The Oxford Shirt

I’m not the first gent to stock up on oxfords in every color, nor will I be the last, as they are a mainstay in most men’s closets, especially if your wardrobe leans on the preppy side. Right up there with the chino pant and the blazer (OG navy, of course), the oxford shirt (OCBD if you're fancy) is a timeless classic. At one point in time, this was not so. Originating in a 19th-century fabric mill in Scotland, an unknown textile manufacturer had the cunning idea to create four different fabrics named after the elite universities of the day: Oxford, Harvard, Yale, and Cambridge. They each had distinctive features, but the Oxford reigns supreme today due to its durability, breathability, and the fact that it can be worn for just about any occasion.

English Polo players of the time took a liking to the durability of the oxford cloth material and would pin down their collars, so they didn’t flap in their faces during matches, which led to buttons being placed on the collar, and history was made. Fast forward to the 1930s, and the oxford shirt (usually worn with penny loafers) could be found on young gents persuing the halls of American ivy league schools. Over the years, the casual cool of the oxford shirt also transferred over to musicians, actors, and entertainers, with iconic photos of Sydney Poitier and Miles Davis donning their oxfords with their own style.

The oxford shirts featured here are some of my favorites from Rugby Ralph Lauren. The classic oxford cloth is on display, but the subtle touches such as the silk-tie fabric inner collar, the barrel cuffs, and the sewed-on tags featuring a skull-and-bones crest make these stand out even more.