The Best White Dress Shirts for Fancy Guys of Every Stripe

Made from Italian cotton, this shirt features a longer point collar designed to elongate the neck, balance facial proportions, and keep you looking razor-sharp. Plus, it lays flat under lapels like it was born for the job—no awkward collar flare-ups here. Whether you’re rocking a sport coat, blazer, or suit jacket, this shirt is a triple threat.

Best White Dress Shirt for Titans of Industry: Charvet Cotton Shirt

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Pros

• Historic pedigree
• Doesn’t need cufflinks

Cons

• You could buy five white dress shirts for this price

In France, the word “Charvet” has become shorthand for excellence in shirts and ties—like saying “Kleenex” for tissues or “Hoover” for vacuum cleaners. (The name alone feels like silk rolling off your tongue, doesn’t it?) Founded in Paris in 1838 by Joseph-Christophe Charvet, the brand is often credited with being the world’s first shirtmaker. Before Charvet, tailored shirts weren’t really a thing; most men settled for standardized options that fit about as well as a borrowed jacket. Charvet changed the game by creating bespoke shirts tailored to each client’s exact measurements, tastes, and whims.

Over the centuries, Charvet has dressed royalty, politicians, and celebrities. Even literary heavyweights like Proust and fashion icons like Yves Saint Laurent have rocked the Parisian label. With such a historic pedigree, what makes a Charvet shirt a sartorial must-have? Imagine a crisp, pure white all-cotton shirt with double cuffs (perfect for showing off those heirloom cufflinks your grandfather swore were “an investment”) and mother-of-pearl buttons that gleam like tiny treasures. Get your hands on one of these, and you’ll not only channel centuries of elegance but also increase your odds of landing that promotion—or, at the very least, securing the best-dressed title at the office.

Best White Dress Shirt for Menswear Nerds: Drake’s Cotton Poplin Long Point Collar Shirt

Drake’s

Cotton Poplin Long Point Collar Shirt

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Pros

• Made in Drake’s local factory
• A perfect collar

Cons

• May want to size up as the brand typically runs on the slimmer side

Drake’s is on a lot of guys’ moodboards—and for good reason. Its lookbooks are basically a how-to in styling, packed with endless outfit possibilities. The brand has made wearing a suit look so effortless that we’re starting to think of it as the 2025 version of a sweatsuit (but, you know, with actual pockets). And let’s not forget, Drake’s is still one of the best spots for tailoring. I mean, they’ve got a shop on Savile Row.

Take the lightweight poplin shirts, for instance. Made in the brand’s own factory in Somerset, England, these shirts are crease-resistant, meaning they’ll look just as crisp at 8 a.m. as they do after that post-work negroni. The collar is perfectly versatile—equally at home paired with a tie or popped open with a sweater vest and some corduroy pants. Honestly, it’s hard to think of another brand that makes clothes this fine, this functional, and this easy to live in, while still keeping you looking like you’ve got your life together.

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What to Look for in a White Dress Shirt

So, you’re looking for a new white dress shirt. Presumably, that means you’re looking for a high-quality one—and if you are, here are a few of the signs the piece is worth your scratch. First, take a look at the fabric: The best ones will either be 100% cotton, or cotton blends with just a touch of elastane for some stretch. And while it’s hard to spot at times through a screen, double-stitched seams are usually the sign of a beautifully made design. As are other details—mother-of-pearl buttons, firm collar points, angled shirt cuffs. Lastly, a designer specifying the type of cotton (be it poplin, broadcloth, pinpoint, or twill) is often another sign that they’re aware of the details that matter.

How to Style a White Dress Shirt

Not sure how to style your crisp new button-up? Take cues from 47 presidents (maybe skip a few), David Lynch (RIP to a legend), or Tom Ford, who practically built his empire on the back of this wardrobe workhorse. A white dress shirt can pair easily with suits, blazers, jeans, loafers, boots—you name it. It’s the base layer of a foolproof office look and a timeless style staple. In fact, if you stumbled upon an old photo of yourself wearing one, you’d have no idea what year it was taken. That’s the magic of white dress shirts: they transcend time and trends.