Dress shirts are important to any man’s wardrobe, but choosing a quality dress shirt made in the USA isn’t easy to do. That’s why we took the time to research and find some of the very best dress shirts made today. Our findings are below – enjoy!
Our Findings
During our time reviewing major brands from places like Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina, we were impressed with a few options more than others. The Ratio Clothing dress shirts stood out because of how extensive the customization options offered are. We loved the eco-friendliness of Dirtball Polo shirts and the practicality of the Authentically American polo dress shirts, among other brands. We split up all of our recommendations by category – hopefully you’ll be able to find some great shirts to add to your own wardrobe. If you’re looking for more closet upgrades, check out our picks for the best t-shirts made in the USA as well.
Top Recommendations
| Best Men’s Dress Shirts | Best for: |
| Authentically American Moisture Wicking Polo | Polo Shirts |
| Dirtball Polos | Eco-Friendly |
| Gitman Bros. Button Down Oxford Dress Shirts | Classic Oxfords |
| J Wingfield Plaid Shirts | Plaid |
| Mizzen + Main Leeward Dress Shirt | For Weddings |
| Ratio Clothing | Custom |
| Authentically American Short Sleeve Button Down | Short Sleeve |
Recommendations: Going Deeper
Below we break down all of our top picks giving you tons of details on each one, including what we liked and didn’t like. Each of these shirts are crafted in the USA and they offer something a little special.
Best Polo Shirts
Authentically American Moisture Wicking Polo
Authentically American is one of our favorite clothing companies that is making and sourcing everything 100% in the USA, and their moisture wicking polo shirts did not disappoint. We ordered a couple and love how lightweight and comfortable they feel. It has a no roll collar and seems to be pretty wrinkle resistant, great for casual wear or at the office. We have an exclusive discount code with Authentically American that will get you 25% off your entire order, so be sure to entire the code SPOTLIGHT at checkout to get that offer! You can’t really go wrong with these dry fit shirts from Authentically American. They come in 6 different sizes and 7 different colors, so you should be able to find something that fits for you.
Things we like:
- No roll collar
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Snag and fade resistant
- No wrinkles
- Good for business casual or a night out (pair it with a nice American made watch)
Things we don’t like:
- Adding the Authentically American logo is $10 extra
Best Eco-Friendly Shirts
Dirtball Polos
Dirtball Polo shirts are something that you can feel really good about purchasing for several different reasons. For one, these attractive shirts are comfortable and built to last. They’re clearly high quality and made with care to leave you with a product that you can depend on. Second, these shirts are made from a mix of recycled cotton and water bottles, making them very eco-friendly. Approximately 65 recycled water bottles are used during the production of each of these shirts, and they’re surprisingly comfortable. The fit of this polo is also spot on – you’ll feel good on the inside and out wearing a Dirtball Polo.
Things we like:
- Eco-friendly
- Soft feel
- Breathable
- Made in North Carolina
Things we don’t like:
- Shipping is not free
Best Classic Oxfords
Gitman Bros. Button Down Oxford Dress Shirts
Gitman Brothers makes an impressive button down oxford shirt that offers a nice neat look, and a high level of quality. We were really impressed by the attention to detail in the stitching – these shirts will be a mainstay in your business or casual wardrobe for a long time. We love all the different size options these shirts come in. By carefully choosing between tailored, regular, and classic fit, your collar size, and your sleeve size, you can get an exact fit that will conform to your body type well. Each of these shirts is made from 100% cotton and they’re durable and breathable. They come with a barrel cuff and a button down collar for maximum style. Gitman oxford shirts are an impressive staple for any wardrobe and they offer a good balance between classic and modern looks.
Things we like:
- Button down collar
- Barrel cuff
- Cotton fabric
- Available in many different sizes
- Hand crafted shirts
Things we don’t like:
- Expensive
Best Plaid Shirts
J Wingfield Plaid Shirts
Good plaid shirts are difficult to find, though they’re a versatile staple that’s good for any man’s wardrobe. J. Wingfield offers high quality plaid shirts that are 100% made in the USA. These shirts stand out for their comfort and for their long-lasting durability. We love that these shirts are made from 100% premium cotton that has a soft touch, and also a very durable feel to them. The shirts come with in a spread collar design made for comfort and a casual look that we really liked. Every one of these shirts is sewn in the heart of Texas.
Things we like:
- Made from 100% premium cotton
- Spread collar shirt design
- Designed for comfort
- Lots of style options
Things we don’t like:
- None
Best Shirt for Weddings
Mizzen + Main Leeward Dress Shirt
The Mizzen + Main Manhattan shirt is an absolute staple for a wedding – classic design, moisture wicking, and breathable. These shirts are stretchy thanks to their 15% polyester construction, so they have a nice snug fit. The are wrinkle resistant and machine washable, making them much easier to maintain than your everyday dress shirt. We love the moisture wicking material used for these shirts and how breathable they are as well. They’re comfortable even for use on a warm day, making them perfect for outdoor events. Each of these Manhattan dress shirts is available in a huge range of colors and patterns outside of the traditional white, but more importantly they are available in a wide range of sizes and fits for a nice tight form-fit for everyone.
Things we like:
- Crisp traditional design
- Machine washable
- Resistant to wrinkles
- Moisture wicking material
- Stretchy fabric for comfort
- Trim fit back
- Spread collar
Things we don’t like:
- None
Best Custom Shirts
Ratio Clothing
Good dress shirts are nearly impossible to find, especially shirts that are going to fit your specific figure perfectly. Fortunately, Ratio Clothing makes it possible to create your own with their help. The company specializes in custom shirts that you detail to get just the right fit for you. Each of the shirts on the list are made in North Carolina from a heavy cotton fabric, and they’re designed with a classy fused collar, collar stays, and a flexible two-piece yoke (but they can be customized to suit your own preferences). When creating your own shirt you’ll choose from different collars, cuffs, shirt fronts, pockets, buttons, and you’ll have an option to add a monogram as well. There’s even a detailed sizing process to get a custom-tailored fit just for your body type. The end result is an impressive dress shirt styled just the way you want with all the right accents and designs.
We spoke to Eric Powell, the founder of Ratio Clothing, who had this to say about why they choose to make their shirts in the U.S.: “We believe that making our products in the U.S. allows us to deliver a better experience to customers and a higher-quality final product, while at the same time supporting much-needed manufacturing jobs within the U.S.” When we asked him about the feedback he gets from other customers, he mentioned their “dedication to providing the absolute best experience in online custom clothing,” which we agree with when we went through that process.
Things we like:
- Huge number of options for perfect style
- Exact sizing for perfect fit
- Single needle tailoring
Things we don’t like:
- One thing to note is a 2 week order turnaround time since each shirt is custom made
Best Short Sleeve Button Downs
Authentically American Short Sleeve Button Down
In addition to their great polos, Authentically American makes a super comfortable short sleeve button down, which is great for work or casual wear. I especially like wearing this one during the summer – it is super breathable, made with a lightweight chambray fabric. Authentically American is a veteran owned company that is operated by Dean Wegner, who we had the pleasure of chatting with recently and getting the backstory on the company. You can check out our full conversation here. Remember to use our exclusive discount code SPOTLIGHT at checkout for 25% off your entire order.
Things we like:
- Breathable
- Fits well for several body types
- Great for work or play
Things we don’t like:
- Only two colors right now
Recap: Best Men’s Dress Shirts Made in the USA
- Authentically American Moisture Wicking Polo – Polo Shirts
- Dirtball Polos – Eco-Friendly
- Gitman Bros. Button Down Oxford Dress Shirts – Classic Oxfords
- J Wingfield Plaid Shirts – Plaid
- Mizzen + Main Leeward Dress Shirt – For Weddings
- Ratio Clothing – Custom
- Authentically American Short Sleeve Button Down – Short Sleeve
Factors We Considered
Material Quality
Choosing a quality men’s dress shirt is really about picking a product that’s made from high quality material. We look for heavier and more durable fabrics when judging different shirts. If you’re looking for a cotton shirt, you typically want it made with a premium 2-ply cotton for maximum durability. For alternative shirt types, it really just depends on the material and stitching. Here are some of the fabrics we considered:
- Oxford
- Poplin
- Twill
- Broadcloth
- End-on-end
- Cotton
What you really want to avoid is materials like polyester, which tends to make shirts look shiny and cheap, plus they aren’t as breathable. Also look out for shirts that say “non-iron” – typically a tip-off that they used some sort of treatment on the shirt that isn’t breathable and is made of cheap material.
As we mentioned above, stitching is super important as well. Some manufacturers will cut corners and use low quality or thin material to sew the shirt together, or even worse, use some sort of glue to try and “finish the job.” Avoid these shirts at all costs. Even though they likely have a cheaper price tag, they will cost you more in the long run.
Style also comes into play here – you likely aren’t going to wear a super heavy material like twill during the summer.
Exact Sizing
Finding the right fitting dress shirt for the office or just to wear around casually is super tough. We looked for shirts that offer many different size options and a tailor-fit product that’s designed to conform to the body well during use for comfort and style.
Attention to Detail
When it comes to choosing a quality shirt it’s all about the details. Shirts should have neat stitching that’s in excellent condition and in straight lines. Careful edge stitching should be done and hand sewn cuffs should be used whenever possible.
Comfort and Breathability
Dress shirts don’t have to be uncomfortable – we looked for features that will make them a pleasure to wear. Besides ensuring the shirt material is nice and soft, we looked for shirts that are flexible, have a built-in split yoke for added range of motion, and have moisture-wicking properties that will help keep you cool when it matters most.
Style
Of course we can’t forget style! Since everyone’s tastes are different, we looked for brands that offer a wide variety of style options, or have shirts that are timeliness – like a traditional white or blue oxford print. Speaking of style, make sure to check out our other guides to complete your wardrobe, like our picks for the best belts made in the USA and watches made in the USA.
