen and cotton poplin, and they come and go seasonally. I tested the Next Morning Shirt in superfine cotton (made from long, fine cotton fibers, with a silky feel and subtle sheen); it was incredibly soft and comfortable against my skin. (To put it bluntly: This fabric looks and feels expensive.) And this shirt didn’t shrink at all in the wash. Another panelist tried the Next Morning Shirt that was made from a blend of 80% cotton and 20% polyamide; the tester said this shirt was smooth and crisp but not the most breathable.
TWP’s color choices are unusually appealing, as well (think muted solids and contrasting stripes in unexpected combos). “You can tell just tell that this isn’t some basic, run-of-the-mill shirt,” said one tester, who tried the Next Morning Shirt in a cerulean blue with burgundy stripes. “The color shades and even the width of the stripes are so tasteful.”
Flaws but not dealbreakers:
- The Next Morning Shirt’s cuff-button attachments are flimsier than we’d expect. (For a shirt at this price, we want them to be bulletproof.)
- It’s expensive.
- The TWP website is frustrating to navigate. If you want to see which combinations of colors and fabrics are available in your size, you have to click through many different product pages.
- Since the color and fabric options change regularly, you may not be able to find what you want in stock.
Specs:
- Sizes: P (women’s 00 to 2), XS/S (2 to 6), M/L (6 to 12)
- Material: varies by fabric
- Colors: options vary by fabric
- Shrinkage (after machine-washing on cold and low-heat drying): 0% (100% cotton version)
- Related styles: Next Ex Shirt (shorter sleeves and body)
A playful design in crisp poplin: Sézane Bilma Shirt
Top pick
Blending a relaxed fit with distinctive details, the Sézane Bilma Shirt offers a playful twist on the classic cotton-poplin button-up. The wide sleeves and three-button cuffs give this shirt an elegant flair, complemented by pretty, mother-of-pearl buttons.
The fit is loose but not overwhelming. The Bilma Shirt, which comes in sizes from 0 to 16, fits true to size. On me (5-foot-3, size S), the shirt hangs comfortably around the body without feeling too big for my frame. I mostly wore it with the front half tucked in and the back hanging loose(the front and back are the same length), but it looks equally good fully untucked and tucked.
Unusually wide sleeves add a dose of drama. Most button-up shirt sleeves taper from the shoulder to the cuff, buttoning snugly around the wrist. The sleeves are the same width all the way down, giving it a blousy feel that sets it apart. Another flourish that makes this shirt special: The wide cuffs have three buttons (one or two is the norm).
We were charmed by the design details. In addition to being charmed by the unique sleeves and cuffs, we liked the pretty, mother-of-pearl buttons and that the patch pocket (on the right side) is angled on the lower corners. Another thoughtful and elevated touch: The vertically striped versions we tried had contrasting horizontal stripes at the cuffs and back yoke.
The poplin material is ultra-crisp. The Bilma Shirt is made from 100% cotton poplin, a particularly tight weave that’s known for its crisp, lightweight texture. (It’s also a little noisy, since it rustles when you touch it.) I found this shirt somewhat stiff — it’s not the softest, smoothest poplin out there. But it fends off wrinkles pretty well, and it does relax after it’s washed.
It shrank more than expected. As part of the testing process, I washed all of the shirts in cold water and then dried them on low heat to see how much they would shrink. The Bilma Shirt went down in size by 4.6% — more than any other pick — resulting in a notably closer fit. If you plan to dry this shirt with heat, consider sizing up. But remember that the cut is already pretty blousy and boxy, so a little shrinkage may be welcome.
Flaws but not dealbreakers:
- The Sézanne Bilma Shirt shrank in the laundry more than any other pick.
Specs:
- Sizes: 0 to 16
- Colors: 5 or more (depending on seasonal stock)
- Material: 100% cotton
- Shrinkage (after machine-washing on cold and low-heat drying): 4.60%
