The photo above stopped me mid-scroll: Harry Styles, before his 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden, dressed in a big white shirt and smart tailored trousers. After a summer spent parked in front of three fans with ice packs on rotation, when wearing actual clothes felt like punishment, here was proof that normal service had resumed.
So, now the rain’s back and autumn’s creeping in, it’s time to follow Harry’s lead and reintroduce some structure to your wardrobe: coats, knitwear, tailoring, all the pieces that make you look forward to getting dressed in the morning. One staple that’s long overdue a comeback? Shirts.
The classic button-up is the shirting equivalent of a white tee – an all-rounder that will hold its own in almost any setting (and it’s perfect for the time of year when a coat’s overkill but a T-shirt’s optimistic). But that’s just one option. You’ve also got the French workwear shirt – the way I’ve seen guys wearing it lately, thrown over a shirt and tie, might be my favourite styling trick of the season – as well as flannels, corduroy, denim and preppy Oxfords.
Before you buy anything new, though, it’s worth raiding your own wardrobe. Shirts never really date, so there’s a good chance you’ve got some solid pieces already. If you do want something new, keep scrolling for the best shirts to buy this season – I’ve broken these down into 10 categories, with a few styling tips for each.
The best men’s shirts
The white shirt
You can’t go wrong with a white shirt. Keep it feeling laid back – poplin, relaxed fit, nothing too formal – and you’ll be able to wear it with almost anything. My go-to combination is blue jeans and black loafers.
Cos pima cotton poplin shirt
Muji men’s washed cotton long-sleeve shirt
The blue striped shirt
My personal favourite (I own nine): this is the white shirt’s more relaxed sibling that feels a touch more “weekend”. Same rules apply: avoid anything tight or dressy and wear it relaxed.
Uniqlo oversized Oxford shirt
Reiss lyocell stripe button-through overshirt
The corduroy shirt
Lightweight needlecord is the gold standard here – anything thicker tends to look stiff and bulky. With that in mind, it’s worth sticking to independent labels like Sunspel or Sirplus that put real thought into their choice of fabric. As this is the kind of low-key wardrobe investment you’ll wear for years, if you can, it’s worth spending a little extra to get it right.
Sunspel fine cord shirt
Sirplus olive needlecord collared shirt
The denim shirt
Double denim is still going strong this year – and Drew Starkey’s recent look in NYC is all the proof you need that it doesn’t need to match. Sure, his look is by Dior, but the pieces themselves look like an elevated version of what you’d find at the vintage shop. If you’d rather go matching – a proper Canadian tuxedo – take your jeans with you when you shop to coordinate the shade. Rokit is a good place to start.
Arket regular denim shirt
Charles Tyrwhitt denim shirt, ocean blue
The flannel shirt
Flannel is the ultimate autumn fabric: it’s cosy, but it won’t make you immediately start sweating the moment you step on public transport. You could go for a check, but it’s not compulsory – a plain, brushed version does the same job without the lumberjack affiliations. See Steve Martin making flannel look cool in the 90s. Just add a cap.
Universal Works brown brushed flannel square pocket shirt
Eton check flannel shirt
The boxy shirt
Paul Mescal’s never met a boxy fit he didn’t like – and, actually, neither have I. Nothing bunches, nothing rides up – it’s just a clean, straight, slightly cropped hemline that looks sharper than any tucked-in shirt could. The brand to know is Percival, which has a huge selection to choose from, but Asos or Weekday are your best bets for this style on the high street.
Percival Hinsley checked boxy shirt, blue
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Weekday boxy long-sleeved cotton poplin shirt
The evening shirt
Whenever you’ve got a dinner reservation at a restaurant with a dress code, this is the kind of shirt you’ll want in your wardrobe. Go for something silkier than your usual cotton – lyocell or viscose – which will drape nicely when it’s tucked in. The key is feeling louche rather than stiff: one button more undone than feels natural, plus a great aftershave.
Selected relaxed fit long-sleeved shirt
A Day’s March clean-cut lyocell shirt
The preppy Oxford
JFK Jr-coded preppy menswear is still going strong and the Oxford shirt is the piece that does the heavy lifting. Look for one with an embroidered logo from one of the OGs – Gant, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger – and you’re already on the right track. Keep the fit loose: anything too tight loses the whole off-duty Ivy League aesthetic.
Tommy Hilfiger regular fit button-down Oxford shirt
The work shirt
Vintage is the natural home for this one, though Service Works has the silhouette nailed down, too. Call it what you like – chore jacket, shacket, overshirt – the vibe you’re looking for is old-school French workwear. That means a soft, worn-in fabric with patch pockets low on the hem. Stains, paint splatters or distressed details are welcome.
Service works classic chore shirt
French Chore jacket men’s vintage workwear canvas shirt
The check shirt
Checks were a big part of Jonathan Anderson’s autumn/winter 2026 collection for Dior, so it’s no wonder they’re everywhere right now. The trick is keeping it refined: a microcheck (a small-scale check, rather than anything bold or tartan-y) is usually a safe bet; try to keep the colours to two or three, max.
NN07 Deon casual flannel shirt
Cotton On Richmond long-sleeve shirt
How should my shirt fit?
It depends on the occasion, but there’s one golden rule: never go for anything super-tight. Your shirt should always look comfortable and never pull; it’s better to hint at your physique rather than shout it, so skip the “muscle fit”. I think a relaxed fit looks way more stylish too, though if you’re wearing a dress shirt with a suit, it should sit closer to the body. If it’s too loose, it starts to look sloppy.
What is the staple shirt every guy should own?
An Oxford – it’s the most versatile one. Bar formal occasions, it’s an easy fallback that feels smart but never stiff – and it works all year round. Layer it up when it’s cold. Wear it loose when it’s warm. Buttoned up, it’s office-ready but thrown over a vest, it’s sorted for a date. If you want to lean casual, go for a shirt that’s oversized with a low-key embroidered logo – vintage Ralph Lauren is a great place to start. For style cues, check how Paul Newman wore his: relaxed and undone with a preppy edge.
Which other shirts should every guy have in his wardrobe?
Beyond a classic Oxford, a poplin shirt (white or striped) is your next everyday go-to, followed by denim, flannel and a fine corduroy once autumn properly sets in. For anything dressier – a dinner reservation or party, for instance – try something more flowy: viscose, silk or lyocell.
How do you choose fabrics that look and feel good?
On the whole, stick to natural fibres – cotton, linen, wool or silk. They come in different weaves and finishes (a cotton could be poplin, twill, Oxford or flannel, for instance) but natural fabrics tend to feel more expensive than synthetics like polyester or nylon. They breathe better, too (although silk is slightly less breathable than other natural fibres).
How do I make my shirts last longer?
As with most clothes, the number one rule is washing them as little as possible – most shirts can handle two to three wears before they need a cycle. In between, a spritz of fabric freshener (such as The Lab Co’s Signature fabric mist) and a good airing go a long way. When you do wash them, skip the tumble dryer and hang them up instead – it helps reduce creases and keeps their shape. Deal with stains the moment they happen. Once they’ve set in, it’s hard to shift them.
For more, read our guide to the best white T-shirts for men and how to buy secondhand clothes online that you’ll actually wear
Peter Bevan is a stylist and fashion journalist covering menswear, womenswear and beauty