THE OXFORD SHIRT: A MUST IN YOUR WARDROBE

The oxford shirt is a timeless classic. A versatile shirt that you can't live without. It can be worn in all seasons and all situations, from the day at the office to the evening with friends, from suits to jeans. 

We choose it in several colors, all more useful than the others: white, sky blue, pale pink, but also stripes like a blue/white or green/white.

What is its history? How to wear it? follow the guide of this essential piece of the male wardrobe.

Its history

The men's oxford shirt was invented in the 19th century by a Scottish weaver who was looking to create new wefts, and in particular a thick and resistant fabric. He gave it the name Oxford, in reference to the prestigious university.

In the early 1900s, the oxford shirt was worn very seriously, under a blazer, and with a tie.

In the 1930s, polo players adopted the Oxford shirt for men. They were seduced by the breathable, resistant and elegant qualities of its fabric. They also appreciated its collar which is held, unlike the shirts they used until then. They even added a button to hold the collar points so that it would stay in place perfectly even when galloping.

The oxford shirt acquires then a more casual but not less elegant image. It becomes the prerogative of the English youth adept at studies and sports, which even gives it a name: OCBD for Oxford Cloth Button Down, that is to say oxford shirt with buttoned collar.

It is, with the blazer, an emblem of the preppy style.

As soon as it arrived on the other side of the Atlantic, the men's oxford shirt was adopted by the Polo Ralph Lauren brand, which made it one of its iconic pieces.

Its weaving

The fabric of the oxford shirt is made from a braided weave of thick cotton threads, one white, the other of different color. The result is a raw look that brings out the honeycomb side of the fabric. The warp threads that correspond to the length are doubled unlike the weft threads, which represents the width. 

It is also characterized by the mother-of-pearl buttons that hold the collar and allow it to pass a tie.

The honeycomb fabric

Mother of pearl buttons that hold the collar

Its characteristics

The men's oxford shirt is strong because of its thick fabric, more robust than poplin. It wrinkles a little and is easily ironed. Opaque, it is very pleasant to wear and easy to combine in all seasons. It is breathable and very comfortable to wear thanks to its airy weave.

Thanks to its button-down collar, it is easy to wear with formal or casual wear. 

How to wear it

The cut should not be too tight or too wide. Similarly, the length of the oxford shirt should not be too long because it is a shirt that is often worn with pants.

For more information on how to wear your shirt, with or without pants, see our article: Shirt in or out of the pants? That is the question 

With a suit

It can be worn with a suit and a tie thanks to its collar that can be held, as English students still do today. It is less formal than a poplin shirt but more comfortable. It adapts very well to a day at the office, the professional dress code being less formal than before. It allows you to have a drink with friends in a relaxed way without the tie. This is what we call the business casual trend: we combine casual clothes like the men's oxford shirt with a more formal outfit like a suit.

Choose a shirt in neutral and light tones such as white, sky blue or light pink, which will easily match any tie color. The tie should be knit or textured, as a classic silk tie will not match the rough grain of the oxford shirt. 

With a suit

Oxford shirts

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/44-oxford-shirts 

With a tie and a bow tie

On the other hand, leave the tuxedo behind. You won't wear an oxford shirt to a formal event like a wedding, where a more elegant shirt is appropriate. Instead, choose a herringbone or dobby shirt.

More information on the different shirt weaves in our article The Different Types of Shirt Fabrics.

With a chino

The oxford shirt goes very well with the chino. They are casual materials and styles that work perfectly together.

If you choose a neutral color for the shirt, you can opt for brighter colors for the chino like a duck green, deep blue or even an ochre yellow.

Conversely, with a beige or navy blue chino, you can go for a striped men's oxford shirt or in darker shades like a navy blue. 

We complete the look with suede shoes or loafers.

Chemise Oxford homme

With jeans

With its casual style, the oxford shirt goes very well with jeans. You can even wear it open on a white tee-shirt for a weekend spirit. We associate with this outfit white sneakers. Closed, we let it out of the jeans for a relaxed side, we can also roll up the sleeves in them just before the elbow.

In winter and autumn, we wear it under a round neck sweater and a leather jacket.

The oxford shirt for men is a must-have, a basic in the men's wardrobe. Comfortable, breathable and resistant, it brings a casual touch to a formal outfit. It can also be worn in a relaxed way on weekends or for a drink with friends, but with more style than a linen or flannel shirt. Versatile, it is chosen in neutral tones, pale pink, sky blue or white, which can easily be combined with all outfits. No taste mistakes guaranteed, unless you wear it by mistake at a wedding.