What are your favorite soft button-down shirts?

Gigi

In Aziraphale's recent post on button-downs (here), a lot of posters noted that they like button-downs if they are of a lightweight, soft material. I would like to get some button-downs because I don't have any, except for a heavier-weight one suitable for conservative office wear. So I am wondering if you would share what your favorite lightweight, soft button-downs are.

10 years ago

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Gigi, H&M's collection LOGG has great ones made of very soft, lightweight cotton in both short and long sleeves. It's standard model (or models, depending on season) which features new patterns every year. It can be anything from plain colours, to stripes, polkadots, plaid, even florals. They are inexpensive and also casual, but can be dressed up.

I have s few short sleeved ones (white one here, red one outfit #4) and they are my summer workhorses. Because of the material the collar on the long sleeved ones is not as stiff collar as I'd like (I don't mind it on short sleeved version) so I don't have any and I have missed out on some really nice ones over the years, PPP gets in the way.

10 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I have a men's denim role tab sleeve button up that I live in from the GAP I love it.

10 years ago

Makrame

Veteran

JCrew silk-cotton shirts.

J.Crew

Lattice medallion popover

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10 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

As I mentioned on that thread, I love GAP's 'shrunken' and 'fitted' boyfriend shirts. Very soft and lightweight 100% cotton. They wash and wear great, I just hang to dry and don't need to iron them. I have been impressed with the quality and attention to detail on these shirts. They come in petite, regular and tall. I buy them once they are on sale and then have the additional sale codes on top.

10 years ago

Anonymous

The Gap fitted and Shrunken BF shirts are a light soft cotton. I also like their Oxford shirts for a thicker soft shirt.

Banana Republic soft wash shirts are nice also.

10 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a few, across the casual-to-dressy and budget spectrum. Equipment silk shirts rate high, for me, but Nexx and Vince Camuto have made some nice copies that look very similar.

I also like the JCrew shirts makrame mentions, and I found a couple of nice cotton blend soft fluid shirts at Lucky Brand a couple of years ago that are casual but so comfy and can even go without ironing.

I'm also a big fan of those Tencel fabrication chambray shirts. I have a great on from Club Monaco and one from Trouvé a few years ago.

10 years ago

Jules

Veteran

I like the Gap ones too, but they do usually require ironing for me (and I'm not super anal about wrinkles). They might do ok in the dryer though.
In a cute pattern, with rolled skinnies or long shorts and flats, these are a FFBO uniform for me.

10 years ago

kkards

Veteran

I have jcrew cotton button downs that I like, for me the key was sizing up. The shirts are 2 sizes larger than I wear in their blazers.

10 years ago

Karie

(website)

Veteran

My current favorites are the Gap BF shirts. They have lots of nice patterns to choose from. J.Crew button downs are also very nice.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like my silk shirts for "soft" -- I have one by Equipment, one from Ann Taylor, and one from J. Crew.

I also an older cotton-linen button up from BR that works well (it is quite fitted, though, as an older style). And a cotton-linen blend from J. Crew, one of their BF shirts.

10 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I like silk or silk-cotton blend best. Don't have a particular brand in mind though .
My liberty shirt from j crew is very light and soft cotton. It's the "Perfect Shirt" style but note that I had to size up TWO sizes to get it to fit since j crew doesn't seem to believe in curves.

10 years ago

Golden

Veteran

I like gap, and some j crew but equipment silk is so nice! I try to find on sale!

10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My clients like Gap, J.Crew and Equipment.

10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh yes. Anthropologie is always worth a look too.

10 years ago

deb

Veteran

Last year I purchased several Old Navy lightweight cotton shirts and wore them all summer. They were inexpensive and figured I would use them for gardening but they became my favorites. I am wearing them again this summer and loving them all over again.

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Old Navy

Women's Linen-Blend Shirts

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Old Navy

Women's Patterned 3/4-Sleeve Shirts

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Old Navy

Women's Lightweight Printed Shirts

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10 years ago

Marley

Veteran

If you want silk - I can't recommend enough the Equipments. I stalk them on eBay and get new-with-tags for really great prices.
For cotton and cotton-blends I love Banana Republic's. I have one from several years ago that I've worn to death and it is still in great shape. I also bought a couple earlier this summer and love them too. The patterned ones seem to be a thinner fabric than the solid colored ones - and they also run a bit smaller than the solid colored ones do. I always size up a size in order to get a fluid fit.
Also - love GAP's. Fun patterns and easy wash and wear!

Nordstrom

Equipment 'Adriana' Silk Shirt

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Banana Republic

Soft-Wash Utility Shirt

$64.50 $59.99

Sale

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10 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Marley, I went to the BR website to check out your find, and one of the reviewers said that the fabric of the shirt didn't drape nicely and was kind of stiff. Is that the case? Also, do you size up even in the solid ones, which you said run larger than the patterned ones?

I like how everyone pretty much likes the same retailers for the shirts. That makes things easy for me.

10 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Gigi, just wanted to add,and this is just my 2 cents,but I find the no iron shirts to be less comfortable . I think what ever they use to make them not wrinkle also makes them move less.

10 years ago

Marley

Veteran

Hi Gigi! Sorry that I wasn't clear about the sizes that I get! I size up in the patterned BRs and get my regular size for the solid ones. As far as the softness goes (and drape) I'm fine with it - but I do always throw them in the wash before wearing them for the
first time. I'm sure that that softens them and makes them more drapey. I don't like the BR non-iron ones. They are too stiff and shiney to me. I do have one of the J Crews as well. In my opinion they are softer and more drapey - but the fabric seems thinner to me than the BRs. So it really just depends on personal preference!

10 years ago

Anonymous

Yeah the only BR ones I have kept are the 'soft wash' ones. The non-iron I found too stiff for me.

10 years ago

Laura

Active Member

Just beware: the J. Crew silk/cotton blends wear out fast. The ones in 100% cotton are much more durable.
Hope this helps.

9 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Nordstrom seems to have some every season in their house brands, like Caslon and Halogen. Sometimes drapey equals semisheer, though, especially in the lighter colors.

9 years ago

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

I have a ton of White House/Black Market silk shirts for work in the
Summer. They do a signature color every season. I also have a plaid silk Equipment that I'm loving, though at several times the price. Recently I bought a couple of Loft softened cotton shirts that feel wonderful and they're having sales right now.

Loft

Colorblock Tunic Softened Shirt

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Nordstrom

Equipment 'Slim Signature' Silk Shirt

$258.00 $154.80

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Loft

Tunic Softened Shirt

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9 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Dashielle, I was just on the WHBM website today and saw a silk shirt that I like...good timing! It's a little pricey, though. I am thinking about whether to take the plunge.

White House Black Market

Petite Long Sleeve Silk Front-Pocket Blouse

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9 years ago

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I just added two Caslon collared shirts from Nordstroms and a white print with tiny letters from Old Navy to my closet. All are soft, but not drapey like silk or chiffon would be. Evan though I bought them to layer under sweaters, I am pleased that they are not sheer, even though light weight.

I also have a couple from JCPenney from a couple years ago. They have been workhorses, and seem to have become uniform ingredients for me lately.

Here's a suggestion similar to one I just bought, and I may order this one too!
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ca.....ltback=637

Do you want shirts to wear with office jackets? Under sweaters? Collared or placket style?

9 years ago

Anonymous

This year I bought 2 polka dot non-iron cotton ones from Lands End, one tencel shirt from J Jill that I stupidly shrank by accidentally putting it in the dryer, one soft printed floral chambray shirt from Loft, and two striped silk/cotton blend shirts (that have fold over cuffs) from Pendleton.

I just ordered a denim blue tencel shirt from Lands End to replace the one I shrank, and a sunlight yellow color tencel easy shirt + matching tank + coordinating scarf from J Jill are on back order.

9 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

cjh, thanks for the link and suggestions! I am looking for lightweight collared button-downs to wear under sweaters and then some nicer button-downs (silk or rayon, collared or not collared OK) to wear on their own (dressier shirts).

By placket style, do you mean having a placket that covers the buttons? I don't know that I have a big preference either way. But I'm not a big fan of obvious buttons.

My biggest problem is that I have to wear very small petite sizes, so I'm pretty limited as far as selection goes. It's a pain in the you-know-what! But Caslon at Nordie's offers lots of petite versions, so I'll keep an eye out.

bettycrocker, I used to love J. Jill, but I am now sized out. I hope you enjoy your backorder when it arrives.

9 years ago

cjh

(website)

Veteran

By placket, I meant half placket, like the second one in Deb's examples. But after looking it up, I found placket is usually defined to be the extra layer of fabric under the buttons or button holes as I usually think of on a man's shirt, including those which button down the entire front.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Gigi, if you find really nice shirts that fit, please let me know. I have a DD who is an XS petite. I need to find her a nice white shirt that's well made, feels soft against the skin, and doesn't cost a fortune.

9 years ago

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