A shirt can mean anything from a crisp white dress shirt worn with a tie to a loose Hawaiian print on holiday. Most shirts can be sorted by three things: the fabric, the collar, and how formal they are.
This guide covers five essential types of shirts with pictures, ten more styles worth knowing, the main collar types, and how a shirt should fit.
Types of Shirts at a Glance
| Shirt | Formality | Collar | Typical fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirt | Casual | None | Cotton jersey |
| Flannel shirt | Casual | Point collar | Brushed cotton or wool |
| Hawaiian shirt | Casual, holiday | Camp collar | Rayon or cotton |
| Denim shirt | Casual to smart casual | Point or button-down | Cotton denim or chambray |
| Dress shirt | Business to formal | Spread, point, or cutaway | Cotton poplin or twill |
5 Essential Types of Shirts with Pictures
1. T-Shirt
The T-shirt is the most worn garment in the world. It is a collarless, pullover top with short sleeves, made from stretchy cotton jersey. It began as an undershirt issued to American sailors and soldiers in the early 1900s and became everyday outerwear after Marlon Brando and James Dean wore plain white tees on screen in the 1950s.
- Fabric: Cotton jersey, often blended with polyester or a little elastane.
- Wear it with: jeans, chinos, shorts, under an open shirt, or with a blazer for a relaxed smart look.
2. Flannel Shirt
A flannel shirt is made of soft, warm fabric with a slightly fuzzy surface, created by brushing the cloth to raise the fibers. Flannel is a fabric, not a pattern, but flannel shirts are so often made in plaid, or tartan, checks that many people use the words interchangeably. They are associated with lumberjacks, outdoor work, and the 1990s grunge music scene.
- Fabric: Brushed cotton, wool, or a blend.
- Wear it with: jeans, boots, and over a T-shirt as a light jacket in autumn.
3. Hawaiian Shirt
The Hawaiian shirt, called the aloha shirt in Hawaii, is a short-sleeved, button-front shirt with a bold print of tropical flowers, palm trees, or birds. It has a flat camp collar and is worn untucked. It developed in Hawaii in the 1930s, partly from Japanese kimono fabrics, and in Hawaii it is accepted as business wear, especially on “Aloha Fridays”.
- Fabric: Rayon, silk, or cotton.
- Wear it with: shorts, chinos, and sandals, or with a plain tee underneath worn open.
4. Denim Shirt
A denim shirt is made from the same twill cotton as jeans, though usually lighter in weight. A closely related fabric, chambray, looks similar but is woven in a plain weave, so it is lighter and softer. Denim shirts began as workwear for cowboys and laborers, and Western versions have snap buttons and pointed yokes.
- Fabric: Cotton denim or chambray.
- Wear it with: chinos, khakis, or black jeans. With blue jeans, choose a different shade of blue.
5. Dress Shirt
A dress shirt is a formal button-front shirt with a structured collar, long sleeves with cuffs, and a long tail designed to stay tucked in. It is worn with a suit and tie for business and formal events. White and light blue are the most versatile colors. French cuffs, which fold back and fasten with cufflinks, are the most formal.
- Fabric: Cotton poplin, twill, oxford cloth, or broadcloth.
- Wear it with: a suit, a tie, and leather dress shoes.
10 More Types of Shirts
- Oxford shirt: made of oxford cloth, a slightly textured basket-weave cotton, usually with a button-down collar. It sits between casual and formal.
- Polo shirt: a knitted short-sleeved shirt with a collar and a short buttoned placket, first designed for tennis by René Lacoste.
- Henley: a collarless shirt with a short buttoned placket at the neck.
- Linen shirt: light and breathable, ideal for hot weather, and meant to look slightly creased.
- Camp collar shirt: a boxy, short-sleeved shirt with a flat, open collar, also called a Cuban collar shirt.
- Overshirt or shacket: a heavy shirt worn open like a light jacket.
- Western shirt: snap buttons, pointed yokes on the chest and back, and often contrast piping.
- Tuxedo shirt: worn with black tie, with a pleated or bib front and a wing or turndown collar.
- Rugby shirt: a thick, long-sleeved knit shirt with bold stripes and a sturdy collar.
- Grandad shirt: a collarless shirt with a short band at the neck.
Common Shirt Collar Types
| Collar | Look | Best with |
|---|---|---|
| Point | Narrow gap between the collar points | Most ties, and narrow faces |
| Spread | Wide gap between the points | Larger tie knots, and round faces |
| Cutaway | Very wide spread, almost horizontal | Bold knots, fashion-forward looks |
| Button-down | Points buttoned to the shirt | Casual and smart casual wear |
| Mandarin or band | Short standing band, no points | No tie, relaxed looks |
| Wing | Small upturned tips | Bow ties with black or white tie |
How Should a Shirt Fit?
- The shoulder seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder bone.
- You should be able to fit one or two fingers inside a buttoned collar.
- Long sleeves should end at the base of the thumb, so a little cuff shows beneath a jacket.
- The fabric should not pull across the chest when buttoned. Tight horizontal creases around the buttons mean it is too small.
- A shirt meant to be worn untucked should end around the middle of your back pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of shirts?
The main types are T-shirts, polo shirts, dress shirts, oxford shirts, flannel shirts, denim shirts, Hawaiian or camp collar shirts, and Henleys.
What is the difference between a dress shirt and a casual shirt?
A dress shirt has a stiff, structured collar, cuffs, and a long tail made to be tucked in. A casual shirt has a softer collar and a shorter, straight hem that can be worn untucked.
What is the difference between flannel and plaid?
Flannel is a soft, brushed fabric. Plaid is a pattern of crossing stripes. Many flannel shirts are plaid, but not all plaid shirts are flannel.
What is an oxford shirt?
An oxford shirt is made from oxford cloth, a basket-weave cotton with a slight texture. It usually has a button-down collar and works for both casual and business-casual outfits.
Should a shirt be tucked in?
Dress shirts should always be tucked in. Shirts with a straight, even hem, such as Hawaiian, camp collar, and many casual shirts, are designed to be worn untucked.