Fabric: Cotton, and preferably organic cotton, is the favored fabric of button-downs for its affordability, breathability, durability, and easy-to-care-for factor (most are machine washable).While all share common button and tailoring attributes, anything goes in terms of color and pattern-play around with monochrome, striped, plaid, collars of all sizes, pockets, no pockets, pleats, exaggerated or puff sleeves and a-symmetrical and curved hems. “Whether it's for the day, night, casual, dressed-up, there’s a button-down shirt for every body shape and every occasion.” Focus on the four main styles: The classic oxford, the slim fit, the oversized (or boyfriend) and the collarless shirt. Style: A classic button-down-a shirt with a collar and rows of buttons in the front-might have started out as a menswear basic but modern button-downs (or button-ups) are gender neutral, according to New York-based stylist Tracy Taylor.

What To Look For With The Best Button-Down Shirts Finally, we took into account our own personal experience with wearing button-downs as a foundational wardrobe staple to come up with our final list of recommendations. We also researched bestsellers from brands whose DNA is in great shirting and crossed referenced these lists with actual shopper reviews. To curate our list of best button-downs, we asked expert fashion stylists to provide their tried-and-true favorites, taking into consideration style, fabric, fit and price.

How We Chose The Best Women’s Button-Downs “I adore the fun drama of the generous side slits and dainty mother of pearl buttons-this shirt can be worn for day but is so special for evening over a back lace bodysuit.” “It’s an unexpected fabric for this wardrobe basic,” she says. If you want to invest in silk shirt that’s extremely well-made and will last you season after season, New York-based stylist Sarah Easley swears by The Row’s Carla silk shirts. The Row is sought out by discerning fashion shoppers for their luxurious yet laid-back style essentials. Sizes: XS-L | Colors: White | Materials: 100% silk

Light red button down shirt