Whether it’s for work or a wedding, nothing makes a man feel smarter than pulling on a crisp shirt, especially when it’s box-fresh and freshly ironed.
But there are so many styles to choose from, from short- and long-sleeved to smart and casual (smart-casual, anyone?!), not to mention the variety in prices and labels. Plus, it’s hard to keep up with so many different iterations being sent down the runway – what’s hot this month often is not the next.
Who couldn’t use a guiding hand to point us in the right direction? An expert to help navigate shelves and websites bursting with different fabrics and cuts, and separating those long-term investment pieces from the fast-fashion fads.
Read more: How to nail smart casual for the office
Callum McCall, co-founder of menswear brand Flax London, says: “Increasingly, the consumer mindset is about buying better things, less often. As a shirtmaker, that’s exciting because it allows us to focus on impact, provenance and quality across every stage of making a shirt. We can invest time and energy into sourcing the very best fabrics, made in an environmentally and ethically conscious way, that will only get better with time. There’s never been the same breadth of fabrics and depth of quality as we see in today’s market.”
Good news indeed for us gents. Here, we round up the best shirt brands for men, from independent labels to fashion powerhouses and high-street heroes. It’s time to get shirty.
Best High Street Shirt Brands
Sunspel
Price: ££
My hero piece: linen navy stripe shirt: £175, sunspel.com
With commitment to quality fabrics, timeless designs and meticulous craftsmanship, Sunspel is a firm favourite for men’s wardrobe staples. The brand’s understated style, impeccable fit and attention to detail make every shirt feel polished and effortless.
Buy now, Sunspel
Arket
Price: ££
My hero piece: Relaxed linen shirt, £65, arket.com
Arket's shirts will work harder than any others in your wardrobe. Whether you wear them to work or on the weekends, there's a great selection of smart-casual heroes which can be easily dressed up or down. The best part? Everything by the Scandi label is designed to last, so these are button-ups you'll wear for years to come.
Buy now, Arket.com
Cos
Price: ££
My hero piece: Oxford cotton pull over shirt: £65, cos.com
For elevated shirting on the high street, Cos is your best bet. The Stockholm-inspired, London-based label is known for premium fabrics and boxy silhouettes, and it all looks and feels expensive. There are evening-ready silk shirts, laid-back Oxfords, utility-inspired options and heavy-duty overshirts. All bases covered.
Buy now, Cos.com
Gap
Price: £
My hero piece: Striped shirt, £40, gap.co.uk
Though Gap has always been known for its quality basics, since Zac Posen took the helm in early 2024, the menswear offering has gone up a notch – shirting, included. From a simple white button-up that’s cut to the perfect relaxed fit to an autumnal checked flannel, these are shirts you’ll reach for every morning. Now all you need is the denim to match.
Buy now, Gap.co.uk
Charles Tyrwhitt
Price: £
My hero piece: Olive green shirt, £74, charlestyrwhitt.com
A familiar name on the high-street, and a favourite among young professionals, you can always count on Charles Tyrwhitt to have you covered. Quite literally, with a wealth of shirts in their wardrobe, from work shirts for meetings, to tuxedo shirts for special occasions, and linen shirts for easy, breezy days. Quality and fit aside, they’re known for options, so expect plenty of ‘em in terms of collar, cuff, size, fit and style.
Buy now, Charlestyrwhitt.com
M&S
Price: £
My hero piece: Camp-collar shirt, £40, marksandspencer.com
From their food to their fashion, say what you like about Marks, but you can never argue its quality isn’t up there with the best.
The same goes for the men’s shirts, which have moved with the times to offer quality but real variety for the younger generation, too. Now replacing a sea of soulless white shirts is a curated collection of contemporary styles for the modern man.
Home or away, work or play, there’s something to suit.
Buy now, Marksandspencer.com
T.M. Lewin
Price: ££
My hero piece: Washed twill shirt, £20, tmlewin.co.uk
Summer weddings. Work soirées. Weekends in a sunny beer garden.TM Lewin has rightfully become a tried-and-trusted source for shirts with men across the land. Their styles stick to what they do best – traditional tailoring and classic colours – and we thank them endlessly for it.
The range spans formal, casual and dress from slim to regular fits, so there’s always something for everyone, while their signature non-iron shirts have become a saviour to many.
Buy now, Tmlewin.co.uk
Best Lesser Known Shirt Brands
Luca Faloni
Price: ££
My hero piece: Brushed cotton shirt, £175, lucafaloni.com
If you’re into the Italian Riviera look à la Talented Mr. Ripley, Luca Faloni is the brand for you. The collections pair impeccable craftsmanship (with everything handcrafted in Italy) with premium fabrics and modern design. Think lightweight knitted polos, linen shirts, relaxed tailoring and well-fitting chinos – perfect for the well-dressed gent on holiday.
Buy now, Lucafaloni.com
Wax London
Price: ££
My hero piece: Didcot short-sleeve, £125, waxlondon.com
Wax London is an expert in the shirting game. Every piece is thoughtfully designed using sustainably sourced fabrics – their signature overshirts, for example, are crafted from French upholstery fabric sourced from an independent family-run mill. Dressed up or down, they’re a staple in any man-about-town’s closet.
Buy now, Waxlondon.com
Percival
Price: ££
My hero piece: Hinsley shirt, £140, percivalclo.com
Percival’s MO is designing menswear classics with a twist. With a starry fanbase including Tom Holland, Chris Evans, and Andrew Garfield, it’s perfect for understatedly fashion-conscious guys. It could be a simple linen shirt given a beachy upgrade with embroidery or simply a textile with an unusual texture or print. Either way, these are interesting pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
Buy now, Percivalclo.com
Best Mid Range Shirt Brands
Gant
Price: ££
My hero piece: Striped shirt, £140, gant.co.uk
If you like your shirting with a side of prep, look no further than Gant. A Scandi brand which takes its style cues from Ivy League nostalgia, its collections are supercharged with a collegiate aesthetic – think classic Oxford shirts and college-inspired crests. Amp up the look with denim, loafers and glasses à la Tom Ripley.
Buy now, Gant.co.uk
Lee
Price: £
My hero piece: Denim shirt, £70, lee.com
For lived-in denim shirts, there are few emporiums finer than Lee, the designer brand famed for the much-loved, universally flattering material. Their Western Overshirt is a case in point, inspired by traditional workwear but updated with a more relaxed silhouette, creating a staple for any man’s wardrobe that can be worn by itself or layered. Elsewhere, their shirts cover everything from flannel to Western and resort, meaning there really is something for everyone.
Buy now, Lee.com
Mr Porter
Price: £ - £££
My hero piece: Orlebar Brown, £395, mrporter.com
Mr. Porter is home to to countless designer brands, stocking luxury labels like Loewe, Jacquemus and Louis Vuitton as well as more accessible brands like Carhartt and Portuguese Flannel. Better yet, one of their best labels is actually their own, Mr P, which offers menswear with modern silhouettes and luxurious fabrics at its heart.
Buy now, Mrporter.com
Best Designer Shirt Brands
Ami
Price: £££
My hero piece: Boxy shirt, £220, amiparis.com
Whether you recognise Ami from the latest season of Emily In Paris or the brand’s iconic heart logo, it’s a label every guy should flex in their wardrobe. The entire collection is Parisian nonchalance at its finest. We’re talking simple Oxford shirts. We’re talking classic button-ups crafted using premium fabrics. Entirely wearable yet expertly elevated.
Buy now, Mythersa.com
Paul Smith
Price: £££
My hero piece: Polka-dot, £295, paulsmith.com
Launched with a mission to foster curiosity and creativity, it’s no surprise that the Paul Smith label has become known for statement shirts, from ornate patterns to signature stripes. Better still, as everything is still overseen by the eponymous British designer, you can expect the same expert tailoring and luxurious materials that first put PS on the map more than 50 years ago.
Buy now, Paulsmith.com
Polo Ralph Lauren
Price: £££
My hero piece: The Ralph camp-collar, £185, ralphlauren.co.uk
American designer Ralph Lauren has rightfully become the king of the preppy aesthetic and it’s largely down to his range of classic shirts for men. Whether short- or long-sleeved, patterned or plain, what unifies them is the embroidered and distinctive logo above the left breast. Men love them because they say something about who they are – even if they’re not thudding around on horseback in the Hamptons every weekend – and women love them before they can borrow them last minute and still look effortlessly put together.
Buy now, Ralphlauren.co.uk
Jacquemus
Price: £££
My hero piece: Denim pyjama shirt, £480, jacquemus.com
Jacquemus’ shirting makes its way onto our wishlist season after season - and the current collection is no exception. Ranging from statement printed styles to understated blue and white stripe staples, the Parisian fashion house caters for everyone.
Buy now £460.00, MyTheresa
Read more: A menswear expert’s guide to the best high street brands worth your money
