SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS

A wardrobe staple transcends time and style

When it comes to versatile wardrobe staples, few items come close to the Oxford button-down shirt. Dressed up or down, in the workplace or an afternoon out, worn with a suit or jeans, its transcendent style will carry you far.

The Oxford traces its roots to Scotland, not England, as one would imagine based on its name. According to W.H. Shirtmakers, the Oxford’s origins stem from a mill trying to surpass its competition. It constructed four different shirts using different weave and warp techniques and named them after iconic universities – Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale. Out of the four designs, only the Oxford shirt has stood the test of time.

The original Oxford came with detachable collars and cuffs, which tend to show signs of wear and tear, to help extend the life of the garment and save money.

British polo players soon made the Oxford shirt essential to their uniform but noticed that during matches when the wind blew, the collars would flap in their faces. The problem was solved by sewing a button on each collar to fasten it securely. This version became known as the “Polo Collar Shirt.”

The shirt’s comfort and durability come from its distinct weave that’s made from two strands of thread woven in a basket weave pattern. The heavier the fabric, the less wrinkles, which makes the Polo ideal to include in your duffle bag for those summer travels!

Although commandeered by Ivy League schools and “prepsters” when it made its stateside debut, the Oxford’s classic style and adaptability soon made it a favorite for all. Today, most shirtmakers and clothiers offer at least one in each collection, while others have reinterpreted it in unusual colors and patterns.

Some of our favorites include…

J. Crew’s Broken-in organic cotton oxford shirt.

GQ magazine call’s Proper Cloth’s custom Oxford shirt the world’s best.

J.Press, the traditional men's clothier founded in 1902 on Yale University's campus in New Haven still offers its famous Oxford shirts, now in a variety of fits, colors and patterns.

Brooks Brothers’ Regent Regular-Fit American-Made Oxford Cloth Button-Down Dress Shirt has been a top seller since it was introduced in its stores in 1900.