Sure, Mad Men served up sartorial inspiration aplenty, but our favorite came when Don Draper would open his bottom desk drawer at work after a night of philandering to reveal a stash of crisp white dress shirts.
Ahhhh, we bet that felt good.
Good outfits are like works of art, and a clean white dress shirt is one of the best canvases.
In this guide, we’ll break down what you need to know to find your perfect white dress shirt (or maybe even a drawerful). While it may not hide all your vices, it will might make them a bit easier to ignore.
From the best white dress shirts to buy to how to the differences between poplin vs. twill vs. oxford… we’ve got you covered.
Shop white dress shirts:
Here’s what you’ll find in this guide:
What’s the best material for a white dress shirt?
Shopping for the perfect white dress shirt can be every bit as painful as shopping for the perfect white paint.
There’s so much to choose from!
As with picking the right hue for your bathroom walls, the secret to shopping for the perfect white dress shirt is to keep things simple.
Stick to 100% cotton.
It’s going to be the most durable and the most breathable material by far. If you’re a pretty muscular guy, a little bit of stretch can be helpful, but no more than 2% of a stretch material. Why? Well, over time the plastics used to give fabrics stretch will break down faster than cotton, causing the broken fibers to poke out of the shirt.
But all cotton is not created equal!
Or, more accurately, all cotton is not woven the same.
Here’s a breakdown of twill, pinpoint, end-on-end, poplin, and broadcloth weaves of cotton:
What is twill?
Twill has a tight diagonal weave that results in a thick, substantial cloth.
This type of shirt is more substantial and sturdy, but won’t look as dressy.
What is pinpoint?
Pinpoint is woven with thinner threads than oxford cotton (which we’ll get to) for a resulting smoother hand.
What is poplin?
Poplin, sometimes called broadcloth, is a plain weave which means the threads alternately cross over and then under each other.
This results in a very smooth and durable fabric that has an almost silky hand feel, particularly with higher thread counts. Also, poplins look very crisp when ironed.
A cotton poplin shirt works well all-year round but really shines in summer.
Cotton is known for its light weight and comfort, but the plain over/under weaving technique used to create poplin dresses up this typically casual fabric, giving it a crisp look that feels silky to the touch.
Poplin’s weave also makes shirts less likely to wrinkle – but it is easy to iron if you did accidentally ball it up and throw it in the bottom of your closet.
What is broadcloth?
The traditional oxford is a basket weave where multiple weft threads are crossed over an equal number of warp threads.
The threads are usually of a single color, crossed with a white to give oxford its unique, checkerboard appearance. It’s a fabric that can be worn casually or professionally depending on the thread count and finish.
Ultimately, poplin and broadcloth tend to be the most widely-worn for dress shirts.
Why every guy needs a white dress shirt
Not all shirts with buttons up the front are formal enough to qualify as dress shirts. You probably have quite a few “sport shirts” that are more casual in your closet.
You know when to wear these: on the weekends, with jeans, shirt untucked. Pre-washed and, worn- in shirts, these shirts are comfy, and often stylish! But they don’t have the crisp look and feel of a dress shirt meant to be worn with a suit or suiting separates.
You don’t want to find yourself in need of a formal dress shirt and have to wear a rumpled sport shirt hanging in your closet, throwing off your whole “dressed up” vibe.
The versatility of a white dress shirt
A crisp white dress shirt instantly classes up any outfit.
Obviously it looks right at home with a suit, like the Todd Snyder look above, but it’s also the best dress shirt to wear with jeans when you want a classy yet casual look.
You can pair a white dress shirt with dark rinse jeans and white sneakers to instantly elevate a date night look.
A white dress shirt with grey dress pants and a navy blazer is a classic office look that shows you mean business without taking yourself too seriously.
How should a dress shirt fit
The fit of a dress shirt should be close to the body without being restrictive. Aim for enough room in your shoulders and sleeves to cross your arms with ease. When you stand still, none of the buttons should strain.
When considering the length of a dress shirt, know it should be longer than your casual shirts so that it stays tucked in (yes, this means it would look dumb with the shirttails hanging out…so don’t do that!).
You should be able to comfortably fit your index finger in the collar, and the sleeves should fall where the thumb meets the wrist.
Best style for a dress shirt
Plenty of cuff options exist, but for a classic, wear-it-everyday white dress shirt, button or “barrel” cuff is the way to go. It’s clean, simple, and you don’t have to buy extra hardware just to wear your shirt.
Make sure the cuffs fit around your wrists with enough room to fit your pinky or a nice watch. We’re more of a “cufflinks should be reserved for special occasions” rather than an everyday vibe, but hey. You do you!
When searching for the right fit always remember: as long as the neck fits, a tailor can fix a lot. Sleeves can be shortened and sides can be taken in with ease so don’t stress too much if you can’t find a perfect fit right off the rack.
What shirt collar is right for you
Here at SG HQ, we have a confession to make: men’s dress shirt collars are a bit of a mystery to women.
Just like you don’t fully appreciate the subtle – yet significant! – difference between the blush pink of Essie’s Ballet Slippers, versus the pink-y blush of Spaghetti Strap (yes, their real names), not all of us are totally clear on the intricacies of a point collar versus a cutaway.
But we do, of course, and we know the number of collar styles can get overwhelming, even for guys.
Are you sporting the right collar for your face and for where you’re headed? There are dozens of different kinds of collars, with styles for every imaginable occasion and face type.
Here are the five main collars to look for in a dress shirt:
Cutaway collar
A versatile collar, though it takes some confidence to pull off – it looks good as a solid or a print and can be dressed up or down. The cutaway collar is short and is best paired with a tie boasting a wider knot.
button-down collar
The button down collar is one of the more casual styles (and the one women most often call your shirts with buttons). It can be worn with or without a tie.
There are two buttons on each side of the collar that, as tradition dictates, should be buttoned at all times, though I feel that’s a bit of an old-fashioned view.
spread collar
The distance between the two points of the collar is spread further apart than other collars – hence the name.
This widespread collar enjoys widespread popularity, and for good reason.
A note on fit: a spread collar looks especially nice on men with narrower faces.
club collar
Originating in the 19th century, the club collar was worn by members of an exclusive club.
Years later this rounded collar is considered a more casual style and is often worn to play golf.
You can look like a bit of a dandy in this collar type, so if you’re going to go with it, proceed with caution and wear with care.
point collar
The forward point collar – or simply, the point collar – is considered a staple in the business world. It especially flatters men who have round faces because of the narrow opening.
Wear this style collar with a suit and tie or a sports coat.
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The shirt’s collar should be proportionate to your build and big enough to accommodate a tie.
There are a number of collar options available; your default best bet is going to be a spread collar shirt. It will look just as good with a tie as it will without one.
What about other kinds of shirts?
Every guy should have at least one white dress shirt – it’s basically the professional version of a plain white tee.
From there, you can start to mix things up when it comes to fabric, collar, cut, cuff and more.
Which means dress shirt shopping can be exhilarating or daunting, depending on how you feel about shopping.
Here’s a guide on how to incorporate more colors and patterns into your wardrobe, which (hopefully) is helpful to guys feeling option overload!
How to style a white dress shirt
SG Says: Don’t be afraid to let your accessories do the talking. We love a loafer (especially one with tassels!
SG Says: Given the more casual nature of this look, a sturdier white oxford shirt would be great here. Wear the bomber jacket open or only zipped halfway.
SG Says: Make sure to treat shoes like these before you go out in bad weather!
SG Says: This would be a great outfit for a summer-ready poplin white shirt. Tuck it in to show off a fun woven belt. Looking for more ways to wear your jean jacket? We’ve got you.
SG Says: Cuff the chinos and go sockless now, but add fun socks when it starts to get cooler.
Shop #SGApproved White Dress Shirt Picks
Because the white dress shirt is such a versatile and important staple in our wardrobe, it’s important to buy a high quality one.
Best poplin dress shirt
Ralph Lauren Purple Label Tailored Fit Poplin Shirt, $450
SG Says: Okay, yes, this Purple Label Ralph Lauren poplin shirt is a splurge at $450, but if you can afford it, go for it. If you’re looking for more of a ‘save’ than a ‘splurge,’ check out the more affordably-pried Polo version.
At $98, it’s considerably more affordable and also looks great.
Best pinpoint dress shirt
SG Says: We were psyched when The Tie Bar, purveyor of surprisingly affordable and even more surprisingly stylish ties, expanded into shirting.
Their pinpoint dress shirt, at just $55, is a steal at twice the price.
Best twill dress shirt
Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece Regent Fitted Dress Shirt, $128
According to Business Insider, this Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece style is the top of the tops.
Best oxford dress shirt
Todd Snyder Slim Fit Favorite Oxford Shirt in white, $148
SG Says: This is a sportier shirt, so feel free to dress it up with a suit or down with jeans and sneakers.