No, really. You need a shirt for a first date? Chambray. A night out with the boys? Chambray. Looking good in the summer heat? Chambray. Workwear? Westernwear? Minimalist? Something a little smarter than a polo, but not an OCBD? A chambray shirt is a great everyday piece with a little extra going on, still palatable to everybody but interesting enough for nerds like me.

Like denim, chambray is made of indigo and white threads. This subtle texture is instantly noticeable, even to people who don't understand what they're looking at, as more casual and more interesting. Furthermore, indigo-dyed cotton fades as it ages, a feature that many appreciate.

Skip straight to...

• My Shopping Guide
• My secondhand roundup for members only
• Further Reading because you don't wanna see my inspo at all

Unlike denim, Chambray is a plain weave, not a twill. This makes a few differences. It usually makes chambray lighter in color and weight, although neither is a defining feature—heavier and darker chambrays exist. It also makes chambray more open and breathable for a given weight, which makes it good for spring and summer shirting. Poplins and other plain weaves are also good for warm weather shirting, but don't come with the casual texture. Moreover, for reasons I can't explain, chambray shirts are usually just softer and more pleasant.

This has made them a historical favorite for many different purposes. Aside from basic dress shirts and button downs, chambray was famously used for work shirts, including classic French workwear and US Navy work shirts. A chambray work shirt typically has two buttoned chest patch pockets. You'll also see a few chambray western shirts, with pearl snaps instead of buttons, and other western details. Collars vary, but camp collars and tab collars aren't uncommon. And they come in short or long sleeves—I personally prefer them with a long sleeve, but both are widely beloved.

As you'll see below, chambray pairs with everything a basic blue shirt would pair with. It looks great with denim, or chinos, or fatigues, and isn't too hard to dress up a bit, like with a casual suit or knit tie. Some styles are better for workwear, some styles are better for dressing up, but all styles hit hard. Let's explore.

Where to Get Chambray Shirts

• Buck Mason is a good starting point because they cover a wide variety of styles: work shirts, western shirts, and basic button downs (like mine).
• J. Crew Giant Fit chambray. You can pretty safely size down on these.
• Billy Reid has one with a pretty unique pocket style
• Ralph Lauren always uses a lot of chambray.
  • Polo work shirt
  • Polo button down
  • RRL Work Shirt
  • another RRL work shirt
  • Yet another RRL work shirt (this one is darker)
  • Women's chambray
  • and so much more
• Freenote Cloth has chambray work shirts and a short sleeve chambray work shirt. I love freenote cloth, but personally prefer the long sleeve, here and in general.
• People love Buzz Rickson's (work shirts) too.
• Todd Snyder also has a few options
  • Work shirt with blue buttons
  • Long sleeve camp collar (currently on pretty deep sale)
  • Hamilton collab dress shirt with their long point collar (in lighter and darker chambrays)
  • Western shirt
  • CPO Overshirt
• • and so many more
• Everything The Real McCoy's does is fantastic.
• Orslow does a couple
• Big Yank does a couple too.
• Wythe does a rinsed indigo and a sunfaded work shirt
• Fullcount is mainly known for its denim, but does this dark chambray work shirt very well, among other things.
• Post-Romantic does custom shirts for as little as $55, like this chambray popover or this chambray button down $85. Their chambray is handloomed, too, which is bonkers at those prices.
• Wrangler does a few different westerns for ~$40, good budget option, especially if you're in the US.
• Bronson's work shirt is $36
• Spier and Mackay's are also good if you're in Canada and on a budget... although Americans are now doomed to cover tariffs.
• Rubato offers a work shirt and a western shirt
• Drake's also has a bunch of options:
  • Popover
  • Guayabera (pretty unique, huh?)
  • Work Shirt
  • Point Collar dress shirt
• Visvim has a work shirt (they call it a "lumber" chambray) and a short sleeve work shirt with chest embroidery. The latter one might make you look like a gas station employee, but it's 22% silk with buttons made from water buffalo horn so... uh... I guess that's cool?
• And The Anthology has their own refined spin on a chambray work shirt. RTW is only $200, which... given that The Anthology is a great bespoke tailoring house, is a pretty easy way to get into the brand.

Custom Options

• Proper Cloth always works if you don't have an absurdly high budget.
• Jake's shirts are so good.
• The Anthology would make you one, if you want to splurge on bespoke.
• People say Luca Avitabile is the best bespoke shirtmaker in the world.

And as a special benefit for Jerry- and Elaine-tier members, I've picked out a bunch of chambray pieces below on eBay and other places that are either very affordable, or very good. Many are both. I included shirts, outerwear, accessories... And I've found quite a few pieces for women this time, too, so that's cool.

Further Reading

• Derek Guy's "Excited to Wear This Spring" series always features chambray.
  • He also wrote this article on chambrays for Put This On
  • Yes, I stole a good amount of inspo from him. Can you blame me?
• Permanent Style:
  • A Guide To Chambray Shirts – Part One: Reproductions
  • A Guide To Chambray Shirts – Part Two: Modern Brands
• What is chambray? | Stridewise
• Five Fits With: Michael Hill, the Man Behind the 'Weird, Wonderful' World of Drake's | Esquire. It looks like two or three of the shirts here are chambray.

Members-Only Picks

I'm going to list secondhand / one-of-one picks below, and since you can't all buy these, they're for members only.