They may look like denim, but the best men’s chambray shirts—those lightly dyed, usually blue, with soft, heirloom buttons—are actually made of a completely different fabric. In fact, chambray is a fabric that has fascinated generations of menswear obsessives, and for good reason: it’s breathable but bulky, soft but not floppy, durable but firm. And yet somehow, it is Still It flies relatively under the radar. You may not have any in your closet. I’m here to change that.
If you’re curious, chambray shirts have that feel because they’re typically made from two different colors of yarn. Those that run vertically (the stamens) are dyed indigo, like jeans. But those that run horizontally (the weft) are white, giving the chambray knit its trademark texture, and the kind of visual depth you’ll also see on a heathered sweatshirt.
And not to go back to denim, the best men’s chambray shirts also share all the characteristics that made their denim counterparts iconic: they fade beautifully, they can be considered true workwear, they feel good on your skin, and they’re flattering on pretty much everyone. All you have to do is choose a well-made one, which is why I’ve reached out to a group to help you do exactly that.
The best chambray shirts for men, according to Feverqueen
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Best Chambray Shirt Overall: Buck Mason Japanese Service Chambray Shirt
Although best known for their durable, well-fitting shirts, Buck Mason also produces plenty of great pants, jackets, and cardigans. The chambray service shirt is modeled after a vintage piece owned by the designer, which was issued to US Navy crew members in the 1960s. Upon trying it on, I immediately realized that it lacked all the “character building” toughness associated with other denim — instead, the shirt is light as a feather, made from 5 oz. Fabric, soft to the touch. What’s more, its simple blue color helps make the little extra details, including the fisheye buttons and flap pockets, really pop. It’s a shirt that goes with anything, which is great, because I never want to take it off.
Best Budget Chambray Shirt: Levi’s Relaxed Fit Shirt
Levi’s is still, at its core, a denim brand, but the company has also been producing light blue chambray shirts since 1913. The offerings have expanded and contracted over the years — apparently playsuits and rompers were once very popular — but the company has Some version of the light blue button has always sold out. It’s no surprise, then, that the Western-inspired chambray shirt she’s currently selling is quite simple. The fit is comfortable and free of distracting details. Sure, buttons could be cooler, but when you’re working on a chart you’ve been developing for over a century, the worst thing you can do is overthink it.
Best Chambray Plaid Shirt: Hemat Chambray Work Shirt
While you’ll find chambray in all sorts of colors other than blue — J. Crew has long been a popular red chambray shirt, for example — and occasionally find some vintage options with stylish embroidery or patches, you don’t often see plaid, gingham, or printed shirts made from Cloth. So, it’s a gift that German label Heimat not only makes a great classic shirt in blue chambray, with two flap pockets and a structured dot color, but they also offer the same in an ink/pearl embossed color that looks even more special. In my hand. Almost as if she saw the simple speckled texture of classic Chambray and said “hold my beer.”
Best Chambray Shirt for the Office: Sid Mashburn Cotton Chambray Western Shirt
You might not expect the Atlanta-based tailors at Sid Mashburn to ever produce a chambray shirt, let alone one that perfectly embodies the material’s connection to the American West and ranch culture. But chambray is actually found throughout Mashburn’s catalogue, from tailored shirts worn with suits to casual short-sleeve shirts coordinated with printed shorts. Of all these things, however, our favorite is the brand’s stylish Western shirt, which is heavy on the kind of heritage that makes thrift-store box diggers swoon. These include: mother-of-pearl buttons, a pointed yoke at the shoulders, and triple cuffs. 2-gallon cap sold separately.
Best vintage-like chambray shirt: Orsolo Cotton Chambray Shirt
Orslow was founded in 2005 by Ichiro Nakatsu. He has since said his goal was to replicate some of the legendary American denim and workwear he has collected over the years, for a new customer base to enjoy. Most of the products the company sells actually look straight out of Life magazine spreads of military men and factory workers, including its chambray cotton shirt, but the quality is undeniably Orslow’s own. The front pockets are large, as you’d expect, but they have a neat curved flap. The color is light but a little more saturated than other options. The result is a shirt that you’ll not only be able to pass down for generations, but that your child will likely steal from you once they’re old enough to recognize your swag.
More chambray shirts we love
RRL Indigo Chambray Work Shirt
Capital Embroidered Cotton Chambray Shirt
Man-Tel R17S1 Metallic Wax Shirt
Todd Snyder Japanese Chambray Work Shirt
How to style a chambray shirt
Because it’s more casual in nature, the chambray shirt can be worn with most outfits you probably already wear every day – it looks as great with deep-dyed jeans (a subtle take on a Canadian tuxedo) as it does with endless outfits. Issey Miyake pleated trousers, or over a shirt and some chinos. But don’t sleep on a chambray shirt’s ability to play in the major leagues, either: with the right collar and pocket, you can even wear a chambray shirt with a suit and tie.
We know that style is personal, and that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the most affordable suits, or the menswear drops you need to know about this week, Feverqueen Recommends’ perspective is built on years of practical experience, an insider’s awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find The best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staff can’t try on every piece of clothing you read about on Feverqueen.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and workmanship. Sourcing, craftsmanship, and sustainability efforts that aren’t limited to greenwashing. Feverqueen’s recommendations heavily emphasize our editorial experience with those brands, how their clothes are made, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: Feverqueen wouldn’t ask you to wear it if we didn’t.
We do our best to cast as wide a net as possible, focusing on identifying the best options across three main categories: quality, suitableand price.
To start the process, we tapped Feverqueen Recommends Braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the people involved worked in retail, offering clothing to the masses; Others have worked hard to acquire small menswear brands; They all spend a lot of time thinking about what’s in their closets.
We draw on this collective experience to guide our research, selecting a mix of household names, indie favorites and craft imprints on the cutting edge of the genre. Then we narrow the selection down to the picks that scored highest in terms of quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team has first-hand experience with the bulk of our picks, but a handful are completely new to us. So, after several months of intense debate, we tallied the votes, gathered anecdotal evidence, and came up with a list of who we think are the absolute best in the category right now, from the proven braves to the contemporary innovators. , affordable hitters to expensive (but worth it) designer pieces.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there’s bound to be an excellent version on this list that suits you. (Read more about the Feverqueen audition process here.)
