Wardrobe Hero: 21 Button-Up Shirts for Everyday Dressing

Some people have a desert island dish they can’t stop thinking about; others a selection of records they would save in a house fire. For me, there are a few choice pieces in my wardrobe that I would feel naked (both figuratively and literally) without. And button-up shirts feature heavily on this list.

Anna Quan founder and designer Anna Hoang believes that while shirts might not be the star of the show, they’re certainly the quiet achievers of our wardrobes. “The ultimate silhouette is one that you get the most wear out of,” Hoang says. “For me, it’s a loosely cut style that isn’t too oversized but also not too fitted.”

But finding the Goldilocks of button-ups isn’t just about fit. Fabric plays a big part too. Cotton poplin is a classic for a reason, but more fluid materials can offer different styling options. Ana Piteira, the brains behind Blanca, lets the fabric steer the silhouette. “More structured styles, like in a cotton drill, lend themselves to being worn as a shacket or layering piece in the cooler months. But we also have quite breezy, almost sheer pieces in the collection. Looking for different fabrics allows us to offer more interesting textures and sometimes more vibrant colours,” she says.

Whether they’re boxy and oversized or silk-cut and fluid, there’s not much that a good shirt can’t do. Styled with jeans on the weekend, half-tucked into a pair of high-waisted pants for work, or worn layered over a slip dress, effortless is the word that springs to mind. These are the styles to shop now and wear for seasons to come.

21 of the best button-up shirts to shop

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