Good source for men's short-sleeved button-down shirts?

October 28, 2013 9:53 AM

Husband's birthday is coming up and I want to get him some new shirts, but I have always had trouble finding the exact kind he likes. Searching online hasn't gotten me very far either. So hivemind, do you know where I can find: button-down short-sleeved shirts, good quality fabric, preferably solids or plaids in interesting/vibrant colors (not just the same old going-to-work blue), not slim fit, not hawaiian or skater style. Budget: $50-$100 per shirt.

FWIW the difficulty here seems to be the short-sleeved part of things; he does like the offerings at some mall stores like Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Express, Lucky, etc, but only rarely do they have button-downs that are not long-sleeved. I would be open to getting something custom made but it might be difficult to do that as a surprise.

posted by annekate to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (18 answers total)

Best answer: Lands' End? LL Bean? Bonobos had them during the summer; looks like this madras is the only one left, and only in XS or S.
posted by supercres at 10:00 AM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Land's End has options for you. Largely they're in summer colors (since they're short sleeves.) A tailor can easily and pretty cheaply turn long sleeve shirts into short sleeve shirts for you which would give you more wintery color options either from the dress or casual button down categories (though I wouldn't shorten the sleeves of flannel shirts in this way.)
posted by Jahaza at 10:03 AM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

also, it may help if you clarify if you want button down (shirt collar buttons down) or button up (buttons along the front) shirts.
posted by Jahaza at 10:06 AM on October 28, 2013

Response by poster: I hadn't thought of Lands' End but that selection is a good start, thank you!

also, it may help if you clarify if you want button down (shirt collar buttons down) or button up (buttons along the front) shirts.

I'm not sure I know the difference. Do you have links that illustrate which is which?
posted by annekate at 10:10 AM on October 28, 2013

Land's end is excellent because they do a wrinkle free shirt that even Husbunny can't look disheveled in!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:13 AM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure I know the difference.

A button-front shirt is any standard dress shirt that has buttons all the way along the front to open and close the shirt. A button-down is a sub-category of button-front - the ones that have little buttons holding the collar down. Button-downs have both buttons along the front and little buttons on the points of the collar.

Many people say "button-down" when they mean "a shirt that buttons down the front, including shirts with the collar buttons" but many other people say "button down" when they mean only "button-front shirts which also have the little collar buttons".
posted by Frowner at 10:13 AM on October 28, 2013 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Ahhh okay thank you. In this case both would be fine though I think button-front is generally what I mean.
posted by annekate at 10:15 AM on October 28, 2013

If you add "with a pocket" to your husband's requirements, he could be my husband. We have had really good luck at Macy's. If you don't have one near you, they have a good on-line selection.
posted by blurker at 10:17 AM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

There are a bunch to choose from on jackthreads (though some not available in all sizes).
posted by mattbucher at 10:24 AM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

I've occasionally found nice shirts like that at REI, of all places.
posted by lab.beetle at 10:35 AM on October 28, 2013

RVCA
Cutter & Buck

The button-down shorties are mixed in, but they're there.
posted by rhizome at 10:51 AM on October 28, 2013

You never know what nice shirts you might find at a lower price point at Target, Kohl's, etc. I looked high and low for good quality polo shirts and ended up liking the Merona Ultimate Polo shirts at Target more than any others, including much more expensive ones.
posted by Dansaman at 11:05 AM on October 28, 2013

My husband has gotten a great assortment of these at Marshall's, but they may be out of season now.
posted by hydropsyche at 11:41 AM on October 28, 2013

I find mine @ Goodwill, YMMV......
posted by raildr at 11:47 AM on October 28, 2013

Consumer Reports recommends the JC Penny no-wrinkle line. I like the Costco Kirkland Signature line. Bonus: They're cheap to buy.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:56 PM on October 28, 2013

I like Port Authority's Men's Easy Care Shirts. Amazon.
posted by zinon at 12:59 PM on October 28, 2013

Duluth Trading has been fantastic for my fantastic husband. He can be rather hard on his shirts (they call him... SPILLZILLA...) and they're great. Very durable, look really nice all the time.
posted by Madamina at 3:04 PM on October 28, 2013

My husbands favorites are Ralph Lauren and John Ashford. Nordstrom also has a good selection (and many are on sale now).
posted by biscuits at 3:49 PM on October 28, 2013