12 Best Short Sleeve Button-up Shirts for Men

I’ve said it before at WERD, and now, I’ll say it again. Finding pieces you can team up with your favorite Bonobos chinos is kind of like taking most of the work out of getting dressed. In my experience, that’s one of the fun parts of getting dressed: Building an outfit you love from picks you enjoy wearing, all from one brand.

I’ve found that Bonobos makes it easier than ever, especially with a short-sleeve stretch shirt that’s so comfortable, it’s almost like wearing a T-shirt.

Surprised to see one of your favorite workout brands branching out into the world of off-duty style?

This subtle buttondown shirt delivers polish and even performance, seeing as it’s made with the brand’s signature woven fabric.

It’s tailored enough for a rooftop happy hour, yet useful enough to keep you cool on hot summer road trips.

The best short-sleeve shirts on the market aren’t just meant for leisurely pursuits, although they fill that need quite handily.

Dickies makes a tough-as-nails work shirt for when you value durable, strong fabric, yet need the cooling power of a short-sleeve design.

Stylish but not fussy, easy to wear without being sloppy, that’s what Wills gets right with the Isles Short Sleeve Linen Shirt.

It starts with lightweight 5oz 100% linen that’s garment-washed for a soft, lived-in feel right out of the box. That gives it the look of a shirt you can dress up a bit, but the comfort of something you’ll want to wear all summer.

And linen really is the right fabric here. It breathes, wicks moisture, and keeps you cooler when the temperature climbs, which is exactly what I want from a short-sleeve button-up. It has that almost vacation-like feel without looking like you tried too hard.

The fit is easy, too. Not too baggy, not too trim, and it works just as well untucked with shorts as it does tucked into chinos. The single chest pocket adds a little utility, whether you’re stashing sunglasses or just giving the shirt a more casual feel.

With a solid mix of colors and patterns, plus that broken-in softness from the first wear, the Isles feels like one of those shirts you’ll end up reaching for more than expected. I could easily see grabbing more than one for summer.

No matter the season or the occasion, Alabama-based Billy Reid is nothing if not prepared for what lies ahead. If your summer schedule looks anything like mine, that means sunny happy hours and BBQs aplenty, and dressing for those occasions calls for a touch of easygoing style.

In my experience, Billy Reid shirts have a timeless feel, with easy-to-wear fits and premium, soft fabric. It all comes together with the Tuscumbia Shirt, a Billy Reid staple that he’s streamlined in a short-sleeve design. He calls it “lived-in luxury,” and I’m tempted to agree.

Some short-sleeve buttondowns are geared more towards pleasure, and others more lean towards performance. This KUHL shirt does a bit of both, with a clean look that’s optimal for happy hour beers and yet ready to handle the demands of a day hike–the key is the stretchy poly-spandex blend for go-anywhere reliability. Plus, the dusty olive colorway pairs up with everything from light wash jeans to tan chino shorts.

We’re willing to bet you don’t have a shirt in your arsenal quite like the Wax London Didcot Shirt. The profile itself is plenty eye-catching, modeled after classic short-sleeve camp collar shirts (with the boxy fit and lay-flat collar to prove it).

Things only get better from there, as the Didcot Shirt comes in a wonderful range of impossibly cool colors and patterns, from understated Geo patterns to embroidered vertical designs. There’s an option to suit everyone’s personal style, and that’s no overstatement.

The wonders of linen are apparent to anyone who’s ever needed some stylish relief from the heat, and the coastal influences of Faherty Brand shine through in this breezy floral option.

Coconut buttons give it a slightly tropical feel, while the miniature pattern is a distinctive touch.

At times, you just want one of the best short-sleeve button ups to check all the right boxes–a solid color, a comfortable amount of stretch, a streamlined fit. 7 Diamonds, as sold through Nordstrom, does all of that and then some. Colors like Black go with just about anything in your wardrobe, too. You can even rock this under a blazer, thanks to the polished collar design.

Wearing a short-sleeve shirt doesn’t mean that fit goes by the wayside: The best short-sleeve shirts should still fit your body well, and the right fabric makes all the difference.

I’ve found that a fabric like twill, which gets softer over time, wears especially well in short-sleeve shirts, since it offers a polished look and yet a soft-on-the-skin feel.

I’ve also found that Buck Mason makes subtly stylish, throwback-minded short-sleeve shirts better than nearly any other brand out there, and this cleanly designed option is no exception.

Touted as a favorite of the beach-seeking, Internet-shopping crowd, Duvin Design blurs the line between the fashionable and the classic – take this simple black button up short-sleeve shirt, for instance.

I’ve made this a key part of many a summer look, especially if I’m wearing off-white linen trousers or olive green chinos: It’s subtle, smart and casually versatile, and the comfort is next-level.

Although you can certainly go more bold with Duvin’s designs, the camp-collar design and contrast sleeves (simply roll ‘em up to show off those guns) are steady style moves on the beach or the boardwalk.

The fit is relaxed, but not overly so–size down if you fancy something more snug.

When you’re on the hunt for one of the best short-sleeve shirts, keep fabric and construction top of mind. And for times when linen might not be substantial enough, opt for a soft-yet-sturdy cotton poplin, like this lightweight yet adventure-minded Legendary Whitetails option.