The History of Oxford Shirts

The fabric that Oxford shirts are made out of was invented in Scotland in the 19th century. To help popularize it, four shirts were made, each named after a prestigious university; however, only the shirt named after Oxford prevailed in popularity. The shirt eventually became popular with polo players due to its lightweight and breathable texture, and the button-down collar was added to hold the fabric down during play. In the 1920s and 1930s, American college students began to adopt the Oxford shirt as their everyday wardrobe staple, giving rise to the shirt’s famous association with preppy style. Today, the Oxford shirt remains a fashion workhorse that comes across as classic and appropriate in nearly any setting, making it a true wardrobe staple.