Button-Up & Check Shirts

Checks, stripes and a racing shirt

Burberry check leads the section. The men's Burberry London shirts run from vintage beige Nova Check button-downs with a chest pocket to an oversized blue and gray check in cotton with a little linen, finished with the Equestrian Knight embroidered at the chest.

Stripes come in purple and white cotton from Brunello Cucinelli and a short-sleeve white shirt with blue stripes by Brioni, both Italian-made. The outlier is a vintage Ferrari F1 shirt in red: a licensed piece cut like pit-crew wear, with short sleeves, two chest pockets and embroidered sponsor logos.

Collars and what we look at

A point collar, as on the Dolce & Gabbana Martini shirt, is the standard dress-shirt shape and suits a tie. A button-down collar stays in place when the shirt is worn open at the neck, which suits a casual check.

On checks and stripes, our team compares how the pattern runs across placket, pocket and back yoke, alongside labels, buttons and stitching; careful matching points to good construction. Cotton shirts age at the collar fold and cuff edges, and the listings for the older Burberry London button-downs mention some wear at the collar.

More printed shirts, from Versace to Moschino, are in Shirts.

FAQ

What is a button-down collar?

A collar with small buttons that hold its points to the shirt front. Button-up is broader: any shirt that buttons from collar to hem, so the Burberry London Nova Check shirts are both.

Do you have women's button-ups?

Yes: an SS12 Prada Milano shirt in purple diamond-pattern silk, a pastel floral shirt by Dolce & Gabbana in semi-sheer cotton with lace trim, and vintage Burberry Nova Check shirts, one short-sleeved.

What does a shirt size like 16/41 mean?

It is the collar: 16 inches, or 41 cm, around the neck. Italian labels often give centimeters alone, as on the Brioni, marked 40. Collar size matters most with the top button done up or a tie; worn open, the chest and shoulder measurements in the listing are the better guide.