The 22 Best White Dress Shirts for Cleaning Up Nice (2024)

Van Heusen—a New York-based company named after John Manning Van Heusen, a Dutch immigrant who invented a way to fuse cloth together—is one of the bigger players in the affordable dress shirt game. And there's a good reason its wares are so popular. This slim-fit white dress shirt, for example, is made of four-way stretch fabric that allows for maximum movement. The material is also quick-drying and doesn't require an iron, which makes it ideal for traveling.

Calvin Klein, the brand that ushered in minimalism in the '90s, continues to offer options that stay true to this ethos: styles with very little adornment that focus on sharp, flattering cuts. Over the years, the label started to engineer garments that prioritized function as much as form—including this slim-fit white dress shirt that's enhanced with moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant fibers.

Bonobos is an obvious go-to for most things menswear, and when it comes to the finer things, it still prevails as a superior option. At a very reasonable price, this white dress shirt is a simple, versatile classic that you can wear on its own, or with a tie, or with a suit jacket, or all of the above. Plus, it's quite stretchy, so you won't feel restricted in movement.

The mighty J.Crew: We've pretty much already said all there is to say about this giant in the world of retail. From shirts and suits to board shorts and shoes, the brand's classic pieces, regardless of the trend du jour, are all-around best-sellers. And topping the list is the Ludlow, a slim suit introduced in the early 2010s (by then-menswear designer Todd Snyder) that, more than a decade later, has expanded to a full range of products and become the stylish professional's go-to. This dress shirt from the line, in 100 percent cotton with a streamlined French placket and subtle point collar, more than lives up to the Ludlow reputation.

A crisp white shirt done to perfection, Theory's option is everything a suit needs. Clean lines, smart tailoring, and no obvious branding? Sounds good in my books.

For a white dress shirt that doesn't feel too fancy—or hard on the wallet—Abercrombie's easy oxford shirt is great for dressing up and down. It's made with cotton and a bit of stretch so you stay comfortable in it all day. Choose from regular and tall lengths, too.

Banana Republic's classic spread collar dress shirt is made with a breathable 100 percent cotton and is great for wearing to work and weddings all year long.

Brooks Brothers is the name to know in the world of white dress shirts. Since the 1800s, the brand, reputedly the oldest in the apparel industry, has been offering gentlemanly styles, particularly ones made of cotton. It has refined and perfected the white dress over the centuries, providing a selection of different cuts, collars, and weaves. This relaxed-fit option (it's pretty roomy) is made of Supima cotton with some elastane that's treated with wrinkle-resistant technology. It features a spread collar, French front placket, and barrel cuffs—the kinds of characteristics that'll work for all formal occasions.

I have some very good news: You can get a white dress shirt for under $100. Everlane's version is just a bit more relaxed than a standard dress shirt, but it's poplin, so if you throw a suit jacket on, no one will know. Plus, the move these days does tend to be mixing suiting and slouching, so this is a fantastic, modern option.

With a double cuff, Turnbull & Asser's white dress shirt is for the fanciest of fancy occasions. Wear it with a tux or with a suit jacket and don't even worry for a second about not being dressed up enough—with this on, you'll be confident you are.

Luxurious and modern, Tom Ford's dress shirt gives timeless elegance and cool classiness. The poplin fabric is at once soft and sturdy, so you can wear it year-round. Size up for an easier, more relaxed fit.

Ain't nothing plain about an Armani dress shirt. The spread collar and placket are always razor sharp, and the silhouette is always streamlined. If looks could kill, this shirt would definitely have the license to do so.

Keep things minimal with a shirt that you don't have to think twice about. Cos does all the work for you, giving you a basic white cotton twill slate upon which the rest of your outfit can rest in harmony.

Todd Snyder takes the most traditional of menswear and puts a fresh, modern spin on it. You can feel sharp dressing up, and not like you're wearing something that belongs to a different century. This is a classic, simple shirt, with small, subtle buttons, a spread collar, and a perfect fit.

The world of Ralph Lauren is steeped in the red, white, and blue, displaying collections that celebrate American style. And with its Purple Label, the brand honors the glitz and glam of the '20s, the world of Jay Gatsby and the extravagant parties he threw, where men were outfitted in tailored, swoon-worthy fits. Capturing this vibe is the Aston, a white dress shirt that features a shirttail hem, barrel cuffs, and spread collar that'll pair nicely with a black suit, tie, and all that jazz.

Charvet: the Mac Daddy, purveyor of the best white dress shirts out there. The brand is the oldest categorical shirt maker in the world, holding court at a six-story townhouse on the Place Vendôme in Paris for well over a century. During this time, the premier label has dressed kings, presidents, poets, and artists—the kind of names that are tacked on mood boards. It has trumped competitors throughout the generations by prioritizing quality. Yes, we've said that about many labels, and deservedly so, but Charvet, on cachet alone, is a cut above the rest.

Lululemon's stuff is always up to snuff. The brand started off producing athletic apparel that took the category to new heights with premium fabrics and streamlined silhouettes—workout clothes for peeps who liked to show off at the gym. Over the past few years, the brand started to branch into office-ready clothing, offering the kinds of elevated basics—like this sweat-wicking, odor-regulating, four-way stretch white dress shirt—that are for people who like to show off outside the gym.

It's in the name, really—this is a perfect oxford. Oh, and it has a pocket. There's not too much going on here, making it a great, functional base for the rest of your fit.

Uniqlo does basics like no other, and in this day and age, a white dress shirt is absolutely a basic. This one is perfect for summer events (like weddings, galas, or meetings) because of its lightweight linen fabric. But don't be put off by the material: It retains a sense of classiness with smart, sleek tailoring.

With a thick, durable fabric and trim fit, this is the ultimate go-to shirt. You might not even have to iron it, honestly; the fabric is so wrinkle-resistant, it'll hang perfectly in your closet.