For those forced to wear a suit despite a proclivity for sweat, hope is out there. If you melt in traditional dress shirts, whether because they're too thick or simply too tight, there are other options available. Some trade their hefty cotton construction for a mix of breathable materials, while others simply add stretch so the shirts have a little give. But it isn't as easy as feeling whether the shirts stretch or not.
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Best Athletic Fit Performance Dress Shirt for Broader GuysState & Liberty The Springer Shirt Read More
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What Are Performance Fabrics?
Performance fabrics that were once exclusive to athletic apparel are now being made appropriate for business meetings and dressier nights out. These next-gen, high-tech shirts keep you cool and collected when the temperatures turn up, so while others keep a change of clothes close by, you’ll be dry, cool and unwrinkled.
That's the main draw, says shirting expert, and State & Liberty co-founder, Lee Moffie.
"First and foremost is going to be comfort," he says. "The 4-way stretch allows for guys to wear the shirt a little more fitted than a traditional dress shirt without sacrificing comfort. Next is going to be the performance aspect of the shirt. The fabric not only keeps guys cool and dry throughout the day but it also lasts longer and looks sharp over multiple wears and washes. Last is the easy care. The performance fabric is wrinkle-free and can be machine washed which means they travel well and guys can save hundreds of dollars a year by not having to dry clean their dress shirts."
Terms to Know
- Performance: The "performance" denotation implies the fabrics used on this shirt were first used in athletic arenas. They'll likelier be better at moisture wicking, breathing and stretching.
- Commuter, Traveler, Movement: Terms like these, which conjure long trips or busy subway trains, imply the shirts they describe will be comfortable in these tight-quartered environments. Think of them as substitutes for terms like performance.
- Stretch: Stretch refers to a shirt's ability to give to your body's natural movements. Maybe you lift your arms above your head to hold onto the subway rail, or your bike to work. Essentially, the shirt won't suffocate you — meaning you don't have to worry about it ripping at the seams.
Materials to Look for
"Traditionally a performance dress shirt is one that is made from technical, man-made fabrics," Moffie, our expert, says. Below you'll find a breakdown of these materials. "These dress shirts are meant to perform and withstand the wear and tear of everyday life. These dress shirts are stretchy, moisture wicking, wrinkle-free, durable and easy care."
- Spandex
- Polyester
- Lyocell
- Modal
- Nylon
- Bamboo
- Elastane
How to Style a Performance Dress Shirt
When you wear a dress shirt with added stretch, it's important to consider the jacket or pants you pair it with. They must be equally as sleek, especially since most performance dress shirts have a slight sheen. Try a poly or satin silk tie; opt for pants with a modern edge, meaning they have a tapered fit and no obvious texture (i.e. avoid pairing your performance dress shirt with nappy corduroy pants).
According to Moffie, the main draw is a better fit — without sacrificing comfort. "Stretch allows for guys to wear the shirt a little more fitted than a traditional dress shirt without sacrificing comfort," he says. Plus, they never look wrinkled, "which means they travel well and guys can save hundreds of dollars a year by not having to dry clean their dress shirts," he adds.
How We Tested
Our tester wore several of our top picks for a number of hours, both underneath a jacket and on their own, with and without a tie, assessing how the collar, cuffs and hems feel, but also how they button, whether they wrinkle with time and if they can withstand a normal wash cycle.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
Rhone Commuter Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: Factories across Asia
- Material: Italian fabric enhanced with Goldfusion technology
- Fit: Slim
- Performance Attributes: Moisture-wicking, stretchable
Rhone's Commuter Shirt saves those, as the name suggests, commuting — either cramped on a subway or slouched in the driver's seat — from the hassle of having to refresh themselves upon arrival. The shirt proves machine washable and interwoven nylon and elastane offer natural wrinkle release.
As for fit, it offers the best silhouette of the bunch. The collar's handy button stays are easy to use and create a trim neckline for the tie to hang from. The cuffs offer two button positions, too, something our tester liked for when they wore the shirt one way (without a jacket) versus another (on its own).
It's also the most breathable of the options our tester tried, thanks to the nylon-elastane blend that's both thin but also durable. (You couldn't see through it, for example, even when our tester wasn't wearing an undershirt.)
Faherty Movement Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: U.S.
- Material: 55% Supima cotton, 25% recycled nylon, 16% Lyocell, 4% elastane
- Fit: Relaxed through the chest with a slight taper at the waist
- Performance Attributes: Stretchable for extra breathability and naturally wrinkle-resistant
Founded by Mike Faherty, a designer who rose through the ranks at Ralph Lauren, Faherty produces an array of staples inspired by sun and surf — and New England prep styles. Cut from a proprietary blend of cotton, lyocell, nylon and spandex, their Movement Shirt appeases both camps by guaranteeing a good-looking, albeit traditional, fit but with plenty of stretch at stress points. Pick from a few plaid colorways, several gingham patterns or your usual solids.
Gap Performance Poplin Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: Factories in the United States, China, Vietnam and Bangladesh
- Material: Poplin enhanced with CoolMax
- Fit: Straight silhouette with a relaxed fit
- Performance Attributes: Breathable and moisture-wicking
Cut from a blended stretch poplin fabric with moisture-wicking CoolMax tech, Gap's Performance Poplin Shirt comes in two cuts and nearly a dozen colors. It’s a great option without breaking the bank, allowing for you to stock up and rotate through a few colors at a reasonable price.
State & Liberty The Springer Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: Factories across Asia (not specified online)
- Material: Polyester, spandex
- Fit: Roomy at the chest with a tapered waist
- Performance Attributes: Moisture-wicking, lightweight and wrinkle free
State & Liberty's shirts are made from the brand's proprietary Athletic Performance Fabric, a blend of polyester and spandex. But most are cut with an athletic fit, which flatters without being too form-fitting. Sure, a lot of NFLers wear this one, but you don't need to be built like one to wear it. The shoulders are tailored, while a hidden button collar stay helps keep it upright.
The collar is a little crunchy, though, our tester found. It's a tad oversized and almost feels like it's filled with cardboard, which makes it hard to flip up to put on a tie. It also rubs, our tester found, if you're someone with a thicker neck because State and Liberty does not offer specific sizes, just alpha ones: XS through 3XL.
Untuckit Wrinkle-Free Performance Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: Factories across Mauritius, Vietnam and Peru
- Material: 92% nylon, 8% elastane
- Fit: Regular, Relaxed, Slim, Tall Regular and Tall Slim
- Performance Attributes: Wrinkle-free, moisture-wicking, and all-day stretch
Untuckit's most popular performance dress shirt comes in three colors: white, navy, red brick and black. No matter which you choose, it'll complement a solid pair of slacks or a two-piece suit. Made to be worn all day and in a variety of situations, the breathable fabric will keep your armpits dry and keep you looking stylish
Bonobos Jetsetter Stretch Dress Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: Factories across India and Vietnam
- Material: 76% cotton, 21% nylon, 3% Lycra
- Fit: Slim, Tailored, Standard and Athletic
- Performance Attributes: All-day stretch and breathability
Bonobos' Jetsetter option takes the stress out of the air travel by transforming the tailored shirt into a travel-friendly top. Cotton and spandex complement one another, and collar stays to ensure you'll stay intact.
Lululemon Commission Long Sleeve Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: Factories across South and East Asia
- Material: 55% cotton, 45% elastomultiester
- Fit: Classic fit
- Performance Attributes: Four-way stretch fabric, Zinc-infused technology to reduce odor, moisture-wicking
Though I'd advise against wearing this Lululemon shirt with a suit, it's perfectly fine paired with smarter trousers or sleek chinos. Ideal for the office, its traditional shape skews professional while remaining comfortable. Eyelets help ventilate, while gusseted armpits offer a better range of motion. Best of all, though, this shirt is infused with No-Stink Zinc technology, which fends off the bacteria that causes body odor.
Ministry of Supply Apollo Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: China
- Material: 57% recycled polyester, 43% PCM-infused polyester
- Fit: Standard or Slim
- Performance Attributes: Extremely breathable and design for body temperature regulation
Cut from 57 percent polyester and 53 percent polyester infused with NASA's temperature-regulating Phase Change technology, Ministry of Supply's aptly named Apollo shirt offers the same performance abilities of athletic apparel with the look of something more formal. This iteration is slimmer through the body, moisture-wicking and boasts a curved hem you can wear tucked into pants under a blazer or undone — if you're striving for a more casual feel.
Swet Tailor Polished Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: China
- Material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex
- Fit: Tailored slim fit
- Performance Attributes: Breathable and stretchy for additional airflow
For a classic option with breathable comfort, Swet Tailor has you covered. As the name implies, the brand combines classic menswear elements and casual comfortability for longterm wear. Their Polished Shirt highlights this. Using classic tailoring elements like a spread collar and wide cuffs, the Polished Shirt has a traditional feel that doesn’t stray into the boring.
Mack Weldon Airflex Shirt
- Country of Manufacture: Factories across Thailand, Peru, China, Egypt and Vietnam
- Material: 96% polyester, 4% Seawool
- Fit: Tapered slim fit
- Performance Attributes: Moisture-wicking and wrinkle-free fabric with a subtle stretch for additional comfort
When it comes to officewear, it can get pretty mundane. Many guys opt for a couple patterned shirts to break up the monotony in the office. Mack Weldon’s array of gingham and plaid shirts make it easy to add a bit of color in the cubicles. With their use of Airflex technology, a proprietary fabric blend that wicks moisture and, as they put it, “refuses to wrinkle”, you’re left with a shirt that’s perfect for meetings in the morning and happy hour after work.
Western Rise Limitless Merino Button-Down
- Country of Manufacture: Factories in Indonesia and China
- Material: 53% merino wool, 47% polyester
- Fit: Regular fit
- Performance Attributes: Moisture wicking, stretchable and breathable, wrinkle-free, packs up small in luggage
Dressing up while traveling is never easy. You want to look put-together but also want to remain comfortable and not get off the plane feeling sweaty and gross. Western Rise has created a shirt that combats this problem with Merino wool. While you may think that Merino will keep you hot, it’s an incredibly breathable fabric when woven loosely and Western Rise has ensured a cooling fit with a comfortable cut for any body type.
