15 Denim Shirts To Consider Adding To Your Rotation
Maybe you think your shirting collection is already full to the brim, packed with as many possible types of shirts as you can muster. Here’s the thing: If you truly focus on men’s style essentials, the types of pieces you can wear darn near anywhere with relative ease, there’s one type of shirt you absolutely, positively need in your closet.
Folks, that would have to be the rugged denim shirt. Constructed out of, yes, the same cotton denim as found in your favorite pair of blue jeans, the denim shirt is something of a very close relative to the chambray shirt, yet often heartier in build, construction and fit, with differing washes and weaves (witness the picks on this list of the best denim shirts that straddle the line between “casual shirt” and “rugged overshirt”).
The point is this: The denim shirt’s rich heritage, from its workwear-inspired roots to its role as a symbol of edgy, modern style, is hard to beat. We’re talking the sort of style points most other shirts can only envy: You can wear the right denim shirt atop a crisp white tee or a rugged henley just as easily as you can throw it on under a grey cotton blazer to mix up the pace of your work week ensemble — your dress shirt, stylish as it might be, can’t quite do that.
In short, the denim shirt works for a day at the office (try it under a shawl cardigan), then wears well for happy hour, and then keeps on coming through in the clutch all weekend. Give it a wash, then get it ready to go for the next week. That’s what the best denim shirt can do for you — let’s help you find yours.
Outerknown Westerly Denim Shirt
Whoever said denim can’t be elegant has never felt the Outerknown Westerly Denim Shirt. Made from organic cotton denim sourced from the Kaihara Mill in Japan, this U.S.-made shirt looks and feels like a million bucks.
The denim is soft right out of the box and only gets more comfortable the more you wear it. The colors are sharp and won’t fade even with frequent use, and iconic details like the Western yoke and mother-of-pearl snaps make it the classic upscale cowboy shirt. Wear it all year long to add a touch of style to your wardrobe.
Price: $248
Relwen Highland Blues Denim Shirt
Toughness and comfort: that’s what you get from the Relwen Highland Blues Denim Shirt. The classic cut and style make it a suitable addition to any wardrobe and easy to pair with everything from dark denim to light-colored chinos or work-friendly cargo pants. But what makes it stand out from the crowd is the indigo yarn-dyeing process, which gives it both a unique texture and luxurious hand-feel.
Single-needle sewing, a single chest pocket, shell buttons, and the rounded, slightly tapered shirttail hem work together to create a shirt that looks good with just about anything. Best of all, it’s pre-shrunk, so it fits just right from the first moment you wear it and that fit will never change.
Price: $168
Bonobos Everyday Denim Shirt
Bonobos built the Everyday Denim Shirt to be the top layer you’ll want to wear on every cool or chilly day. The cotton has just enough Spandex blended into the mixture to give it a wonderfully dynamic flexibility and plenty of stretch to keep up with a more active lifestyle.
However, the cotton denim is tough and sturdy so you can wear it for work as well as for those casual weekend activities around town. The blue colorway is eye-catching and features a sleek, elegant finish that will up your style game visibly.
Price: $99
Tevovas Denim Pearl Snap Shirt
If you’re lucky enough to own a pair of Tecovas cowboy boots, it just makes good sense to get the Denim Pearl Snap Shirt to match. This shirt is built as rugged as your favorite boots, using a midweight pure cotton that can stand up to long hours of baling hay, pounding in fence posts, or working around a farm or construction site.
It’s breathable enough you won’t overheat even in the dead of Texas summer, and has enough warmth to be suitable for a spring or autumn in the Pacific Northwest. Reinforcements at the collar, cuffs, and pocket flaps make this shirt even more durable, guaranteed to keep up with a hard-working man like you.
Price: $88
Filson Denim Stampede Shirt
Looking for a shirt with a bit of character? The Filson Denim Stampede Shirt is just the ticket. This shirt has attitude from the moment you slip your arms into it, and the more you wear it, the more unique its denim patina will grow.
The adjustable cuffs, front closure, pocket flaps, and pointed rear Western yoke give it that signature “outlaw” look that makes denim shirts so stylish, but you won’t find a fabric more comfortable than the heavyweight Japanese denim used in its making. Thanks to its yarn-dyeing and pre-shrinking treatment, it’ll hold its fit and color for the rest of its—and possibly your—long life.
Price: $225
Pendleton Wyatt Denim Shirt
American designs, American construction, American quality: that’s the Pendleton promise. The Wyatt Denim Shirt lives up to the brand’s high standards and delivers a classic denim shirt that will be right at home at any hoedown, barn raising, or rodeo.
The cotton construction is sturdy enough that it’ll suit as a work shirt but eye-catching enough you’ll be proud to wear it out on a date night. For guys with a bit more weight to carry, you’ll love how the regular fit accentuates your broad shoulders while pulling eyes away from your midsection.
Price: $100
Orvis Lined Teton Denim Shirt
Stave off the cold in style and comfort with the Orvis Lined Teton Denim Shirt. The exterior may be the classic washed denim you know and love, but the interior is lined with a tough, ultra-warm polyester fleece that will keep out the wind and cold even when the weather turns ugly.
Throw it on over your T-shirt in the final days of spring or early autumn, or wear it beneath a sheepskin or woolen coat when winter begins to truly set in. The double-stitched construction ensures it’s tough enough to keep up with even the busiest working man.
Price: $129
Kuhl Desperado Denim Shirt
The Kuhl Desperado Denim Shirt brings a fresh crispness to denim shirts that few other brands can. You won’t feel over-starched or constricted in the shirt, but it’s built to look sharp and wear comfortably.
Pair it with dark jeans, light-colored khakhis, or a pair of chinos to dress it up, and don’t forget to match it with your favorite dress cowboy boots to complete the outfit. The “performance” blend of cotton and polyester will hold up for long years of daily use—and look good in the doing.
Price: $89
Marine Layer Long-Sleeve Classic Denim Shirt
Skip the long break-in and wear-in process and jump straight to the ultra-comfy, made-for-you feel you want with the Marine Layer Long-Sleeve Classic Denim Shirt.
The stonewashing treatment gives it that faded, laid-back look you love, and the fabric will be so soft you’ll never want to swap your denim shirt out for a cotton tee. The relaxed style is perfect for a stroll around town or a weekend spent enjoying the comforts of your home.
Price: $128
Filson Denim Work Shirt
The Filson Denim Work Shirt is among the toughest work-friendly shirts you’ll find on the market. Made from heavyweight fourteen-and-a-half-ounce denim, this shirt feels like a suit of armor tough enough to shield you from and hold up against the rigors of even the hardest construction, farming, or ranching work.
Thanks to the rear shoulder pleats, your arms have full range of motion whether you’re swinging a hammer, an axe, or a pitchfork. Near-indestructible metal buttons, rivet-reinforced chest pockets, and adjustable cuffs make this shirt as work-friendly as you’ll find anywhere.
Price: $155
Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt
Throw on this throwback to the Wild West, and you’ll always look your best. Flint and Tinder brings a true taste of the good old days with the Bone Button Western Shirt, an authentically American shirt that combines the iconic frontier design with top-quality Southern manufacturing.
Say goodbye to buttons; this shirt uses cow bone snaps, a sturdier, safer, and more reliable choice to keep your shirt in place when riding or roping. Made with eight-ounce denim, it’s the perfect balance between lightweight comfort and hard-wearing durability.
Billy Reid Denim Shirt
Going out for the night and need a shirt to dress things up? Look no further than the Billy Reid Denim Shirt. This shirt uses distressed denim to give it a weathered look, which pairs perfectly with the antique brass snaps, single-barred cuffs, and double chest pockets.
This is the shirt that lets everyone know you’ve seen some adventures and have great stories to tell. Best of all, the pure cotton denim is luxuriously soft and can stand up to hardcore use. Just beware: the slim fit may mean you need to order a size up.
L.L.Bean Men’s BeanFlex Denim Shirt
Denim can look casual and relaxed, too. That’s exactly what you get with L.L.Bean’s BeanFlex Denim Shirt. Made to be untucked and worn loose, this shirt keeps you cool, comfortable, and dry all day long.
Thanks to its addition of spandex into the cotton fabric, there’s just enough flex that the shirt will move and bend with you, making it perfect for all of your everyday activities. With its triple needle stitching and gusseting along the side seams, you can trust that this is a shirt tough enough to handle anything life can throw at it.
Taylor Stitch Western Shirt in Washed Denim
Nothing says “low-key stylish” like the Taylor Stitch Western Shirt in Washed Denim. This denim shirt has that washed, vintage look that you’ve been craving, and is surprisingly soft on your skin from the moment you put it on.
The Western-style front and back yokes pair with the double-snap cuffs, YKK western snaps, and antique brass concho top button to complete the “Western” flair that will turn any pair of jeans into a classy night-out outfit. Made using lightweight selvedge denim, it’s a shirt that will last for many great years of use and look good every time you wear it.
Imogene + Willie Earl Selvedge Denim Shirt
When the days grow short and the nights grow cool, you’re going to want to have this Imogene + Willie shirt close at hand. The Earl Selvedge Denim shirt is made using mid-weight selvedge denim that is garment-washed to give it the time-worn, relaxed look that sets it apart from the crowd, and a true-to-size fit that makes shopping a breeze every time.
It’s even pre-shrunk to ensure it always fits just right, and you’ll love how “broken in” it feels right out of the box.
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