The 16 Very Best White Button-down Shirts for Women

Sizes: 00–16 | Fabric: Cotton | Design details: Chest pocket, curved hem, relaxed fit | Price: $

Everlane was the brand we heard about the most, with several of our panelists explaining that for the price, the quality of its button-downs is top-tier. This shirt is more affordable and slightly more square in shape than Ayr’s, with less drapey movement. (There’s a reason for that: It’s made from the same fabric Everlane uses for its men’s oxfords.) But the menswear influence simultaneously gives it a classic feel — and fit. Christiana Greene, owner of Bum-Cake Vintage, considers it a favorite for its oversize silhouette that isn’t so oversize that it gets in the way. (She suggests choosing your usual size.) Greene wears it in just about every way, including unbuttoned over lingerie and with high-waisted jeans. Lifestyle blogger Kristina Zias has also praised the shirt, because its looser fit makes it a good option for people with bigger busts. Even after doing a closet purge of old button-downs, she still kept this one around because its boxiness makes it versatile enough to look equally nice tucked in or left open. If you want a true men’s shirt, consider this Everlane oxford that Biz Lindsay, director of brand marketing at Harry’s, has two or three in rotation.

Sizes: 36–46 (equivalent to 0–16) | Fabric: Cotton (poplin) | Design details: Pointed collar, pleated front | Price: $$$

French label Anne Fontaine has made a name for itself by being the “master of white shirts,” according to stylist Jessica Cadmus of the Wardrobe Whisperer. These often feature a classic “trim and tailored” silhouette with an eye-catching detail or two — like three cuffs instead of one, Shakespearean ruffles, or puffed sheer sleeves paired with a Puritan collar. The Clodie is a favorite of hers for its slimmer, simple shape that’s “perfectly fitted and tuckable” with sleeves that end just at the wrists. It has miniature pleats all down the front that are meant to follow the curves of the figure. And though it’s subtle, that detail “distinguishes the shirt from a more basic white button-down,” she says.

Sizes: 0–24 | Fabric: Cotton | Design details: Chest pocket, crinkle fabric | Price: $

This J.Crew shirt was also recommended (along with the Everlane Relaxed Oxford) in our button-downs-for-bigger-busts story. J.Crew’s button-downs were cited as especially suitable for plus sizes, earning high marks for their classic fit that’s slightly longer with a little extra room throughout. Brand strategist and blogger Rachel Richardson recommends this one in particular because it’s slightly less traditional thanks to its crinkled, airy fabric. It’s more tailored than boxy, too, a style that Richardson sometimes has trouble finding. The longer length means she can tie the ends for a cropped shirt or do a half-tuck.

Sizes: XS–4X (with petite and tall options) | Fabric: Cotton | Design details: Spread collar, patch pocket, curved hem | Price: $

“If you have nothing to wear, reach for this and you do,” says content creator Nikki Apostolou of this Old Navy number that comes in at just under $40. “This is one of those pieces that works for any outfit.” Apostolou, who happens to be one of our go-to sources for our plus-size fashion coverage, praises the oversize fit that feels comfortably loose without entering baggy territory. Plus-size cuts have definitely evolved over the years, becoming better-fitting in the process, she explains, and this button-down is one such example. It’s effortless with its boyfriend design that’s meant to fall mid-thigh as opposed to the very top of the hips. She relies on the shirt for more casual days, but says it doesn’t take much to dress it up, and sometimes likes to wear a faux-leather bustier over it, too.

Sizes: XXS–XL | Fabric: Linen | Design: Looser fit, bust-flattering button placement | Price: $$$

The Eileen from Frank & Eileen (which actually launched with the mission to “reinvent the button-up for women”) is sustainably made in Mexico with linen woven in Italy. Stylist Grace Thomas points out that while the shirt is meant to have a relaxed fit, it’s not so loose as to look sloppy — there’s some structure in where the seams are placed. She likes “how it hangs on my body, always looks crisp, and makes me feel put together so simply.” As for other features, the Eileen has what the brand describes as “bust-flattering button placement” that’s a signature of its other button-downs to avoid boob gap. It’s also available in denim, flannel, cotton, voile, and jersey, if you’d like something other than linen.

Sizes: 2XS–2XL | Fabric: Linen and viscose | Design: Chest pocket, raglan sleeves, rounded hem | Price: $

Staci Brinkman, founder of Sips By, had been looking specifically for a linen shirt when she discovered this one. Aritzia’s Boyfriend Shirt is made from a combination of linen and viscose; Brinkman describes the fabric as lightweight, airy, and giving off “strolling-in-the-park vibes.” Even though it leans casual, it’s easy enough to dress up, too. When it comes to fit, “it’s the perfect balance of oversize but not too oversize,” Brinkman explains, though she suggests sizing down if you want it to hang a little closer to your body.

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Fabric: Silk | Design details: Concealed mother-of-pearl buttons, monogrammable (for an additional $25) | Price: $$

Since Equipment’s silk shirt is on the pricier side, I wanted to hunt down a comparable (and affordable) button-down. Stylist Erica Ball turned me toward this one — and her recommendation is especially notable because she also owns our best overall silk pick, so she can really speak to how the two compare. This option from LilySilk is made from a lighter silk. (The company uses the mulberry kind seen in Slip’s sleeping masks, which Cora Harrington, author of In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear, and Love Lingerie called out as high-quality without a high price tag.) It’s cut slightly slimmer than Equipment’s, making it more tailored to the body. And since the buttons are hidden, it resembles a tuxedo shirt, too. (You could also consider a less splurgy satiny button-down: Designer-slash-blogger Gabrielle Arruda backs a version from Zara for its “glamorous texture.” Though button-downs tend to have “business” associations to them, she points to the high-sheen style as one for evenings out or when you want your outfit to have some dramatic flair. But be warned: Zara items often sell out quickly.)

Sizes: XS–L | Fabric: Cotton | Design details: Oversize fit, Buttons at cuff | Price: $$

Strategist writer Erin Schwartz describes Baserange’s Ole Shirt as “lavishly oversize” — so much so that they double-cuff it for that rolled-out-of-bed look rather than having the sleeves shortened. What sold Schwartz on the Ole is that it has a pajama-y feel (the brand is especially known for its underwear and loungewear), but it’s still “so crisp you could crack an egg on it.” Schwartz tends to reach for it over all the other collared shirts in their closet.

(And if you’re already a well-established fan of the “lavishly oversize” look, note that I’ll be trying out Époque Évolution’s similarly billowing the White Shirt II for the next update of this story — check back soon to see how it compares.)

[Editors’ note: Baserange lists its prices in euros, so this is an approximation to American dollars.]

Sizes: 0–10 | Fabric: Cotton | Design details: Oversize fit, chest pocket, tunic-length | Price: $

Jane Birkin’s button-downs are the standard that Torie de Jong-Tilley, founder of Common Era jewelry, judges hers by. Though the Mango shirt she turned us onto is now out of stock, this version is practically the same, down to the placement of the chest pocket. De Jong-Tilley says her Mango shirt has a laissez-faire vibe that makes her feel like she’s channeling the French cinema star who is known for her effortless style. “It’s more like wearing your boyfriend’s shirt, but without the extreme length that men’s shirts have,” she says, adding that “it’s loose through the waist and [with] enough volume in the sleeves to make rolling them [up] look wonderful.” Though it’s designed to be slouchy, de Jong-Tilley got the shirt in her usual size for a not-too-bulky fit. The Mango shirt’s quality is even on par with her more expensive ones from Everlane, she says, with a lightness that works year-round over a swimsuit or with jeans.

Sizes: XXS–3X (with petite sizes in XXS–XL) | Fabric: Tencel | Design details: Patch pocket | Price: $

When Catherine Smart, co-founder of sauce-and-salad-dressing maker Not Just Co. appeared on Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street, the show’s producers requested that she wear a white shirt for the cameras (reminiscent of chef whites). This was the one she decided on. The structure of the collar and tailored shoulders satisfied her desire for a shirt that’s “giving creative professional” without being too fussy. A little draping along the waistline was another requisite for her, Smart says. Because spills were inevitable on the show, she had four of these shirts to rotate through while filming — and got to walk off the set wearing one. Post–Milk Street, that shirt is still a staple — most recently, Smart wore it on a friend’s boat knotted up and unbuttoned over her bathing suit.

Sizes: 0–14 | Fabric: Cotton | Design details: Long cuffs, side slits, French seams, grosgrain detailing, and pearl buttons | Price: $$

For a more exaggerated look, consider the Classic Six’s the Donna, featuring extra-long cuffs designed to hit past the wrist, closer to the center of your palms. It’s a favorite of style coach Kim Hancher, who likes her button-downs to have can’t-miss cuffs (like something French) for a bit of a playful touch. “It’s always fun to have an interesting detail on a basic, which a white shirt is,” she says. (The Donna also has convenient buttons on the cuffs that make it easy to double them up if you want them out of your way.) Though it’s a more tailored take than the more oversize options above, it’s designed with dropped shoulders and a “torso [long enough] that it stays tucked in.” Hancher explains that she usually has to size up to get that kind of length, but “then it’s big all over, which is sometimes a look I want, sometimes not.” According to Hancher, the proportions on this shirt are pretty much perfect, with a larger collar and nipped-in waist. “It’s just a white shirt, but it adds so much to every outfit that I wear it with,” Hancher says.

Sizes: XXS–XL | Fabric: Cotton | Design details: Point collar, dropped shoulders, oversized patch pockets | Price: $

Because Everlane’s button-downs were so beloved by our panelists, I asked the brand to send me this version of its Oxford shirt for review. It felt like a happy medium between the Relaxed and Way-Short already featured above, and after trying it, I’m fond of the boxiness — it billows out as opposed to following curves. So the silhouette is square-ish, not exactly oversize but definitely not fitted. (This was surprising since the shirt does have a similar texture to our top choice, Ayr’s Deep End.) But what impressed me most were the details that make this button-down feel quite distinguished: can’t-miss patch pockets, dropped shoulders with the seams, and a curved hem that’s cut out on the sides (seen here). These make the shirt seem more expensive than $88.