What Is the Best Material for a Dress Shirt?

Short answer: cotton.

Why Cotton Wins

Cotton is the most common and generally the best choice for dress shirts, since the fabric sits in direct contact with your skin all day. It is breathable, comfortable, and soft against the skin in a way synthetic blends struggle to match.

What to Look For

Within cotton, weave matters. A broadcloth or poplin weave gives a crisp, smooth finish suited to business and formal wear, while an oxford weave has more texture and a slightly more casual feel. Higher thread counts generally mean a smoother, more refined fabric hand.

When to Consider Blends

A small percentage of stretch fiber blended with cotton can add comfort and wrinkle resistance for travel or long workdays, without sacrificing much of cotton's natural breathability.

Shop Standard Sizes

Explore our dress shirt collection, available in standard sizes and shipped nationwide.