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This season, push all the right buttons.
By Avidan Grossman and Michella Oré
If you spent the better half of this morning haplessly googling “casual shirts for men”, it’s probably time to refine your search. In part, that’s because “casual” is a term of frustratingly imprecise nature. Casual relative to what, exactly—and according to whom? An Oxford-cloth shirt with a button-down collar might feel more casual than, say, a gingham dress shirt, but it’s the former we’ve been wearing most, often with our grooviest ties. (We don’t know who needs to hear this but...you’re better than the gingham dress shirt.)
The exasperating nature of your search also has to do with the fact that the very meaning of casual, especially as it pertains to the way we dress, has never been more in flux. These days, wearing a shirt at all—y’know, one with a collar and buttons—constitutes its own form of rebellion. And when you’ve spent the last eight quarters fielding emails in a rotation of ratty, threadbare tees, the shirts you once considered the height of casual cool likely feel downright stuffy in comparison.
Thankfully, we’ve been covering the button-up beat with the urgent attention it demands for years, making us uniquely positioned to answer all your hard-hitting questions about the best casual shirts for men. And answer ‘em we did, in the form of 23 pitch-perfect options you can get your hands on right this very minute.
Eager to learn more? Check out the rest of our culture-shifting shirt coverage here.
All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1/21
Alex Mill fine wale corduroy popover shirt
Throw it over a turtleneck, and you've got your wine-night-poetry-set look down pat.
2/21
Todd Snyder long-sleeve merino polo shirt
The worst-kept secret when it comes to staying warm and looking, like, 50% hotter in the process? It's this guy right here.
3/21
Our Legacy jassy hypnosis shirt
Put them in a trance with a button-up that looks decidedly of-the-moment retro, not dated.
4/21
J.Crew medium weight denim shirt
A denim shirt with a lil' extra weight so you can keep the Canadian tuxedo alive once winter hits.
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5/21
General Admission jacquard wool shirt
That traditional Scottish tweed will add level of dimension and refinement to even the most chilled-out look.
6/21
Uniqlo extra fine cotton broadcloth long-sleeve shirt
How do you straddle the line of casual office garb while still looking put together enough to nail an impromptu presentation? This shirt, right here.
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8/21
Stüssy cord zip shirt
Cold weather and buttons are a disastrous combination. Zip up this guy when it's freezing out and give your digits a break.
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9/21
ERL metallic checked-taffeta shirt
You're the gift this season, so dress like one.
10/21
Commes des Garcons grosgrain-trimmed checked shirt
The thick-trimmed pockets and hem take this shirt from pencil-pushing professional to plain old professionally cool.
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11/21
Corridor duck dye overshirt
Exactly what you want in an overshirt, from a brand on the nexus of the nice, normal clothing movement.
12/21
Levi's "Barstow" Western denim shirt
Yes, the goes-with-everything white whale of button-ups you’ve been chasing your whole life is out there, and its name is the denim shirt.
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13/21
L.L.Bean chamois flannel shirt
On the eve of its 100th birthday, L.L.Bean’s legendary chamois shirt—the unofficial uniform of East Coast dads lugging the toolbox out of the garage to fix that leaky faucet, dammit—looks better than ever.
14/21
Sondér "Cooper" overshirt
A thick wool overshirt is slickest way to stay comfortable this time of year, which is what casual is all about, right?
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15/21
Brooks Brothers classic fit original polo button-down shirt
Brooks Brothers helped introduce the Platonic OCBD, originally designed to prevent shirt collars from flapping around on the polo pitch, to the American masses. After all this time, the centuries-old brand still sets the standard.
16/21
Drake's check wool two-pocket work shirt
The London-based brand has been all about "relaxed elegance" since its inception in the late '70s, so you know you're in extremely good hands when it comes to any of its shirting selection.
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17/21
Everlane relaxed poplin shirt
If your idea of casual skews more “rooftop drinks” and less “park hangs”, a crisp poplin shirt will always serve you well.
18/21
Thom Browne tartan check shirt
Thom Browne's signature stripes might drum up the most buzz, but this cozy tartan shirt is a stellar example of what you get when the cheeky prepster takes on workwear.
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19/21
Wax London "Beck" rudgy shirt
Cut from organic cotton with the relaxed fit of your favorite striped button-up—and with the same inimitable polish.
20/21
RRL indigo denim workshirt
Slightly heftier than chambray but way more laid-back than regular ol’ cotton, denim in any form should be your foolproof ace in the hole when it comes to casual dressing.
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21/21
Gitman Vintage cotton/linen shirt
With a shirt this dynamic, your outfit will practically take care of itself (but if you're looking for a styling recommendation, tucking it into a loose pair of denim or some sturdy chinos is a great place to start).
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