Everyone’s got a favorite pair of jeans, but a solid pair of bottoms ain’t all denim is good for. Many are quick to point to the denim trucker jacket as arguably the second-most iconic piece of denim clothing, but today, we’re here to fully sell you on the denim shirt – and give you some excellent recommendations while we’re at it.
The true power of the denim shirt lies in its pure versatility. While some sub-styles may lend themselves to more niche aesthetics, the basic denim button-up can work during pretty much every season of the year, whether you’re rocking shorts, jeans, chinos, or even a full-on suit.
Denim is an undeniably casual fabric, and while in shirt-form, it can’t exactly extend to formalwear, you can get pretty damn creative about things regardless. It can certainly look smart, sharp even, under a tweed sport coat and paired with a pair of jeans, khakis, or corduroy trousers.
It can be equally compelling with a pair of pleated linen shorts and some boat shoes for more of a coastal-inspired look. Either way you choose to style it, there’s no denying the denim shirt’s ability to make an outfit “just work.”
Convinced yet? We hope so – because we’ve taken the time to prepare a comprehensive list of some of the best denim shirts a man can buy in 2024. Check them out!
The Best Basic Denim Shirt: Midweight Denim Workshirt by J.Crew
Basic doesn’t mean cheaply-made with this pick from famed retailer J.Crew. Made from a slightly heftier cotton fabric, their Midweight Denim Workshirt retains its shape and strong silhouette while worn.
We love the contrasting brown buttons and button-down collar. This is the perfect denim shirt to pair with just about anything, if you ask us. While already a fairly light wash, it’s bound to look better and better as it ages and fades down.
For less than $100, you get a whole lot of shirt here. Just imagine the outfit possibilities? You’ve got it – it can probably be paired with this one to great effect.
The Best Budget Denim Shirt: Wrangler Rugged Wear® Denim Basic Shirt in Stonewash
This would be our runner-up for the best basic denim shirt, but since it’s such a great value, we had to give it our best budget spot.
Wrangler is no stranger to great denim products, and they make a multitude of great denim shirts. For everyday wear at a great price, their Rugged Wear Denim Basic Shirt is hard to beat.
With a classic, comfortable fit and details like a pencil slot in the chest pocket, they really knocked it out of the park with this one.
Oh, and did we mention it’s only about $35?
The Best Pearl-Snap Denim Shirt: Men’s Iconic Cowboy Wash Denim Shirt in Tobacco Denim by Wrangler
Of course Wrangler was going to come up more than once on this list, but twice in a row? That’s how great of an option their Iconic Cowboy Wash Denim Shirt is, especially if you’re looking to try out some pearl-snap style for a more western-inspired look.
This pick features full snap pearl closures, their iconic “W” embroidered pockets, and is made from a substantial-yet-soft denim. We like the Tobacco Denim wash the most, but the Grit Wash and Lake Wash are great, too.
For just under $40, it’s a total steal in our books. And one heck of a cool shirt. Just get a load of those snaps and you’ll see what we mean.
The Best Designer-Does-Western Denim Shirt: Slub Denim Western Shirt by Polo Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren truly gets denim not just as a fabric, but as an artistic medium. This shirt from the Polo Ralph Lauren label is proof of that, with impeccable craftsmanship and a truly elevated take on western wear and western style.
Once again, we have some sharp-looking pearl snap buttons, as well as the classic western yoke detailing and a straight, soft collar.
Made from 100% cotton, the wash on this denim is just perfect, in just the right soft blue hue for any outfit. At less than $150, it’s fairly priced too, if we say so ourselves.
The Best Short Sleeve Denim Shirt: Short Sleeve Classic One Pocket Standard Fit Shirt by LEVI’S
You didn’t think we’d forget about LEVI’S, did you? We really dig this short sleeve denim shirt from the legendary denim company, particularly in their denim Franklin Stone Wash that’s a pleasant shade of light blue.
For hotter days and casual occasions, a short sleeve denim shirt will serve you well in terms of comfort and style. The casual, classic fit on this shirt makes it easy to pair with just about anything, from shorts to khakis to swimsuits. For about $55, it’s really up to you!
The Best (Almost Denim) Chambray Shirt: Japanese Chambray Western Shirt by Buck Mason
Sometimes you want to enjoy the stylistic benefits of denim without its potentially too-warm pitfalls. We get it, sometimes denim can be a bit heavy for a truly hot day.
That’s where chambray comes in. While also made of cotton and eerily similar in appearance to traditional denim, chambray tends to be significantly more lightweight and heck of a lot more breathable. This Japanese Chambray Western Shirt from Buck Mason pretty much checks every single box.
Western-inspired style? Check. High quality, lightweight Japanese fabric? Check. Price? Only $168, which ain’t half bad for the quality you receive here. Take it from us, you don’t want to underestimate a good chambray shirt, and this one’s a real winner.
The Best Denim Shirt to Wear with a Suit: Denim Point Collar Shirt In Indigo by Todd Snyder
Here’s the thing about wearing denim shirts with tailoring – it can absolutely be done, with some caveats you should be aware of. In truth, it matters less about the exact look of the shirt and much more about what type of suit you intend to pair it with.
Go for something made from a casual fabric, like cotton, tweed, seersucker, linen, or our favorite recommendation to pair with a denim shirt – a corduroy suit (brown especially) There’s something super sharp about the contrast between the two, but it totally works.
Some are often inclined to stick with darker washes for denim shirts with suits, and on that note, we recommend you give this one by Todd Snyder a try. The point collar is impeccable sharp and bound to lay well with your jacket’s lapels, and the indigo wash is dark and dramatic.
It skips out on some of the more expected western details too, instead offering a simpler style with yellow stitch detailing that’s clean-cut and easy to pair with casual suits. At $178, we think it’s a nice value.
The Best Premium Denim Shirt: Indigo Denim Workshirt by RRL
We mentioned Polo Ralph Lauren already, but we’d be damned if we didn’t at least consider one offering by the brand’s legendary western and American-inspired line, RRL.
Their Indigo Denim Workshirt is an excellent choice if you’re looking for something a bit more premium, a bit fancy, but still plenty rugged and authentic.
The Clearfield Wash is light and airy, and bound to wash well for years and years of continued wear. With two buttoned breast pockets, there’s an extra sense of depth and dimension to the overall fit, not to mention the soft point collar and American-made metal buttons.
And hey, though this is truly a premium pick, it’s priced at $275, which we think is plenty fair for the quality you can expect from RRL.
Done Up in Denim
Like we said, denim shirts are a crucial style tool and arguably one of the best foundational pieces a man can own in his wardrobe. While intrinsically casual, they can be styled to look quite sharp and put-together, or as damn near rugged as you want them to be.
For nearly all times of year, you can level up your style game with a solid denim shirt. And perhaps chambray if it’s rather toasty out, but still. We can’t recommend them enough for their versatility alone. Hopefully, one on this list speaks to you. Thanks for reading, and stap sharp, cowboys.