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Test Results Are In: The Best Oxford Shirt Under $100
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The white oxford shirt occupies a sacred space in the world of dressing. Whether you remember styling your Seventeen inspired prep-school look complete with a plaid skirt and jacket, preferred the menswear-cool of the 90s, or recall that moment you purchased your first “Ralph Lauren,” this style is part of all of our fashion journeys.
The university namesake shirt has come a long way since its Scottish 19th-century origins, and it’s no surprise, with its countless fabrics, cuts and styles, the shirt remains one of the most signature and versatile pieces in a woman’s closet.
Unfortunately, finding the perfect white button-down shirt isn’t always the easiest shopping mission. Too often, transparent fabric, pulling in the wrong place, or a shapeless form leaves us wondering if the oxford of today can stack up to its iconic heritage.
Our goal at Six to Sunday is to make it simple to find what you love. So we asked our stylists to recommend their top brands for the iconic oxford and tested each on a panel of three diverse women ages, 37 to 62, with body types ranging from size 4 to size 20.
Here’s the top choices that made each woman feel stylish, comfortable and provided the best fit. Spoiler alert: The brands that we fell in love with are not the ones you’ll expect.
We kept our criteria simple:
- Fit: Do you feel comfortable while wearing this style?
- Style: Do you feel confident and current in this style?
- Function: Does the product do what it says it will?
Best Overall:
Ministry of Supply Women's Aero Zero° Oversized Shirt
Best for Curvy Figures and Large Chests:
Ministry of Supply Women's Aero Zero° Oversized Shirt
Best Value & Style for Small Frames:
Mango Essential Cotton-Blend Shirt
Favorite Traditional Style:
Vineyard Vines Chilmark Relaxed Oxford Button Down
Ministry of Supply Women's Aero Zero° Oversized Shirt
Price: $98
Quality: Better than Expected
Fit: True to Size (Size down for a more fitted look)
Style: 4.3/5
Fit: 4.7/5
Function: 5/5
Pro: Made with 100% recycled material with a slight stretch, this take on the classic staple exceeded our Test Closet team’s expectations. Standout features include “beautiful” wrinkle-resistant fabric and a hidden bust button (diminishing all fears of the dreaded peek-a-boo moment). The slightly oversized fit and longer length worked well for various body types and styling, with one panelist celebrating the longer sleeve length for her taller frame.
Con: None that we could find!
Mango Essential Cotton-Blend Shirt
Price: $45.99
Quality: As Expected
Fit: True to Size
Style: 5/5
Fit: 5/5
Function: 5/5
Pro: Produced using soft, sustainable fibers, this shirt was a top choice due to its stylish details including midsection darting (without being too slim), a longer cuff, and a panel that masked the buttons creating a streamlined appearance. We love the fact that this shirt was made using sustainable fibers or processes and came in at such an affordable price point.
Con: This shirt is only carried in sizes 0-12 (we’re as surprised as you are) so it is only an option for smaller sizes.
Vineyard Vines Chilmark Relaxed Oxford Button Down
Price: $78
Quality: Better than Expected
Fit: Runs Small
Style: 4.3/5
Fit: 4/5
Function: 3/5
Pro: Made with 98% cotton and 2% lycra, this oxford presents quality, thick wrinkle-resistant material that our Test Closet team appreciated. Between the brand’s whale insignia on the left pocket and traditional, yet still relaxed tailoring, the shirt was described as a great “work" piece.
Con: The Vineyard Vine pocket logo was a “no” for some women, while the tailoring - straight in the front and slightly curved in the back - left our Test Closest testers feeling underwhelmed in the stylish category.
Honorable mention: Best for Petites
UNTUCKit: Wrinkle-Free Stretch Cotton Bella Shirt
Price: $78
Quality: Better than Expected
Fit: True to Size
Style: 4/5
Fit: 4/5
Function: 3/5
Pro: UNTUCKit made a name for itself first in the men’s market. Since then, UNTUCKit has expanded to include women’s styles, and we looked forward to testing this lesser known brand. With its thicker, wrinkle-resistant fabric blend (cotton, polyester and elastane), nice stretch, and slimming darts, our Test Closet team thought the shirt stood out in quality, comfort and style. Intended to be worn “untucked,” this shirt was a favorite pick from our shortest panelist.
Con: All three Test Closet women noted the shorter length of this shirt, with our taller team members finding it too short for their liking.
What about the classic retailers?
Surprisingly, the classic oxfords offered by J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Everlane were met with mixed reviews among our team. Overall, the message was that there was “nothing special” about the styles. At worst, some received ranks for being “poorly fitting” for less “standard” body types.
Tips from Our Consumer “Test Closet” Team:
- Look for styles with at least 2% elastane. Elastane offers stretch that increases comfort and a good fit while also helping to hold a shirt's shape.
- Longer lengths provide the best versatility. A longer cut allows women of all sizes the option to wear it untucked, extra midsection coverage, and gives the illusion of a longer silhouette. Shorter cuts that hit at the top of the waist can cut the torso short and draw more attention to your midsection.
- Details matter. Unique details made a big difference for our test team. Hidden buttons at the breast or collar, longer cuffs, and thoughtful darting not only are practical but also offer a more stylish appearance!
All products featured on Six to Sunday are independently selected by our editors and contributors. We may get paid commissions on products purchased through our links to retailer sites. However, we recommend products based on our independent research and point of view, and the decisions we make regarding the products we feature on our site are always driven by what we believe our community will love, first and foremost.
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