Get Back to Basics With a White Button Up Shirt—Shop 30 of Our Favorites

The ultimate guide to white button ups, from classic Oxfords to oversized poplin blouses.

Get Back to Basics With a White Button Up Shirt—Shop 30 of Our Favorites

Similar to a great pair of jeans, a classic sneaker, or a basic tee, the white button up shirt is a wardrobe essential every closet should have. Whether it’s an office-ready oxford dress shirt, a relaxed button up, or a more inventive take on the poplin blouse, white shirting is a must-have no matter the season (or decade, for that matter). It’s one of those timeless foundation pieces that gets a ton of wear, which makes investing in one you love that much more important.

Take a billowing, longer button up, like Avenue’s version, to the beach and wear it open with a bikini for a crisp cover-up. Pair one, we like this classic from Theory, with a full-skirt à la Carolina Herrera for an elegant black-tie look that will never not look great. Or, wear it with all the other wardrobe staples—jeans, a blazer, and a pair of hoops—and there you have what is, essentially, a very chic outfit.

Given the garment’s versatility, there is an overwhelming assortment of options—fit, fabric, silhouette, and price are all considerations to bear in mind. Here, we’ve selected the best white button ups at every price and style. Whether you’re refreshing your wardrobe or simply in the market for a new white shirt (you can never have too many!), get back to basics with these 30 button ups.

Crisp Classics

These slim-fit poplin Oxford work shirts are a no-fuss style staple. Easy to tuck in, they’ll look just as good with jeans and flats as it will under a blazer.

Theory fitted shirt in good cotton

Everlane The Japanese oxford shirt

Nili Lotan NL shirt

Alex Mill Bobby shirt in paper cotton

J.Crew slim-fit stretch cotton poplin shirt

A.P.C. Gina shirt

Borrowed From the Boys

For a laid-back look, consider one of these oversized silhouettes. Layer it under a chunky knit come winter or wear it open over a swimsuit in the summer. With its loose, relaxed fit, the styling opportunities are endless.

Tibi classic shirting oversized shirt

Frame x Mejuri clean collared shirt

Gap big shirt in poplin

Totême oversized cotton-poplin shirt

Entireworld organic cotton giant shirt

Avenue Sienna shirt

All in the Details

The essential white button up shirt gets a stylish update, thanks to the addition of puffed sleeves, ruffled collars, contrast stitching, and more adventurous adornments.

Veronica Beard Gilan puff-sleeve button-down top

Christopher Esber cotton-poplin button-down shirt

Ganni cotton poplin blouse

Camilla and Marc Cedar relaxed shirt

Helmut Lang tie-detailed cotton-poplin shirt

Lafayette 148 Italian stretch cotton Carlson shirt

With the Band

No collar? No problem. Consider one of these menswear-inspired band collar blouses for a more minimal take on the white shirting style.

Cos bell sleeve fitted shirt

3.1 Phillip Lim the boyfriend shirt

Uniqlo oversized long-sleeve shirt

Equipment Tomassia button-up shirt

Wardrobe.NYC Release 05 band-collar cotton-poplin shirt

Anna Quan Amina gathered button-down shirt

The Poplin Alternative

Not all white button ups are created equal. In fact, these breezy soft linens, slick satins, and stretchy jersey options offer year round alternatives to the classic shirt.

Le Sirenuse Positano Sparrow linen shirt

Bite Studios organic silk-satin shirt

Leset Dylan stretch-jersey shirt

Grayson The Hero button up feathered flannel

Cuyana silk button down shirt

AYR The Poolside linen shirt

This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Madeline Fass