Monday, August 22, 2022

We Scoured The Internet For The Best White Button-Downs

We've read that the late, great Karl Lagerfeld owned over 1,000 of his now-iconic Hilditch & Key white button-down shirts. Can you blame him? Once you find a white button-down that fits your body and wardrobe, you're committed for life. The beauty of this wardrobe staple is how it can elevate the most quotidian of outfits, from sweatpants (yes!) to jeans (obviously) to evening wear (definitely). The shirt's status as an icon of professionalism and formality is both upheld by corporate culture the world over and subverted by countless artists, designers, and other assorted "downtown types" (you know who you are).

Of course, to optimize this wardrobe staple for every possible outfit, the fit and functionality of your white button-down have got to be spot-on, so we've scoured the internet for some of the best white button-down shirts for women, including the coolest styles and hard-to-find fits so that you can look extra put-together without pinching or gapping. And as always, we've included only the examples that have earned serious accolades from vocal shoppers.

Welcome to Hype Machine, our hit-list of the top reviewed products across the web — according to a crowd of die-hard shoppers. Call this your 4-star-and-up only club, with entry granted by our devoted-to-the-goods shop editors.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Free People's We The Free Summer Daydream Button Down


The Best Slouchy & Relaxed Fit White Button-Down

The Hype: 4.4 out of 5 stars; 274 reviews on FreePeople.com

Throw on this button-down for that rolled-out-of-bed-like-this vibe — only better. The soft, slouchy fit with its raw hemlines and rounded bottom hem adds to the overall laid-back, effortlessly chic persona.

"Obsessed. I waited so long to get this in the white color. It was a splurge but I am so happy with my purchase," raves a reviewer. "It flows on the body so beautifully and leaves me feeling chic and confident. Perfect over any outfit and also makes the cutest swim coverup!"


Shop We The Free On Free People

We The Free We The Free Summer Daydream Buttondown, $, available at Free People

Uniqlo Rayon Long-Sleeve Blouse


The Best Elegant Button-Down

The Hype: 4.5 out of 5 stars; 405 reviews on Uniqlo.com

Uniqlo's long-sleeved button-down is a closet staple in a crisp and professional white, but it also has real "need it in every color" potential. First, you'll fall in love with the piece's luxe appearance, then the versatility that makes it work for any upscale or business casual needs. And the under-$40 pricetag makes it easy to snag in accompanying pastels and neutral shades.

"I love the lightweight need and luxury look of the blouse. It looks great and professional for work or a fun day out with the girls," writes a reviewer. "I would definitely recommend this product. Great for mix and matching [with] any outfit."

Shop Uniqlo

Uniqlo Rayon Long-Sleeve Blouse, $, available at Uniqlo

Anthropologie's Meme Embellished Button-Down Tunic


The Best High Fashion White Button-Down

The Hype: 4.5 out of 5 stars; 11 reviews on Anthropologie.com

Are you in the mood to spice up your wardrobe? Is everything starting to look the same? Opt for this pearl-embellished button-down. It's playful and polished and will still act as a versatile wardrobe piece while standing out.

"This isn't your typical white shirt! The pearls on this shirt are a very welcome detail, it adds a special detail on what would be an ordinary top," notes a reviewer. She adds that she styled the shirt in question with jeans and heels for a dressed-up look with lots of classic polish, nothing "I also tuck one side in to give a little flair."

Shop Mememe On Anthropologie

Good American Tabbed Poplin Shirt


The Best Oversized Button-Down Shirt With Elevated Sleeves

The Hype: 4.5 out of 5 stars; 34 reviews on GoodAmerican.com

Good American specializes in basics that are far from basic. In this case, this high-low top is not only a crisp, posh white, but it has an elevated touch at the wrists. With its removable belted cuff, you get a dainty cinched look.

"I love the shirt and the fit," writes a reviewer. "It's an oversized fit, but still flattering. The sleeves are also so unique too. I'm obsessed." Another reviewer praised the amount of detail that went into the intricately designed shirt. "Honestly, for the very reasonable price point[,] it's the nicest quality, cut, and construction that I've seen in a long time."

Shop Good American

Good American Tabbed Poplin Shirt, $, available at Good American

Abercrombie & Fitch Oversized Poplin Button-Up Shirt


The Best Classic Oversized Button-Down

The Hype: 4.5 out of 5 stars; 85 reviews on Abercrombie.com

The internet has spoken, and 2022's style icon is Meredith Blake from The Parent Trap. For one happy customer, however, this top was all about the movie's true unsung fashion icon, Chessy.

"This shirt reminds me of Chessy from The Parent Trap. And I absolutely love it," writes a reviewer who we couldn't agree with more. "I paired it with my Curve Love Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jeans and some flip flops for the summer!"

Shop Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Oversized Poplin Button-Up Shirt, $, available at Abercrombie & Fitch

J.Crew Classic-Fit Cozy Gauze Shirt


The Best Classic White Button-Down

The Hype: 4.3 out of 5 stars; 116 reviews on JCrew.com

As far as classic white button-downs go, J.Crew knows a thing or two: The preppy-cool brand has been crafting crisp oxford shirts since the 1940s. This cozy cotton-gauze style is no exception to its unprecedented tailoring excellence.

"I have to add my voice to all the others saying this is the best shirt ever," writes one reviewer, praising its season-agnostic style. "Perfect cozy shirt for warm weather, or as a coverup for hot sun. I love the long lean silhouette — and the fit and drape are beautiful. And, it is sexy despite being totally modest. A magician designed this!"

Shop J.Crew

J.Crew Classic-Fit Cozy Gauze Shirt, $, available at J.Crew

Madewell White Cotton Courier Shirt


The Best Short-Sleeve White Button-Down

The Hype: 4.2 out of 5 stars; 250 reviews on Madewell.com

Oftentimes, white button-downs are reserved for formal environments. This boxy, short-sleeved version is a refreshing antidote to the fitted look.

"I have always loved Madewell's courier shirts. They work super well for tiny people, especially those with small frames and short torsos," writes one reviewer, who adores this shirt as a petite. But, that's not all — the reviewer also loves that it's work-appropriate. "Another important thing about this particular shirt is that it is super thick. No see-through here. I teach so it's important that my professional shirts don't allow my bra to be seen. I'm pretty sure my students think I live in it."

Shop Madewell

Madewell White Cotton Courier Shirt, $, available at Madewell

Amazon Essentials Classic-Fit Button-Down Poplin Shirt


The Best White Button-Down On Amazon

The Hype: 4.3 out of 5 stars; 11,369 reviews on Amazon.com

Over 11,000 Amazon reviewers rave about this very affordable button-down's classic tailoring, comfortable fit, and wrinkle resistance.

"This shirt, the poplin, is lighter weight and wrinkles much less straight from the dryer. [It's] a men's style fit, with no darts to nip in the waist," writes one reviewer, who prefers the "boyfriend" fit. The details are not to be overlooked, either: "The cuff is crisp and has a double button to make turning the cuff once or twice secure and tidy. This style is best for layering, as it is light and cool. I rarely buy items before they go on sale, but I would pay full price again. Perfect."

Shop Amazon Essentials On Amazon

Amazon Essentials Classic-Fit Long Sleeve Button Down Poplin Shirt, $, available at Amazon

Alex Mill Kit Shirt In Paper Poplin


The Best Peter Pan Collar White Button-Down

The Hype: 4 out of 5 stars; 14 reviews on Alexmill.com

Talk about charming! This button-down has a cute peter pan collar, adorable sleeves that are slightly puffed, and a gathered detail at the cuffs and back. It's super unique and non-boring to say the least.

"Reminds me of a French painter's shirt but more stylish. This is nicely oversized and comfortable. Goes with a lot of items already in my closet," says one reviewer. "Plan to purchase a couple more colors as it’s really hard to find a woman’s shirt that fits this nice with unique sleeves and collar. Like the buttons too."

Shop Alex Mill

Alex Mill Kit Shirt in Paper Poplin, $, available at Alex Mill

Quince Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse


The Best Washable Silk White Button-Down

The Hype: 4.8 out of 5 stars; 639 reviews on Onequince.com

If you want a more elevated Oxford, a silky white button-down goes a long way. Put one on and you'll automatically look more luxe, more professional, and more evening-ready.

"I've spent years looking for a silk button-up. Cotton ones tend to be too stiff on my frame (petite with curves) but silk tops have always been towards the $100 range, which is unrealistic for me," writes one reviewer who finally find their unicorn. "My search for this top is how I found Quince in the first place. Really happy to fill out my wardrobe for work/events/daily life with this staple piece!"

Shop Quince

Quince Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse, $, available at Quince

Columbia Bahama L/S Shirt


The Best White Button-Down For Sporting & Outdoors

The Hype: 5 out of 5 stars; 472 reviews on Zappos.com

Spoiler alert: Technically, this is a fishing shirt — but it also has a mind-boggling, perfect 5-star rating pulled from 430+ reviews. Obviously, that warranted a closer look. As it turns out, this white button-down is perfect for all kinds of outdoor activities — but it suits non-sporty folks just as well.

"Although I don't fish, I like the extra pockets for storage and the way you can roll up the sleeves and keep them up," writes one reviewer who can't get enough pockets. "They are also very cool in the hot sun and come in great colors. I now have 3 of them and will be on the hunt for a few more." With strategic cooling features and quick-dry fabrication, this button-down is great for warmer days or for travel as well.

Shop Columbia On Zappos

Columbia Bahama™ L/S Shirt, $, available at Zappos

Banana Republic Classic-Fit Poplin Shirt


The Best Fitted White Button-Down

The Hype: 5 out of 5 stars; 20 reviews on Bananarepublic.gap.com

Classic. Tailored. Crisp. Easy to tuck in. What more could you ask for in a white button-down? And, if easy upkeep is important to you, this particular Oxford is also made from 100% cotton, which means you can just throw it in the wash for that back-to-crisp reset.

"My go-to button-up shirt. The material feels so crisp and light on my skin. Love it," sums up one reviewer's straightforward testimonial.

Shop Banana Republic

Banana Republic Classic-Fit Poplin Shirt, $, available at Banana Republic

Riders By Lee Indigo Women's Easy Car Three-Quarter Sleeve Woven Shirt


The Best White Button-Down For Big Busts

The Hype: 4.2 out of 5 stars; 8.179 reviews on Amazon.com

There's no greater fit enemy than the dreaded gap, which can be the scourge of any cup size in an ill-fitting button-down. That being said, it certainly plagues our bigger-busted sisters more regularly, so we sought out the most gap-reducing style tailored for larger chests — and we found it on Amazon.

"I have owned several of these shirts. They fit great and are made for big-busted women. They have 2 buttons at the bustline so they don't gap," writes a large-chested reviewer. "I just heard all of the amply endowed women of the world cheer! Yes!!!"

Shop Riders On Amazon

Lee Jeans Riders by Lee Indigo Bella Easy Care Woven Shirt, $, available at Amazon

Ann Taylor Petite Essential Shirt


The Best White Button-Down For Petites

The Hype: 4.6 out of 5 stars; 103 reviews on Anntaylor.com

A near-unanimous declaration of perfection is rare, but Ann Taylor's Petite Essential Shirt has an almost flawless rating, and we can see why. With a silky fabrication and a dipped neckline, this shirt has the sought-after ability to transition from day to night, and elevate pretty much any outfit.

"Lightweight and versatile!!!!" writes one emphatic reviewer. "I am normally a PS (5'1, 124, 36C) but went with the PM to ensure no gapping." (Thank you for the tip, reviewer!)

Shop Ann Taylor

Ann Taylor Petite Essential Shirt, $, available at Ann Taylor

The LYSSÉ Schiffer Shirt


The Best Tall-Fit White Button-Down


The Hype: 4 out of 5 stars; 59 reviews on Nordstrom.com

Whether you've got a longer torso or simply want to wear a tunic-length button-down, this menswear-inspired style from LYSSÉ offers the coverage you seek.

"Love the material of this shirt and the longer length. It is a bit oversized, so I took an extra small even though I typically wear a small in button-down shirts to have enough room in the bust," writes one strategic shopper. "The slight stretch makes this very comfy. Will wear this tucked in for a more formal look, but also will look great with leggings and even unbuttoned as a layering piece," they write of how they'll style this closet staple.

Shop Lyssé

Lysse Schiffer Shirt, $, available at Nordstrom

The Best No-Iron White Button-Down



Uniqlo Women Rayon Long-Sleeve Blouse

The Hype: 4.9 out of 5 stars and 29 reviews on uniqlo.com

You can always count on Uniqlo to pull through with high-quality capsule pieces at affordable price points — and this white button-down is no exception. "Love this blouse. Great for work or dress casual with jeans. Not too thin or sheer," writes one reviewer, who also mentions that they bought this shirt in five different colorways. One highlight of this blouse is that it's made of soft rayon fabric, meaning it's wrinkle-resistant and no ironing is required. "Very little wrinkle after wash and no shrinking. Feels nice and cool in summertime and in the wintertime I wear a heat tech turtle neck under," writes the reviewer on how they layer for cold weather.

Uniqlo WOMEN RAYON LONG-SLEEVE BLOUSE, $, available at Uniqlo

The Best "Vintage" White Button-Down



Abercrombie & Fitch 90s Oversized Button-Up Shirt

The Hype: 4.4 out of 5 stars and 45 reviews on abercrombie.com

Heads up: A&F was not kidding with either the "90s" or "oversized" callouts when naming this shirt. This button-down is supremely baggy in a '90s grunge-style way — so much so that nearly all the reviewers recommend you size down. "Was looking for the perfect white shirt and this one *almost* fits the bill. It is oversized, originally I got the small but was swimming in it and had to exchange for xs," writes one reviewer, who still loves the top despite its big-ness. "It's a thin lightweight material that is great for layering or for the warmer months. [It's] a bit sheer, I can only wear a nude coloured bra with that. Other than that I love it!" they write.

Abercrombie and Fitch 90s Oversized Button-Up Shirt, $, available at Abercrombie and Fitch

The Best Drapey White Button-Down



Treasure & Bond Drapey Classic Shirt

The Hype: 4 out of 5 stars, 128 reviews on nordstrom.com

One of the cooler ways to wear your white button-down is with the slightest hint of it not actually belonging to you. While this is descended from a heteronormative trope that we have most certainly evolved beyond, there remains an air of insouciance in sporting a dress shirt that's ever-so-slightly oversized — which means it's also flattering for all body types. "This shirt is so divine. The drapey aspect of the shirt flatters my bigger chest and apple body," writes a reviewer. And yes, this button-down is a little sheer, but don't let that deter you — what other shirt seamlessly works day to night? "I may wear a shirt underneath but I may not," continues the reviewer. "This shirt is so divine. It feels incredible against my skin."

Treasure & Bond Drapey Classic Shirt, $, available at Nordstrom

The Best Linen White Button-Down



Everlane The Relaxed Linen Shirt

The Hype: 4.61 out of 5 stars and 419 reviews on everlane.com

If you sweat or get hot easily (but still need to look presentable), get yourself a white button-down in the naturally cooling fabric of linen. "This is reasonably stiff linen that still fits, falls, and breathes nicely. I live in the Southern US, and sweat still rolls down your back (it would even if you were naked), but you don’t feel overheated or swampy," writes one reviewer who knows how to dress for heat. "It’s linen so you get the (I think) charming wrinkles of natural fabric, and it tucks in well. This is designed to bring — and achieves — the effortlessly cool, confident look whether it’s tucked, untucked, or half-tucked. Super love this one."

Everlane The Linen Relaxed Shirt, $, available at Everlane

The Best Relax-Fit White Button-Down



Universal Thread Women's Raglan Long Sleeve Button-Down Shirt

The Hype: 4.4 out of 5 stars and 45 reviews on target.com

As previously stated, the classic white button-down will go with anything — so much so that it'll be worn to death. This is one such shirt that will stay with you till its final threads. "This shirt is perfect, soft, and very comfy. It replaces one that I had for several years that developed frays and holes in the sleeves because I wore it so much," writes one die-hard fan. "This one is taking its place and I am so happy with it so far." Best of all? This one's only $20.

Universal Thread Women's Raglan Long Sleeve Button-Down Shirt, $, available at Target

The Best White Lace Button-Down



Express Lace Inset Button-Up Shirt

The Hype: 4 out of 5 stars and 3 reviews on express.com

After a while, white button-downs all tend to look the same, don't they? This one begs to differ. Take a looksy at the details and you may be smitten by the gorgeous lace insets, just as reviewers have. "Beautiful top. Fits perfectly. I love the feminine look, great quality. LOVE!!" writes one reviewer. In other words, this white button-down dares to be unique while still staying on assignment.

Express Lace Inset Button-Up Shirt, $, available at Express

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