Best Budget Corduroy Shirt: L.L.Bean Comfort Stretch Corduroy Long Sleeve
We’ll get to Double RL in a second—first, it’s time for Double L. As expected, here comes a true workhorse corduroy shirt in a wider (and more outdoorsy) color range than the J.Crew’ option —and for 15 bucks less! This might be the most affordable shirt on this list, but it’s also the one with the highest number of contemporary details. First, there’s 2 percent spandex in the construction, meaning it’ll stretch a little wherever you need it to. And second, the hem is cut to be just a tad shorter, so the shirt can be worn untucked without looking like you haven’t grown into your father’s hand-me-downs yet.
Best Western Corduroy Shirt: RRL Tan Slim Fit Corduroy Western Shirt
RRL
Corduroy Buffalo Western Workshirt
Pros
- Authentic Western details
- Secure snap pockets
- Loose fit pairs easily with casual outfits
Cons
- Slim fit not for everyone
My favorite development in menswear over the past few years has been the return of Western wear. And while there are plenty of excellent upstarts across the category, it’s the RRL label—Ralph Lauren’s homage to his Colorado ranch, and to well-worn Americana as a whole—that kept the style front and center even when many of us were looking in the other direction. RRL’s corduroy Western Shirt is an object of real beauty, from the press-stud closures to the flap pockets, shoulder detailing, distinctive metal button at the collar, and looser, “relaxing at the cabin” fit. It also comes in a faded tan shade that just has to be referencing a faded brown item from Ralph’s own wardrobe. We’ll see you on Dutton Ranch.
Best Corduroy Popover Shirt: Alex Mill Carter Popover Shirt
Alex Mill
Carter Popover Shirt in Fine Wale Corduroy
Pros
- Popover design is a little different
- Easy to layer
- Secure button pocket
Cons
- Not as formal as a true button-down
I’ve said it before, but I think Alex Mill CEO Mickey Drexler—the man who led GAP and J.Crew in the 1990s and 2000s—still cares deeply about putting out good product, and not cutting any design corners. (see our guide to the best chinos and tote bags as proof.) He also isn’t afraid to play around a little, as evidenced by the various colors and popover design of the brand’s take on a corduroy shirt. It’s admittedly more casual than a true button-down, but if you’re looking for a comfy corduroy shirt, that’s probably more than fine with you.
More Corduroy Shirts We Love
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We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
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We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best in their category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there’s bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ’s testing process here.)