Comfortable button-up shirts
Hi, I read the Beginner shirt guide v2.0, but I still need some more help, if that's okay!
Most of the button-up shirts I've found have at least one of two problems:
#1: If it's a plain white shirt, it'll be too see-through. It makes me feel naked lol.
#2: The material is... not super comfortable. Whether it be 100% cotton or a blend, it just doesn't feel nice on my skin. Maybe I'm not getting the right type of weave? I want something that feels like a t-shirt, basically. A basic Hane's t-shirt feels 100x better than any dress shirt I've worn.
Any suggestions or help would be great. Thanks!
14 Replies
What was the brand and cost of the shirts you've tried?
A good cotton button up shirt should feel nice, but it won't ever be as stretchy or soft as a tee.
Are you wearing it with an undershirt?
I've briefly looked for those, but didn't know which brand to try. Although I agree that jersey knit would probably be good
I've tried stuff from cheap places but also nordstrom and brooks brothers. Not the most expensive stuff either, but yeah.
It's possible to get dress shirts made from knit/jersey fabric, but I'm guessing they are pretty awful unless they are very expensive.
I would suggest wearing an undershirt. Is your skin particularly sensitive?
I stand corrected. Charles tyrwhitt has some jersey cotton shirts
Yes, I'm fairly sensitive and I also sometimes like not wearing undershirts.
Oh, great! I'll check it out, thanks.
I actually can't find any Jersey knit button downs from Charles tyrwhitt 🤔
are you looking for casual shirts or does your office have a dress code?
Polos are made of pique fabric which can feel like tee jersey - lady white co makes a pique button down long sleeve that might be up your alley
You should be aware that fabrics like oxford, flannel, denim, chambray, needlecord, and even some twills are supposed to feel a little rough at first, and are meant to soften when you wear them over time - the initial roughness is not an indicator of low quality.
Finally, you should know that if you have a more formal dress code to meet, while jersey dress shirts exist, the clash in formality between the material and cut is imo pretty obvious and wouldn’t be my recommendation unless they’re the very last option. Those lady white button downs (or Kent Wang long sleeve polos) would be a better place to start and should suit smart casual / bizcaz dress codes
Chambray and denim shirts can feel very soft if prewashed. Corduroy, chamois, and flannels are good options for cooler weather, they are all quite soft and cozy
@closedbookexam thank you very much for all this info. I was looking for both casual and formal options. Let me check out some of your recommendations first. Thanks!
Yeah you’ve got a lot of casual options. Formal I’d start with those kent Wang long sleeve polos as opposed to a jersey dress shirt
Also, it's hard to explain because I don't necessarily mind "rough" textured shirts. Like... textured is okay. I guess I find most dress shirts to be too stiff and... scratchy?
J crew has some polos in a tee shirt fabric that’s quite soft
Oh, and I totally forgot to mention that I kinda need them in tall sizes, too... :x
There are some dress shirts I can't even tuck into my pants
Used to wear them all the time
Pique Jersey Shirt - Sky | Charles Tyrwhitt
Buy our Pique Jersey Shirt - Sky exclusively from Charles Tyrwhitt of Jermyn Street, London. Available for international delivery.
Yeah...it's possible to get a jersey dress shirt that looks like a traditional dress shirt and doesn't look informal in any way, but it's going to be expensive. (My wife has a custom tailored shirt made from a really amazing jersey fabric. It was a special fabric that cost extra)
Thank you so much!