In praise of the of oxford cloth button down:

The oxford cloth button down is one of Americas greatest contributions to men's fashion. The shirt owes its heritage in 19th century England however, the button down collar was originally used by polo players who wanted a more secure collar during play. The first true oxford button down appeared in the states in the early 1900's, it was a instant success. The next century saw drastic changes in men's fashion, the oxford cloth button down remained a staple in a man's wardrobe throughout this time. There have been some changes to the shirt over the years, shorting of the collar, the use of lining, and a non wrinkle fabric to name a few changes. I think these changes take away from the original idea of the shirt. The shorter lined collar eliminated the it's soft roll and unconstructed feel and the non wrinkle fabric has made the shirt look too starched and perfected. A classic oxford cloth button down is a extremely versatile shirt, easily worn with a tie under a sport coat. blazer, or tweed jacket. In more casual setting the shirt can be worn with khakis, jeans, or shorts. We just received some American made oxford cloth button downs by New England Shirt company, I think they do this iconic shirt justice in their high quality, styling and fit. Stay tuned for pictures and descriptions!