The Best Oxford Shirt for Men in 2026, According to GQ

The story behind the Oxford shirt is a lot less thrilling than you’d expect. It didn’t earn that fancy-sounding sobriquet through some sacred connection to the tony British university; instead, the shirt's signature cotton fabric was just one of four named after a group of schools picked by a Scottish mill for their associations with society’s upper crust. (19th century marketing at its best!)But of the quartet—the others were Harvard, Cambridge, and Yale, FYI—only the Oxford shirt achieved menswear icon status, becoming a quintessential emblem of American prep as a “sporting shirt” and then as a staple of casual attire. Nowadays, Oxford-cloth shirts come in every color imaginable, but none of ‘em look quite as classic as the OG—especially when they’re thoroughly worn-in and a little wrinkled. Below you’ll find 16 of our absolute favorites, each one more ready than the last to imbue your jeans, chinos, and trousers with the unmistakable swagger of adopted American royalty.The Best Oxford Shirt OverallJ.Crew 1983 Oxford ShirtRead moreThe Best Upgrade Oxford ShirtDrake's Cotton Oxford Cloth Long Point Collar ShirtRead moreThe Best Nostalgic Oxford ShirtWythe Oxford Cloth Button Down ShirtRead moreThe Best Oxford Shirt for Fashion GuysThom Browne Slim-Fit Button-Down Collar Logo-Appliquéd Cotton Oxford ShirtRead moreThe Best Oxford Shirt for Menswear PoindextersJake's Butcher Stripe Oxford ShirtRead moreMore Oxford Shirts We LoveWhat to Look for in a Great Oxford ShirtHow We Assessed the MarketHow We Test and Review ProductsHow We Make These PicksThe Best Oxford Shirt Overall: J.Crew 1983 Oxford ShirtProsComfy, but not sloppy fitBeefy OxfordSolid collar rollConsCould be more cheaper!J.Crew’s Oxford shirts have been a staple of the catalog for decades and though its iconic Secret Wash shirts are the bestsellers of the bunch, we prefer its more recent release, the 1983 Oxford Shirt. It’s easy to miss the differences at a glance, yet the handful of subtle tweaks add up quick. First, the fit: a comfier, more relaxed silhouette that, despite its ‘80s reference, is spot on for 2027. Second, the fabric: a noticeably sturdier, heftier all-cotton Oxford that makes its best-selling Secret Wash shirts feel wimpy by comparison. Third, and most importantly, the collar: unlike its most popular shirts, the 1983 Oxford has a satisfyingly taller collar with a prep-approved collar roll. It gives the shirt more life and more nuance, but also looks great under a blazer.The Best Upgrade Oxford Shirt: Drake’s Cotton Oxford Cloth Long Point Collar ShirtDrake'sCotton Oxford Cloth Long Point Collar ShirtProsTop-notch constructionMother-of-pearl buttonsArtful collar rollConsNot available in multiple sleeve lengthsIf there’s any brand that could do the Oxford justice, it’s the British label, Drake’s, known for its none-too-posh take on all things tailoring. Its handsome entry into the Oxford shirt ring is a confluence of top-shelf materials and methodical construction, wrapped into a single shirt worth saving up for. Handmade in Somerset, England, Drake’s Oxford features single-needle construction with finished seams throughout, which takes the cut and sew process twice as long to complete—on top of the high-density stitching you’ll find throughout the shirt. Lustrous mother-of-pearl buttons make for a luxe upgrade while the collar—a button-down with a fabulous collar roll—is constructed with a floating interlining to give it a soft structure.All in, Drake’s Oxford is what most other Oxfords aspire to be. And if you’re curious about what comes after J.Crew, this is your answer.The Best Nostalgic Oxford Shirt: Wythe Oxford Cloth Button DownWytheOxford Cloth Button Down ShirtProsClassic, mid-century detailsSolid valueConsDon’t hold your breathWythe’s built its brand on western aesthetics with lasting quality—think properly-made cowboy boots, Yellowstone-worthy coats, and snap shirts. That the label would produce something as east-coast as an Oxford shirt is head-scratching. And yet, it’s one of the best versions we’ve tried. That’s because Wythe takes the same sort of rigor that it uses for its western and workwear garments and applies it to the preppy classic. This as close as anyone can get to a deadstock Oxford shirt plucked from a long-forgotten storage room. From the box pleat and locker loop to the unstructured long-point button-down collar, size-stamped collar stand and nostalgic paper packaging, it’s a good reminder of why prep in the ‘60s was so, so good.The Best Oxford Shirt for Fashion Guys: Thom Browne Cotton Button-Down ShirtThom BrowneSlim-Fit Button-Down Collar Logo-Appliquéd Cotton Oxford ShirtProsGame-changing design credHigh-quality construction and materialsContemporary fitConsWallet-busterPlain Oxford shirts too simple for your liking? Thom Browne's take isn’t overtly avant-garde, but it does boast a striped grosgrain placket that shows itself when you undo the top or bottom buttons, a stitched-on tag near the right hip, and a similarly striped locker loop beneath the collar. Each one is made in Italy from a soft, durable cotton fabric with noticeable cuffs and a sharply curved hem, making this iteration a better fit with sleek dress pants or even your most refined athleisure. (Talking to you, sneakers-with-suit crowd.)This shirt won’t win you any browny points with the tailoring nerds, it will earn you cred with the fashion elite.The Best Oxford Shirt for Menswear Poindexters: Jake’s Oxford ShirtJake'sButcher Stripe Oxford ShirtProsCustom-madeSecond-to-none qualityConsWait timeFor the guy who’s quick to chat your ear off for 20 minutes when all you said was, “nice pants”, Jake’s is the go-to shirt whisperer. Jake’s began as founder Jake Wigham was amidst his studies at the London College of Fashion, honing his skills at a tailoring apprenticeship and fulfilling custom projects. It eventually blossomed into the talk of the menswear cognoscenti, who praised Wigham’s shirtmaking prowess. Each shirt is made-to-order, cut and sewn in the Jake’s studio by a small team of expert craftspeople, according to your specific measurements, with options for different collars, pockets, and fabrics. While we’ll always respect the old guard shirtmakers who’ve honed their style over generations, Jake’s bridges the gap between traditional craft and modern appeal—a Savile Row approach that speaks internet.More Oxford Shirts We LoveBrooks BrothersOxford Cotton Button-Down ShirtAccording to menswear lore, Brooks Brothers is responsible for bringing the Oxford shirt stateside. Quite a few decades later, everything’s still here, from the telltale collar to the button cuffs, patch pockets, and curved hems. One note: Brooks Brothers says it’s a ‘regular fit’, but there’s a bit more room in the chest than some of its counterparts.KamakuraAmetora Button-Down Selvedge Oxford ShirtJapan's obsession with Americana often comes full circle, as is the case with Kamakura. Its shirts are the envy of so many labels for its craftsmanship which parallels that of custom shirtmakers. We're talking mother-of-pearl buttons, high-density stitching, and major attention to minor details like the roll of the collar and single-needle seams.Gitman VintageClassic Cambridge Oxford ShirtGitman Vintage's stateside-produced shirts have been a fixture of tasteful menswear shops for years not only for its high quality control, but for its tailored silhouettes and idiosyncratic details like chalk buttons, its signature contrasting horizontal bottom button hole, and soft collars.J.PressMade-in-USA Flap Pocket Pink University Stripe Oxford Cloth ShirtJ.Press's take on the Oxford shirt stands out as among the preppiest examples. Not only does it come from the storied uniform supplier of Yale's student body, but the perfectly rolled collar and flap chest pocket details give it a distinctly collegiate look that would pass muster on any Ivy League campus.Proper ClothThe Clark Oxford Cloth Button Down ShirtThe Clark shirt is one of Proper Cloth's best selling shirts thanks to its beefy Oxford cloth material, bewilderingly good construction (felled seams, split yoke, unfused placket, shanked buttons), and near-perfect fit. For $125, you cannot get a better Oxford shirt. But you have to be willing to wait because every shirt is made to order and will take a couple weeks to get to you. If you can remember to think ahead and have some patience, it’s well worth the wait.RubatoClassic Striped Oxford R ShirtSwedish brand Rubato crafts its R Oxford less traditionally, but it’s no less an Oxford because of it. It might eschew the conventional button-down collar, but thanks its super-tight blue stripes, button cuffs, and a fitted body designed to look good tucked or untucked, it skews decidedly old-world. The real clincher though, is the fabric, a 100% Sea Island cotton so soft we keep trying to pet our computer screen.Sid MashburnSpread Collar Roxford Dress ShirtWith a nerd-satisfying 22 stitches per inch, troca shell buttons, and other refined details, you’d be forgiven for thinking this shirt was made on Jermyn Street, famed for its shirtmaking history. But Sid’s shirts are proudly made in Honduras which makes them a great value compared to the British alternative.Todd SnyderPinpoint Oxford ShirtTodd Snyder's lightweight Oxford shirt takes the OG and makes it even more casual, a perfect piece for layering over a graphic tee thanks to its relaxed fit and feather-light cotton fabric.What to Look for in a Great Oxford ShirtThe quality of an Oxford shirt comes down to the fabric, construction, fit, and collar. They’re a distinct kind of button-up that warrants its own buying guide separate from dress shirts. Why? There’s so much history behind the style and the fabric.FabricOxford cloth is beefier than a typical dress shirt fabric with more texture and thus has a more casual quality befitting of rumpled chinos and sneakers, territory most dress shirt fabrics would feel absolutely out of place. Seph Skerritt, CEO of Proper Cloth, says “You can think of it as a tougher, more durable and more casual cousin to the pinpoint dress shirt.” The cotton yarns are thicker than broadcloth, twill, and poplin, so the hand is noticeably less fine. The heftier material means a high-quality Oxford cloth is more durable and can even last as long as a decade.ConstructionConstruction-wise, you should typically look for the same sort of details as you would with other dress shirts. Clean stitches, felled seams, buttons properly sewn with shanks, and reinforced at the side seams. High-quality Oxford shirts will also feature a split yoke which is the panel that spans the shoulders and is cut on the bias to give the area natural stretch for ease of motion.FitFit is subjective, of course, but you want to make sure that the shoulder seams line up with your natural shoulders, if not a little below for a relaxed fit. The chest shouldn’t pull, but shouldn’t feel like a potato sack. As for the body, this is more or less subjective and delves into the kind of silhouette you’re after, but if the fabric is pulling around the buttons, your shirt is too tight. And, depending on whether you like to tuck, should be long enough.CollarOxford cloth shirts can come in any variety of collars, but the most common are button-down, spread, and point collars. Big menswear nerds will obsess over finding the perfect collar roll, a detail found in the golden age of Ivy style by the likes of Brooks Brothers and J.Press.How We Assessed the MarketOxford shirts are near and dear to our hearts. They’re classic, versatile, and durable—true staples that every guy should have. So we had opinions on what we wanted out of them. It all starts with the star of the show—the titular fabric. The Oxford cloth has to be meatier than the average dress shirt and with some noticeable texture. They should ideally be able to rumple more than crease and wrinkle.From there, we looked for Oxfords that are well-constructed with beautiful buttons and, crucially, handsome collars. And because you can be surprised no matter how much you’re paying, we looked at Oxfords in all price points to find the best ones regardless of the tag.So we looked to the seasoned veterans that built the Oxford’s reputation as well as the newcomers that are pushing it into the 21st-century as well as the runway designers that have let their imaginations run wild.How We Test and Review ProductsStyle is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.How We Make These PicksWe make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)