By concentrating with maniacal zeal on this mainstay of men’s clothing, Standard Shirt has honed and perfected their craft to offer an above average shirt at a below average price. With a modern cut, quality Xinjiang cotton, and reinforced collars, the Standard Shirt is clearly a cut above. Why pay the same for a mass-market box shirt when you can custom make your own for $59? You wouldn’t. And if you do, I don’t want to ever meet you.

The ordering process is dead simple – just pick your collar style, then your neck size, and choices for typical sleeve lengths for your neck size are automatically populated. And with that, you’ve got a plush white shirt on it’s way to your closet and then everywhere from weddings to boardrooms. Plenty of men’s clothiers, even custom manufacturers have popped up in the last few years. But none of them have the concentration of Standard Shirt, and as such their quality and ordering experience are all over the place. We’ve tested Standard’s predicted measurements, and their shirt out on the town, and are very pleased with both. It appears the crises of not having a viable white shirt for the evening is a thing of the past…

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Small designs – like the collar roll – captivate fashion enthusiasts. The collar started out as a full roll, giving the look of volume and signaling superior construction. Present day collars have a very small roll, or god forbid, lay flat with no roll at all. While all OCBDs are made from oxford cloth, the cloth can differ in stiffness and weight. Obviously, a lighter-weight and less dense oxford weave is ideal for summer, where a thick weave that is a little stiff points toward cooler weather. I have a preference for a stiff cloth because I like the way the fabric creases on the arms.

The best part about Oxfords? Little to no maintenance! OCBDs are traditionally a casual shirt allowing the wearer to throw them on straight out of the dryer. I prefer mine a little wrinkled; however, if you left them on your floor, 1), get a better method of storing clothing, and 2), iron out the major wrinkles. Just like any other button down or piece of clothing, put the occasional detergent stick on stains. And if the shirt is white, remember to hit near the neck and cuffs because of dirt build-up. I tend to wait three to four wears (my white OCBD is usually two) before washing because with an undershirt, the cloth takes longer to to truly dirty.

I have been searching for two years for the perfect Oxford button down that fits me off the rack and have yet to find one. My favorite one that is well constructed and fits a reasonable budget is from Uniqlo. It has a slim silhouette and a low price point, making it ideal for students or beginners. Meanwhile, Brooks Brothers has been doing OCBDs longer than anyone, giving them the time to perfect the design. If you want the best and money is no object, start there. My only holdout with the Brooks’ Oxford is they took out the extra-slim fit. To hit the middle road, you can’t go wrong with J.Crew. Make sure you look for sales because they aren’t worth the retail price.

It’s hard to find something that doesn’t go with an Oxford cloth button down. Maybe sweatpants? Even then I think it can be done. With a full suit, I would be careful of the OCBD making it look too casual. But as with all things style, it’s all about experimentation and finding out what works for you.

My suggestion is to play around to find what shirt fits your style when seeking out that perfect Oxford. Want a nice collar roll for your new job? Go with Brooks Brothers. Want something to get you through school? Go with Uniqlo. No matter the time frame though, every man should own at least one Oxford cloth button down..

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