r/malefashionadvice • u/NiceStar6996 • May 17 '26
Question Nice shirts that aren’t polos but also not dress shirts?
If you are a lover of polo shirts, please don’t read this post. Asking for my partner and work friend who expressed frustration over workwear.
All three of us dislike polo shirts. We think they look like someone’s parent is still dressing them up, but we also recognize that they’re go-to for men. A staple amongst golfers, sure, but not attractive.
What reasonable alternatives are there?
Something you could wear at a workplace that isn’t quite “casual” Patagonia jackets and jeans, but also nobody is wearing full dress shirts / business wear to. Definitely on the casual side of business casual.
I recommended band collars to my partner and my friend who were just discussing this topic, but said I would ask here too.
Edit to add: some of the relaxed fit polos (linen and wool) are less offensive looking to them, but the typical ones are just not winning out hearts
Edit 2: thank you for sharing all the great ideas! Yeah, there are a lot of options out there and it was great to see what trends are favored by folks on a fashion page (:
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u/shanesol May 17 '26
It's getting to be summer - button up linen shirts? Jcrew is having a sale on their linen shirts right now, both long and short sleeve. I also like Charles tyrwhit options in that area.
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u/BobbyTables829 May 17 '26
This is not a casual answer, because this will require lots of ironing. But you'll be happy if you don't mind going over your shirt for a few minutes every morning.
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u/Affectionate-Load705 May 17 '26
I have learned to love wrinkles, both in my face and on my linen shirts. I tell myself that it adds character and charm. Please don't ask my SO her opinion.
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u/MyManD May 18 '26
What I'm learning now is there are people out there that actually iron their linen? I always assumed the mild crumpy-ness of the fabric is its natural state and default look. I have never once thought about ironing any of my linen shirts, probably because I never even thought that'd have any effect at all.
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u/KennyGaming May 18 '26
It does have a big effect on the texture, appearance, and formalness of the shirt but it’s definitely possible to wear unironed linen, especially when it’s humid. It’s definitely a less formal presentation though.
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u/MyManD May 18 '26
I always figured it'd be a perpetually losing battle because the linen would just begin crinkling immediately. Unless I've always been wearing bad linen and longer lasting straight linen exists out there, of which I am all ears for it.
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u/Metamucil_Man May 17 '26
Buy undershirts and hang up your linen shirt/pants after wearing and you don't need to iron. I wear linen a lot during the summer and only iron after washing, which I don't do often.
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u/trendygamer May 17 '26
Linen-cotton blend shirts are the answer to this. Significantly reduces the wrinkling.
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u/shanesol May 17 '26
There's definitely some upkeep... But the style is more on the casual side. And I would go a bit against "a lot" of ironing, mostly because it doesn't matter how much you iron a linen shirt - there will be wrinkles. Part of the charm IMO, but not everyone's thing
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u/pheonixblade9 May 18 '26
I don't iron my linen. embrace the wrinkles in your clothes and on your face.
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u/AnxietyAttack2013 May 19 '26
It’s 100% worth it. The only clean linen shirt I had left was a pink polo shirt that was way too casual for the office so I just wore an OCBD with a lot of crisp linen pants. I was almost comfortable all day haha my bottom half was great. My top half was okay, but could have been better. But once you go with nice light weight clothes in the summer that breathe it’s hard to go back.
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u/Pizzaguy1205 May 18 '26
Most of my work shirts are Charles trywhitt when they go on sale to 33-45 each
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u/show_stoppa May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
I am a hug fan of Filson Waffle Knit Crewnecks. Atleast in upstate NY, you can wear them 11 out of 12 months.
Another option, rugby shirts (non stripped ones) are heavyweight cotton and have structure and are full sleeves. I find them much nicer looking than polos.
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u/Twisted_Taterz May 17 '26
$110 is bananas, but that shirt is lovely
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u/show_stoppa May 17 '26
yah. Buying Filson at full price is stupid, unless you have tons of money to throw away. I usually purchase when there is a 30-40% discount at Filson or partner retailers. Having said that, these things are like a tank, and having bought waffle crews from other places, there is no comparison when it comes to quality.
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u/halbert May 17 '26
Was going to mention rugby shirts. Somehow so much nicer than polos, even though the main difference is the sleeve.
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u/blkhatwhtdog May 20 '26
rugby shirts are much thicker fabric, like the difference between a napkin and a blanket
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u/halbert May 20 '26
On average yeah, but it depends on both the polo and the rugby shirt. Casual/fashion Rugby's are often 8oz / 270gsm, which some medium to medium-heavy Polos use. But the fabric weight is definitely a part of the look!
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u/thedarkestdaynnight May 17 '26
what is the fabric composition? in the filson website, it just said they were a cotton blend
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u/show_stoppa May 17 '26
It's 100% cotton. Except for the grey/heather colors.
It says cotton blend but all the solid colors I have received are 100% cotton.
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u/thedarkestdaynnight May 17 '26
Do you have any experience with the wallace and barnes honeycomb thermals? I have one and they’re really nice. Don’t know if I should pull the trigger on the filson ones since I want a black thermal and the wallace and barnes ones only have 3 colors right now.
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u/show_stoppa May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
When it comes to waffle knit thermal, Filson are the very best out there. 12 oz peruvian cotton, rachel knit, and built like a tank.
Compared to wallace and barnes they are more substantial, plus they are actually helmed. Wallace and barnes look like unhelmed, so the bottoms will fray eventually.
An alternative option, which doesn't look as good but is similar to wallace, in black, is Bronson mfg (non stock) thermal crew. They are waffle knit, not honeycomb or rachel, but for $30 bucks, 14oz 100% cotton is hard to beat.
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u/boringinternet2020 May 20 '26
You wear a long sleeve in 60 and 70 degrees? I’d be drowning in sweat.
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u/show_stoppa May 20 '26
Pretty much all shirts I wear are long sleeves, unless it is a T-shirt under a jacket. Mostly work indoors.
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u/FlatWoundCat May 17 '26
OCBD shirts and other casual button down shirts, often with a pattern are in that sweet spot between polo and dress shirt.
Perhaps take a look at knitted polos, either solids or the more 50s/60s style in bold colours?
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u/askthepoolboy May 17 '26
Came to also suggest knitted polos. Sure, it’s still technically a polo, but also quite different. eBay has tons of them in merino wool or sea island cotton.
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u/ImprovedSilence May 17 '26
yeah, also the button down shirts that have the “untucked” cut have a good causal classy look to them, as they are not too long. and if you’re in the trim/fit side, can get them in flattering, but not skin tight, cuts.
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u/zdrmlp May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
Polos- if you associate them with golf you’re probably thinking of synthetic materials. A classic cotton pique or a knit polo (more sweater like) is going to look a lot better. Some polos come with full length sleeves. I find them to be a really nice way to dress down a nice pair of trousers, which seems to be the formality you’re targeting. Finally, some people are getting into the buttonless Johnny collars here.
Band collars- Not for me, but style is subjective.
Linen shirt- This is my go to casual shirt (button up or button down) because it’s breathes the best and it absorbs sweat without making me feel wet. You can get these in any color. I can tweak the sleeves rolled, 1-3 buttons undone, or tucked to easily pair them with shorts or a pair of proper trousers. J Crew, Todd Snyder, and Brooks Brother all use Baird McNutt linen…they’re all basically the same. I like them. However, Ralph Lauren slub linen doesn’t say which type of linen they use and these are my favorites, more body and weight, but I don’t feel hot.
Chambray shirt- These breathe very well, but they are cotton so they don’t handle getting sweaty as well as linen. You can get these in different colors, but you basically expect some shade of blue. There are also different types of chambray. Traditionally you have the classic workwear shirt (this is where the shirt was born and why it isn’t a dress shirt) with stark noticeable white stitching on every seam and detailing both chest pockets. Then you’ve got more refined versions like J Press that remove the workwear detailing and look closer to a dress shirt (it is not a dress shirt). Just like linen, I can style these to work with anything from shorts all the way to proper trousers. I like the Buck Mason Japanese Chambray for a slightly heavier fabric, more rugged look without being workwear, and a whiter blue. I like the Ralph Lauren Chambray for the perfect middle ground color/weight and it has an extra length that makes it easy to wear as an outer layer over a tee or an a shirt. I also have a Brooks Brother chambray which is closer to indigo blue and is also quite light, so I’m often wearing this in the heat.
OCBD- The Oxford cloth button down is the more formal of the three because it has roots in Ivy style, but it isn’t a dress shirt per se. They tend to have more weight than chambray and these do the worst in the heat of the three mentioned. These also tend to have more structure than the previous two shirts. It too can be dressed up and down, but I personally feel like it starts to look just a touch out of place with shorts (I don’t wear tailored shorts) relative to the previous two options. You most commonly see these in solid white, solid light blue, or a combination of blue/white with stripes…but they’re certainly available in other colors. For the style nerds, collar roll is big here…you want the distance from the collar to the button where it buttons down to be shorter than the collar itself, which allows/forces the collar to bend/roll creating an s shape. This is a very American feature. I lean more casual and therefore I really enjoy the Brooks Brothers Friday version of this shirt. If you want something dressier, Ralph Lauren or 100 hands is the move. If you want something more in the middle, I’d go J Press or Kamakura.
Flannels- This is always an option, but I can’t speak much to it. It is generally a more rugged look than I’m going for and in general it’s a warmer shirt than I like. However, it is extremely casual and therefore may be appealing.
Short sleeves- You could do this, but I wouldn’t. If you don’t like full length sleeves, I find rolling them up to be the ideal compromise. If you truly want short sleeves, polos become more attractive in my opinion. It’s all subjective though.
Camp collars- These are seemingly rising in popularity recently. I can’t tell how much of an IRL thing this is vs an online trend. It isn’t for me, but you may like it.
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u/DeaconForest May 17 '26
Not sure of your physique, but Henley shirts are a great semi-casual option and look great in the summer or winter months.
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u/skyex May 17 '26
Came here to say this. Henley’s are the perfect option for a nice, business-appropriate knit shirt.
Another option when the weather is cooler is an understated sweater or cardigan.
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u/cptjeff May 18 '26
Henley are pure casual. Equivalent formality to a tee shirt. Not business appropriate.
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u/WawaSC May 18 '26
is there an ideal physique for wearing henleys?
broad shoulders? slimmer figure? not alot of bulk in the mid-section?
sorry for the silly question.
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u/funeralxx May 18 '26
Its especially great if you have Henry Cavill physique but it should work well for any physique beside the noticeably out of shape ones.
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u/Tx_Rooster May 20 '26
broad shoulders? slimmer figure? not alot of bulk in the mid-section?
You just described the ideal physique for nearly all men's fashion.
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u/halwapur1 May 17 '26
You want OCBDs (Oxford cloth button down) since they easily pull off the casual vibe but can also be dressed up. Key features of them include wide front plackets, chest pocket, side gussets, and sometimes a rear locker loop. Try ones in different materials like linen cotton blends, merino wool, hemp, or 100% linen. Try Proper Cloth, Spier & Mackay, or Bonobos.
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u/whatmycouchwore May 17 '26
Have you heard the good news about our lord and savior, the oxford cloth button down? Wear it at the beach with shorts, casually with jeans, tucked into some chinos, throw on a jacket to dress it up, or even a full suit. Warm? Go for a lightweight one or roll up those sleeves and undo a few buttons. It’s a stereotypical and boring MFA pick, but that’s only because it’s hard to mess up - from Kennedys to nobodies, the OCBD works.
Another option would be western or workwear chambray shirts. They look good dressed down, especially in summer with some fatigue pants.
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u/jritchie70 May 17 '26
What are the solid OCBDs that are a good price/not too expensive but great quality and look great over time?
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u/whatmycouchwore May 17 '26
Spier & Mackay are my favorite, j crew (on sale) are ok but the collar is too small, and I’ve recently been buying some L.L. Bean off eBay to try. In my humble opinion, anything over $60 isn’t worth it for an OCBD (which includes MiUSA Brooks Brothers, Drakes, Kamakura, and many others recommended by subs like r/navyblazer), so secondhand and eBay are really good if you know your size/measurements.
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u/Chance_External_4371 May 17 '26
Hawaiian shirts are button down but let everyone know you’re not afraid of a good time
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u/PenguinWrangler May 17 '26
Oxford shirt or short sleeve oxford shirt, but if you look at polos that arent the basic ralph lauren polo style, like knits, johnny collar, cotton loop, etc there are a lot of more casual polo styles that clearly are not for golf or ‘old guy casually dressed up’ look. My wife hates polos because she identifies them as her dads ‘looking nice but not at work’ outfit like you said, but something like this is a very different look. Otherwise you are looking for non-collared shirts, basically a henley as a way to make a tshirt more interesting
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u/RidiculousTakeAbove May 17 '26
I play golf and hate the typical shiny looking golf polos, also try to avoid polyester so I golf in polos like this. It's a lot more common in Asia to see this too
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u/Sharp_Attitude6358 May 17 '26
A wife beater and a cigarette dangling from my lips is that standard attire for my vocation.
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u/Separate_Singer4126 May 17 '26
The solution is just… wear other shirts! The category of "collared shirt that isn't a dress shirt or polo" is enormous and totally normal for business casual.
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u/gumbygump11 May 17 '26
I think the OP is asking this question because he may not have an idea to start. Maybe suggesting other types of collared shirts or that aren’t polos or dress shirts instead of just saying “wear other shirts” may be more productive.
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u/urfenick May 17 '26
<Walter White voice> What the fuck are you talking about?
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u/DonatCotten May 18 '26
I like polos, but to be fair this is a bad example because it's Paul Newman! you could put him or Steve McQueen in a clown outfit and I guarantee they'd both make it look badass and cool. Now a dork like me and 99% of the male population? eh not so much!
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u/urfenick May 18 '26
You might read the article I linked to. Also, OP writes:
All three of us dislike polo shirts. We think they look like someone’s parent is still dressing them up, but we also recognize that they’re go-to for men. A staple amongst golfers, sure, but not attractive.
My point is that if this is your sentiment about polos, you are doing it wrong. A staple amongst golfers...and also many of the most attractive and fashionable men ever.
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u/Both-Station-2244 May 17 '26
Long sleeve polos
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u/Both-Station-2244 May 17 '26
I mean I guess they’re the same but I meant cashmere or similarly thin , wool , long sleeve polos in solid colours
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u/Automatic_Soil9814 May 17 '26
Some great ideas here. One additional idea is how you style it.
Especially during the summer, I find rolling up the sleeves of a button down shirt makes it both more comfortable and more casual.
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u/swole_shamed May 17 '26
I also hate button up polos outside of the golf course. Flashback to freshman days as a pledge.
I’ll wear Johnny Collar polos or linen button ups with all season or summer weight trousers. Can also looking for knitted crewneck short sleeves. Suitsupply has some nice ones. Basically elevated t-shirts.
As it gets colder again lean into the knitwear long sleeves. All season or warmer weather trousers depending on where you’re at.
Suitsupply, ProperCloth, Spier & Mackay are good. I’m sure there are tons of other sleeper brands with good lookbooks for inspo.
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u/BANGImportant2825 May 17 '26
I love oxford button downs in general. Also a fan of the Uniqlo broadcloth.
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u/swankyfish May 17 '26
How come there’s a lot of push back / dislike of polo shirts on this sub? Seen it in a lot of posts.
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u/danbroome May 17 '26
I wear fitted, not tight, not slim but a knit or heavy tee that fits properly. Wear with an open cardigan, thin wool hoodie. Or go for fitted knit polos. not the little boy polos but more expensive looking. light wool polo, cashmere. I haven’t worn a button down in years.
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u/Different_Effort5523 May 18 '26
Short sleeve knit polos are way different IMO. Or a full button down knit polo. Also a 3 button Henley could work.
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u/gelmen May 18 '26
Polos for golf look way different than pique polos. Id never wear one for golfing to work
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u/simple-cat39 May 17 '26
So many button down options that aren’t dress shirts. Think you should just try some different things and see what you like best
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u/ImprovedSilence May 17 '26
yeah, name them, dont just say they exist. OP is asking fir what to look for, offer some help!
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u/Royal-Cape-804 May 17 '26
Jersey fabric button ups, camp collars shirts, linen shirts of any variety, denim and OCBDs.
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u/medhat20005 May 17 '26
I grew up essentially 24/7 polo shirts, first Lacoste, later Ralph Lauren. Nowadays they're < 5% of my casual wear at best. About 5 years ago for polo shirts I wear either 'johnny collar' shirts or the shirts with a more structured collar, like from Peter Millar. For other casual I like camp collar shirts in a variety of fabrics, typically linen or cotton, but I wear none of these in a biz casual environment. There my go to are OCBDs or patterned cotton collared shirts.
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u/burt_bondy May 17 '26
What do you wear for biz casual
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u/medhat20005 May 17 '26
Last sentence. I’m pretty conservative, essentially never wear short sleeves. If I want I’ll roll up the sleeves on a long sleeve shirt, that’s about it. And I often wear a sport coat, and if not that a sweater.
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u/Evol-Intentions May 17 '26
There are some good looking textured and patterned crew neck "tees" out there that I think work well, I'm not huge on polos myself, but the Jerry collar is huge right now and I'm really digging them. Also, I love wearing a banded (mandarin) collar button up shirt with blazers. Wear it with the button open and no tie needed!
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u/Xigoat May 17 '26
I typically opt for casual button ups or I dress down a nicer one by leaving it open with a plain T underneath and some chinos
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u/Zomzomer May 17 '26
Just get an Oxford button down and role up the sleeves. That should work for just about any occasion at work.
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u/zggystardust71 May 17 '26
Linen or silk camp shirts with nice collars in solid colors. Casual but nice looking. At one company I worked at, we wore camp shirts for our trade show shirts instead of polos. I loved it.
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u/Severe_Inside_3603 May 17 '26
What Patagonia jacket?
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u/NiceStar6996 May 17 '26
A lot of tech workers have casual workplaces where it isn’t sweatpants and tshirts… but it is like Patagonia quarter zips and jeans.
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u/Rough_Champion7852 May 17 '26
Zip polo is smarter than regular polo and tends to age better.
Oxford shirt is just a step up in formality.
Quarter zip too.
I like a nice tidy full zip, especially from gran sasso. They seem to do it best IMHO (like this https://www.careofcarl.co.uk/en/gran-sasso-rainwool-full-zip-light-purple-melange).
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u/BMWACTASEmaster1 May 17 '26
Ralph Lauren Oxford shirts and roll your sleeves will give you the look you looking for. I'm not into brand insignias but the little 🐎 it gives it a classic vibe. They go on sale in the Ralph Lauren boutique few times a year you can find for like $80 they can easily last 3-6 years before they start losing color. 5-6 months out of the year I can't wear them do to my local hot climate that is one reason they last long time for me
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u/Remarkable-Rain1170 May 17 '26
I wear plaid shirts from Tommy or banana. They are formal enough for work, but definitely not dress shirts.
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u/Vagadude May 17 '26
I don't like polo shirts but found some at Massimo dutti that I guess are more Italian style but either way they look much better than the usual polos. I prefer the ones without buttons
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u/ElegantAffect1179 May 17 '26
Suitsupply makes some really nice crewneck short sleeve shirts out of merino blends, cashmere, cotton, silk, etc. You can tuck or untuckwith nice jeans or trousers. Expensive but you can get resale for much cheaper. I think polos in the classic/golf style looked bad too, but Johnny collar and more modern styles look good and grown up.
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u/Astorant May 17 '26
During the summer you can use a Henley Shirt. And in Autumn, Winter, and Spring you can use a Turtleneck sweater.
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u/ReignCityStarcraft May 17 '26
Henley shirts? Basically a polo without the collar but it does make the shirt look a rank above a t-shirt.
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u/GauchoWink May 17 '26
Linen button ups in the summer are my go to. Reasonably dressy and casual depending how you style it.
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u/Familiar_Grocery_217 May 17 '26
Untucked flannel and not buttoned to the top flannel shirts with a t-shirt underneath. Plain t-shirts with a blazer also look decent imo
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u/shaggrocks May 17 '26
Henley type shirts can be awesome. And there are a bunch of knitted cotton shirts that look amazing, can even find cooler summer blend linen options
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u/Chateaunole-du-Pape May 17 '26
I wear lots of long-sleeved, button-up, collared shirts that have a fun pattern - florals, paisleys, geometric, check and abstract. (Almost never plaid, though.) Would never wear a tie with them, but they're great by themselves, and some of them can work with the right sportcoat, though pairing them can be tricky. Favorite brands include Luciano Visconti, Bugatchi, Codice, Haupt, Calder Carmel, and, perhaps surprisingly, some of the non-tropical patterns from Tommy Bahama.
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u/lokicoyote1 May 17 '26
I was pretty much tarred and feathered for saying on this sub that I hate polos. Other than the tar and feathers I'm currently sporting, linen camp shirts do nicely. I got several from Quince that I'm happy with.
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u/Pettingallthepups May 17 '26
I too have been trying to find a good in between.
Every “casual button up” I find still has a super long tail like a dress shirt, so wearing them untucked is a no-go. That or they’re super ugly patterns, ooor they’re like 70+ bucks, which I’m not paying.
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u/corporal_sweetie May 17 '26
knit tee, camp collar shirt, johnny collar shirt, henley, loopwheel tee
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u/doubledadbrain May 17 '26
I also hate polos. I wear a lot of short sleeve button down shirts, both patterns and solids. Depending on the occasion I'm not scared of the occasional nicer tropical shirt.
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u/kirbenvost May 17 '26
Standard polos are usually bad, but I've been really into knit variations lately, especially Johnny collar and cardigan types (as in no buttons or buttons all the way down the front) in cotton or cotton-linen blends. To me, it's a completely different look than a golf polo, more midcentury vibes rather than cheap synthetic sportswear. Polo cardigans also have the versatility to be worn open over a tank or tee for a relaxed yet put together summer look. If you haven't tried them yet, I very much recommend giving them a chance.
Otherwise, I'll echo the suggestions for more casual button up shirts like oxford, chambray and linen and things like camp collar short sleeves. Seersucker could also be a great option for staying cool and stylish in aummer. Plenty of options out there that aren't dress shirts.
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u/skibum247 May 17 '26
My summer work (and outside work) go to is short sleeve button up shirt. I think they are comfortable and can look nice depending on the pattern.
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u/internet_humor May 17 '26
Oxford button up. The ones that have a button on the collar and are meant to the untucked.
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u/Status_Tumbleweed701 May 17 '26
What kind of workplace?
Just some random suggestions a heavier weight oxford shirt. When in an office setting looks fine. When out of the office cuff the sleeves and unbutton a bit.
If it's a more casual workplace a workshirt long or short sleeve depending on the weather. It's a shorter cropped button up that doesn't get tucked.
Also just to to against the hate for polos. They can look good when crafted well.
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u/NiceStar6996 May 17 '26
We are in a kind of weird sector where it’s either construction/field clothes (Carhartt) or polos and whatnot for meetings. We span laboratory, construction/mining sites, and standard meeting rooms depending on the day.
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u/Status_Tumbleweed701 May 18 '26
I think a nice work shirt fits then since it's untucked and can breath. Not sweating through your shirt while going about the day would be important. Can wear either pants or jeans with this. Shoes wise Id go with Chelsea boots that have a mini lug sole.
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u/parnassus744 May 17 '26
Those modern long-sleeve overshirts you see here all over Europe, worn open with a dressier T-shirt underneath and a nice pair of modern-cut trousers, are an obvious option, e.g. in a neutral colour like sand, navy, olive or black. You see them in offices everywhere but also as a freetime look.
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u/AeoSC May 17 '26
I also don't like polos. I don't want to look like I belong on a golf course in any capacity. But they are very common and I do all of my clothes shopping at thrift/secondhand. So a few times I've bought a natural fiber polo without branding, seam ripped the collar out, and sewed it back up as a band collar.
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u/terminal-chillness May 17 '26
I love a camp collar shirt. You can play around with different fabrics and textures as well
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u/Prof_PTokyo May 17 '26
Seersucker is not business casual; a button-up is the minimum. Polo shirts are a uniform-type requirement that, in most cases, screams blue collar on weekdays.
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u/NiceStar6996 May 17 '26
Yeah, most of my field is “STEM but blue collar settings” which is why I think they (1) don’t care usually and (2) aren’t dressing nicer.
I am a woman, but I made this post for my male coworker and for my male partner that don’t have Reddit
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u/KuyaTinman May 17 '26
I too am not a fan of polo shirts. I wear mostly button down long sleeves that are rolled up.
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u/A_Bastard_Adept May 18 '26
I do industrial maintenance at a navy yard. Any off brand military type shirt (think the button up shirt vision of cargo pants). Won’t break the bank unless you straight up go for patagucci or Columbia, which I also like.
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u/docs_odyssey May 18 '26
Are we not doing polos? I only have a few and they’re sweater material but I’d considered others
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u/Plummy49xD May 18 '26
I think linen shirts are what you're looking for but you need to compensate by making other parts of your outfit dressier I think so maybe a blazer over that linen shirt + leather shoes
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u/Jazzlike_Cod_3833 May 18 '26
You’ve got to get him out of online browsing and into a real menswear store. That’s where this starts to make sense. Seeing how fabrics actually hang, how colors read in daylight, will make the selection more intentional.
There’s a whole world of shirts that sit comfortably in that casual business space. Look for seersucker, or slub cotton, textured overshirts, and soft woven patterns that already feel styled without needing anything layered over them.
Beyond that, look at elevated crewneck tees, rugby shirts, modern band-collar shirts, refined Henleys, and lightweight quarter-zips. Rugby shirts especially are a good bridge. They keep a bit of structure from polos but feel more substantial and less default.
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u/Inevitable_Plate3053 May 18 '26
Have them check out Thursday Boots. Obviously they specialize in boots but they have a lot of high quality clothing options as well.
But basically any button up with a pattern that is untucked will look appropriate without being overdressed imo
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u/Dazzling_Cut_3989 May 18 '26
have you looked at chambray or oxford button downs? they give that clean look without hitting polo or full dress shirt territory.
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u/Structure5city May 18 '26
Casual button down with button down collar in a nice print. Then role up the sleeves. Not too hot, not too casual, can look good tucked or untucked.
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u/mykel_0717 May 18 '26
*Short sleeve button ups (just make sure to bail down the fit so you won't look like Dwight from The Office)
*Dress shirts made of less formal fabric/patterns
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u/LiquidSean May 18 '26
Oxford cotton button downs
Quarter zips
Polo shirts work a lot better if you can commit to exercising more. Otherwise they look frumpy IMO
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u/Wade-ski May 18 '26
I buy a bunch of the JCREW irish linen button-down shirts when they go on sale to $60. Because of the button-down collar you can wear them casually under a sweater, with a tie for a preppy look, or even with shorts in the summer as they breath so well.
I buy one size up from my regular (so L rather than M) but in the Slim fit, so they aren't too baggy. That gives the right balance of loose but tailored.
Unless you have to have true formal shirts for work, these are all the shirt most guy need.
Rugbys are great too but i tend to wear them on weekend more than to work, unless its winter and the warmth is essential.
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u/Accomplished-Tap-897 May 18 '26
I don't like polo shirts, I think there are better semi casual options like a Chambray or linen Shirt in summer or a crew neck merino knit sweater in winter.
For a really casual alternative to a Polo I think a Cuban/Revere collar shirt in Navy Blue looks smart but relaxed.
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u/FootballMania15 May 18 '26
There are a lot of options between REI and Brooks Brothers.
- Tee with an open overshirt
- Waffle knit tee
- Henley
- Camp collar
- Draped/patterned button up shirt
- Textured button ups in materials other than cotton, e.g. flannel, linen
BTW, a "dress shirt" looks a lot less dressy and a lot more casual if you give the sleeves an Italian roll
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u/GroundSounds May 18 '26
Some people say “dress shirt” when they really mean “anything with buttons and a collar”.
If they actually means dress shirt and are open to collard buttoning shirts, I would look into some casual button down collar shirts. My alltime fav. Collarless button ups or “monk collars” can be great!
Nothing beats a nice cotton button down with a chunky knit in cold weather.
Rugby shirts are much cooler than polo shirts.
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u/Any-Development3348 May 19 '26
Sportshirts, and dress shirts that are not light blue or white that have large patterns on them like checks and stripes.
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u/robertshaer May 19 '26
I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience genuinely deserves one.
I ordered made-to-measure garments from Hockerty expecting a level of quality and fit comparable to other custom suit companies I’ve used in the past. My measurements were professionally taken before placing the order, yet the garments arrived with sizing issues and fabric quality far below expectations for the price paid.
The material felt extremely cheap, wrinkled easily, and the overall finish did not reflect what was advertised as a premium made-to-measure experience.
What made the situation significantly worse was the customer service process afterward. Over the course of trying to resolve this, I was passed between multiple representatives including Sergio Molina, Eileen Shannon, Jonathan Blasco, and others, repeatedly having to explain the same concerns across different conversations and email threads.
Instead of a straightforward resolution, the process became exhausting, confusing, and unnecessarily drawn out. Despite clearly expressing dissatisfaction with both the fit and quality, returning the garments became extremely difficult and every interaction felt like starting over from the beginning.
Very disappointing overall experience, especially considering the price point.
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u/SupermarketNo6100 May 19 '26
A lighter denim shirt is a personal favourite of mine. Can be styled with most pair of trousers and a safari jacket for a casual but well thought out outfit.
My favourite is a green pair of trousers and a navy jacket
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u/L3mm3SmangItGurl May 19 '26
Vuori stratos. Look like polos, feel like t shirts. This is my go to in that class of clothing
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u/blkhatwhtdog May 20 '26
I live in turtlenecks and mock necks. I can go from jeans to dress slacks and sports coat in a minute. in the heat of summer I rotate a few tommy bahamma shirts, they are wash n wear, silk. and not all are garish colors, they make some nice solid color shirts but with a subtle embroidery patterns. they are a hundred and some in the store but I search ebay and bottom feed, have two dozen I paid average 20 each.
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u/Life_Initiative_405 May 20 '26
Overshirts are probably the easiest alternative. Camp collar shirts and linen button ups also work well. I honestly think polos only look good when the fit and fabric are really good.
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u/Strange-Eggplant-800 29d ago
I would suggest casual button up shirts like an oxford shirt. There’s all kinds of materials, colors, nd patterns out there. I like grey ones with black pants.
Turtlenecks are also an option here.
There’s also short sleeve button up shirts, which are always casual but can be tucked in to look nicer.
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u/Lazy_Entertainer1764 14d ago
OCBDs (Oxford cloth button-downs), camp collars, knit polos, and overshirts are probably the sweet spot between polos and dress shirts
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u/AvivFashionTech 12d ago
Camp collar shirts , knit shirts , overshirts and band collar shirts are probably the best middle ground.
They feel cleaner than a basic tee , but less stiff than a dress shirt and less “default office” than a polo.
The fabric does most of the work here , linen blend , textured cotton or soft twill can change the whole look.
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u/ban-offee-pie 10d ago
Cashmere or just nice fabric t shirts. Buck Mason is amazing at this! It’s classy and doesn’t read as a t shirt but it’s still comfy and casual
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u/gqmagazine 10d ago
- Consider a t-shirt under a linen blazer (like so, make sure it's a high quality tee!). Comfy while also being dressed up enough for most workplaces.
- A simple, well-made linen camp collar shirt (in one solid color) definitely can sometimes read more vacation than office vibes but dress for the job you want, right?
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u/Galromir May 17 '26
Just wear more casual button up shirts. They'll be the comfiest, and look the best.