In the canon of classic fashion , you’d expect to see blue jeans and a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers etched into the pages. And as soon as you’ve settled on which pair of jeans fits you best, or whether you like the Chuck 70 or the Chuck Classics more, next on the list is probably an Oxford cloth button-down Shirt. It permeated through Ivy league campuses and is an American style staple. Nevertheless, the shirt has origins that are English.
Shirts made from burly Oxford fabric, a closely woven cloth made from cotton were sported by polo players of the 19th Century. These shirts had a unique feature at the collar, in which buttons were stitched in order from flapping in the wind to keep the collars. John Brooks, one of the presidents of American style manufacturer Brooks Brothers paid a trip to England from the late 1800s and, one of his traveling actions, spectated the rousing polo matches. Upon arriving from England, Brooks introduced the market and his own version of the shirt.
Most folks will refer to the shirt as a Oxford cloth button-down, or OCBD Even though a Polo shirt is still called their top by Brooks Brothers. In more recent years, nevertheless, another American East Coast brand named Gitman Bros. gained traction with fashion fans. Its line draws on archival fabrics for its silhouettes Now.
When shopping both brands are considered. We looked at both side by side, so you can decide which one is right for you.
Price: $165
It is the kind of shade you’d expect for the class — a sky blue, a blue oxford cloth.
Fit: Slim. These tops are cut for a silhouette that’s got a waist and high armholes. If you’re going for that leaner silhouette, you’d want to stick with your usual shirt size. Models arrive in sizing so that you won’t need as much control on your fit when compared with the neck and sleeve sizing. That said, Gitman does offer a rather robust Made to Order shirting program. However, as you might guess, that’ll cost you a few bones.
Buttons: Gitman’s chalk buttons come in a bone white color with a matte finish, reinforcing its formal look.
Collar, cuffs and placket: Gitman Vintage forgoes the regular interlining you’d expect on most dress shirts. This interlining offers rigidity and body to plackets, cuffs and collars , preventing wrinkles. The result is a purposely look that begets the casual air of the shirt. But that does not mean that you can’t starch and press it if the occasion calls for that.
Additional details: Smaller particulars contain a broken yoke, which requires an additional step in the shirtmaking process, but theoretically yields a better-fitting shoulder. Additionally, it offers a center box pleat at the back yoke and features a locker loop. At the rear of the collar, there’s a centre button to help keep the collar from unfurling while keeping a tie set up.