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The Oxford cloth button-down and why it became a staple in our wardrobe

An essential in any well-dressed man’s wardrobe the Oxford cloth button-down (OCBD) is guaranteed to never let you down.

In the classic sky blue, white or pink colours the OCBD gives a smart outfit, but can also be used to create a casual look with chinos and a pair of trainers.

It’s the ultimate wardrobe cornerstone.

Slightly softer compared to a usual dress shirt but not as casual as your weekend polo the OCBD bridges the gap of smart causal. You’ll find the merits of owning multiple OCBD’s are endless.

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Made from oxford cloth which is thicker than your average ’fine’ dress shirt, the OCBD has a generous feel which helps with its durability and making it naturally crease resistant.

This classic cloth has a more textured feel which helps to create depth to your look. Or choose the finer Prince Oxford with its tighter weave and slight sheen.

Oxford cloth can be traced back to the well-dressed men’s wardrobes of the 19th century and it has certainly stood the test of time.

The Brooks Brothers of New York used the cloth to make the first OCBD in 1896.   They developed a style that used buttons to hold down the collar unlike usual shirts at the time where  the collar and shirt were bought separately.  This created the shirt design that we know today.

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The OCBD hit its peak in the 1960’s with brands like Ben Sherman adding it to their collections.

It’s never left our wardrobe and probably never will.

We all shoud own a few of this versatile piece.  They fit effortlessly in to all types of dress codes but are equally easy for a comfortable night in the pub.

Contact us now for your own bespoke oxford cloth button down shirts in the comfort of our luxury Dormeuil showroom

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