Top 5 Womens Button Up Shirts
A versatile button-down is a must for every wardrobe. This one, a favorite of stylist Kim Hancher, has a boxy shape and can’t-miss cuffs that hit past the center of your palm.
This Everlane shirt offers that perfectly oversized look without drowning petite frames. Its dropped shoulders and high slits make it easier to tuck in high-waisted pants.
1. Banana Republic Shirt
This shirt is as classic as it gets, and comes in a slew of colors. The slub cotton-modal fabric is super soft, breathable and feels very much like a traditional casual shirt (just way more comfortable than those you might wash in the laundry).
The collar is just fine for wearing a tie or not. The sleeves are long enough to roll up, and the cuffs have a cool contrasting lining. Plus, if one of the buttons breaks in the future it’s easy to replace, as the shirts are made with extra buttons sewn onto a tag inside the shirt.
The BR crew is standard fit, but there’s also the Camden Fit and Grant Slim Fit. Using the Shirt Detective search engine will help you find alternatives that fit your collar and arm length. To do that, select your fit preference and compare it to the chart below. Then select the option that matches closest. All the options are a lot cheaper than BR. Even more affordable are the shirts from Faherty, which sells in XS and is a brand with a great reputation for fit.
2. Eddie Bauer Ripstop Shirt
The Eddie Bauer Atlas Exploration is an adventure-ready shirt that can work for outdoor travel like camping or visiting USA National Parks. It has UPF 50+ sun protection and wicks moisture, which helps keep you cool and fresh on long hikes. The polyester and nylon material optimizes airflow to help you stay comfortable. Readers love the roll-tab sleeves, which allow you to easily adjust them based on the day’s activities. The shirt also looks good with jeans or chill dress pants for casual wear in town.
The fabric feels different on the skin than most shirts we tested, and it has a tight fit across the arms and yoke that limits arm movement. Its small pockets also restrict the movement of contents. We put it through sweat tests and found that the FreeDry wicking treatment didn’t keep it as dry as the Mountain Hardwear Canyon or Patagonia Sol Patrol II.
The shirts from this boho dresses brand are popular with TFG readers because they’re durable enough to last through multiple trips and adventures. They’re also versatile enough to work for a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and biking.
3. Riders by Lee Easy Care Blouse
As the temperature cools, consider a crisp cotton-poplin button-down with white pinstripes. It’s engineered to resist wrinkles, so you can wear it under your best women’s suiting or with dressy jeans and trousers on a weekend getaway. “The slim fit and straight hem will keep your look polished, even on your travels,” says style expert Torie de Jong-Tilley.
While cotton is a standard, some brands also offer stretch or linen-cotton blends that provide a more structured look and are often less expensive than silk. This one from Riders by Lee, which has can’t-miss cuffs that hit closer to your wrist, is the option recommended by Style Coach Kim Hancher.
If you want a soft, feminine version of the classic women’s button-down shirt, check out this blouse from Something Navy, which has a softer silhouette and a range of cheery shades. The design is meant to feel relaxed but polished, and stylist Iva Pawling says it’s a great option for casual days that don’t require any extra fuss. The slim silhouette looks nice with a lacy black bra peeking through, she notes.
4. Kule White Shirt
No closet is complete without a crisp white shirt, a wardrobe staple that can be dressed up or down for any occasion. This long-sleeve option by Kule is made with a lightweight, tissue-like 100% cotton that will keep you cool in warm weather. Its open scoop neck shows off your collarbone and looks polished yet casual.
If you’re looking for a shirt with a little more structure, this fitted button-up is a great option. With a boxy fit and long sleeves, it has a tailored look that is boho dresses ideal for a business casual look or paired with jeans for a night out.
Hayley Prokos is a senior commerce writer at Byrdie who combed through online reviews and talked to two experts (celebrity stylist Mickey Freeman and Emily Barnes, Stylist and Contributing Fashion Editor for Yoox Net-A-Porter Group) to find the best white shirts on the market. If you shop through ShopStyle, you can earn Rakuten Cash Back on your eligible purchases. Learn more about how to use this exclusive shopping service here.
5. Ann Mashburn Icon Shirt
Founded by a former fashion editor with a verve for classic clothing, Atlanta-based Ann Mashburn has built a slow and steady following for its crisp woven shirts for women that feel like men’s. This cotton icon blouse is a personal favorite: it’s a classic button down shape with a scaled-down point collar and slim cut – dead-simple and absolutely chic. The shirt comes in a luxe 40momme silk, which is heavier than your average cotton but still relatively lightweight and seasonless.
For the MTM shirting novice, this white button down from Sid Mashburn is a reliable option (though we think you’ll find Proper Cloth and Spier & Mackay to be much better). Made of soft, cotton twill and lined with grosgrain detailing, it features extra-long side slits for multiple ways to tuck and tie, as well as French seams and unique pearl buttons positioned at the bra-line. The oversized silhouette is perfect for layering over T-shirts, while the crisp paper poplin will look just as chic wrinkled as it does pressed. Plus, the company is a proud member of the Better Cotton Initiative.
