The Best Men’s Denim Shirts to Wear All Season Long (2024)

Whether you’re looking to channel your inner cowboy or embrace the look of aCanadian tuxedo, you can never go wrong with a stylish denim shirt. There aren’t many other shirts as versatile as this one, as they typically tend to cooperate with any outfit you have in mind. However, certain takes on the style differs from one shirt to another, with an endless number of brands cutting and sewing non-stop to craft their own signature look. While a majority of these options blend in, there is a solid collection of standouts, too, which is where our list of the best denim shirts comes in. So without further ado, fancy up your getup with our guide to the best denim shirts.

The history of denim shirts

Denim itself originated in France during the 17th century, and in the 1920s, the Denver-based company Miller & Co made the first commercially available denim shirt. Shortly after, in the ’30s, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss (the creators of the blue jean) started crafting their own denim shirts. And in the 1940s, the company Rockmount Ranch Wear opted to use snap fasteners instead of buttons, and the Western shirt was born. The floodgates were open, and denim shirts were on everyone from Rosie the Riveter to John Wayne, cementing themselves as certifiable Americana. Denim shirts (and denim Western shirts) have played a key role in the history of American style, between blue-collar everymen and illustrious personalities, and they’re just as durable and stylish as they were back in the day.

Western shirts vs. denim shirts

Western shirts can be made with various fabrics, but they should always have snap fasteners (and usually have a unique yoke). Denim shirts, however, are always denim, but the style can vary with each option, and sometimes it’s a Western shirt. Some may argue that the denim Western shirt is the most iconic, and it’ll likely be the most common fabric you’ll find for the style.

when should you wear a denim shirt?

Whether you’re in the heart of the South, hitting the town, or headed to the office, there are few places we can think of where a good denim shirt isn’t warranted. Made cool bycountless celebrities, cowboys, and, most of all, celebrities that doubled as cowboys, there is simply no room for error with one of these classic button-up tops. There are lightweight options out there that are great for breezy summer days, and the durability of the fabric lends itself to outdoor work and activities. You can also go for lighter shades if you want a denim shirt for the summer, and look for something heavier/darker if you want something for the colder months.

are denim shirts in style?

While it may not be the ’80s anymore, and there aren’t as many big dudes rocking Canadian tuxedos, Western wear is certainly swaying back into the fashion world. The style is never truly gone, thanks to iconic American celebrities past and present (Brando and Post Malone, for example), but in the last few years, we’ve seen more Western-inspired pieces on the runways and in the wild.

Levi’s Barstow Western Denim Shirt

Best Classic Shirt: It’s only right to kick off a denim-centric list with somethingfrom Levi’s. The American heritage brand has excelled at crafting quality garments since it first set up shop, and the Barstow Western Shirt serves as one of its quintessential pieces. Staying true to the standard silhouette, this collared top is crafted from 100% cotton and finished off with a pair of pointed snap-flap pockets.

Material: 100% cotton
Fit: Standard

Taylor Stitch The Western Shirt

Best Organic Shirt: You can’t go wrong with anythingTaylor Stitchputs forth, be it from a sustainability or style standpoint. Although based in the metropolitan cluster of San Francisco, the brand has a penchant for ranch-ready Western-inspired looks, and this particular shirt is a perfect example of that. It comes equipped with a pair of slanted snap pockets at the chest, and its authentic western snaps are rounded out with antique brass settings to give them that extra worn-in appeal. The tailored-fitting piece is finished off with the standard bar-tack reinforcement you’ll find on many of these pieces, with all of these elements coming together to craft a shirt we can trust.

Material: 6oz 100% organic cotton selvedge denim
Fit: Tailored

Alex Mill Work Shirt

Best Work Shirt: Alex Mill’s denim-craftedwork shirtseparates itself a bit from the standard silhouette that appears throughout this guide, deeming it the perfect blue-collar choice — literally. It comes equipped with a set of hidden buttons beneath the collar for added security, so it’s a perfect top to wear when things start to get a bit chilly out. Nevertheless, this is another shirt that abides by tradition, sticking to the iconic work shirt’s look with its pair of chest pockets.

Material: 100% cotton Japanese non-stretch denim
Fit: True to size

Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt

Best American-Made Shirt: Huckberry’s house brand is adept at crafting anything of quality — and we mean anything. Whether it’s a fuzzy blanket or a stylish piece of clothing, Flint and Tinder show off what it’s all about with the effortlessly cool Bone Button Western Shirt. It encapsulates the Western style to a tee, boasting a pair of pointed chest pockets with burnt cow bone snap button closures for a look that simply never gets old. While it comes available in a quarter of colors, we say the sleek Salt & Pepper palette is the perfect summertime choice.

Material: 8oz 100% cotton
Fit: True to size

Nudie Jeans George Dry Deep Selvage

Best Japanese Selvedge Shirt: TheSwedish labelis well aware of the art of denim engineering, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise because a) all of its pieces are of high quality and b) it literally has “Jeans” in its brand name. This particular offering from Nudie Jeans is composed of 11.5 ounces of selvage denim courtesy of the Japan-bred Kurabo Mills. However, it gets its inspiration from the States, taking after a style that was prominent in the West Coast’s well-documented goldmine era.

Material: 11.5oz 100% cotton Japanese selvedge denim
Fit:True to size

Billy Reid Shoals Denim Shirt

Best Shirt Overall: As one of our favoriteboutique labels, Billy Reid makes use of its Southern-bred know-how to deliver a rootin’, tootin’ denim top that’s worth writing home about. And while the Alabama brand prides itself on its classic American styles, this overdyed shirt gets an elevated assist from Europe by way of its imported Italian denim construction. The Shoals shirt comes available in a handful of colors to coincide with your wardrobe, all of which are finished with antique brass snaps and Billy Reid’s trademark ribbon stitching.

Material: 7.25oz 100% cotton
Fit: Slim

Todd Snyder Italian Denim Overshirt

Best Italian Denim Shirt: As one of the most prominent menswear brands in the country, Todd Snyder’s claim to fame comes courtesy of reimagining and perfecting iconic pieces, á la the denim shirt. The New York-based label’s Italian Denim Overshirt is crafted with the utmost care, like all of its products. It is cut and sewn from cotton fabricthat was provided by Abiate Mill, an Italian textile manufacturer that has been crafting quality material for years. If there’s anyone you should trust with what it takes to craft an American classic, it’s Todd Snyder.

Material: 100% cotton
Fit: Overshirt

Imogene + Willie Selvage Denim

Best Selvedge Denim Shirt: It may be one of the more lowkey names to appear on this guide, but don’t mistake imogene + willie’s lower name recognition for a lack of quality. As one of several work shirt-driven silhouettes to appear here, the humble label’s take on the matter is one of subtleness. The cut-and-sewn top is incredibly lightweight for easy wearability, as well as garment-washed for easy styling. Whether you’re having a fun night out or a strenuous day getting some work done, the earl selvage denim shirt is sure to have your back. Oh, and did we mention that it’s patterned, cut, and sewn in the USA?

Material: 7.75 oz 100% cotton
Fit: True to size

RRL Denim Buffalo Western Workshirt

Best Western Shirt: RRL is Ralph Lauren’s sublabel that’s dedicated to rustic Western wear that celebrates both the roots of the label and the USA. So what better company is there to craft a rugged western work shirt? RRL’s offering is made with Japanese denim that’s dyed with deep blue indigo, and finished with Japanese-made snap buttons on the chest pockets (which feature boot-stiched embroidery for some more Western flare).

Material: 100% cotton
Fit: Slim