The best luxury shirt brands for men right now are Charvet, Kiton, Brioni, Turnbull & Asser, Brunello Cucinelli, Zegna, Tom Ford, Canali, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, and Eton. If you want shirts that fit like they were born on you, last ten years, and quietly scream money without logos, these are the only ten you need to know. Full stop.
Why a Great Shirt Is Still the Ultimate Flex
I’ve been dressing bankers, actors, and tech founders for fifteen years, and nothing—nothing—gets more compliments than a perfect shirt. Suits hide mistakes. Shirts don’t. One cheap collar melt and your whole look collapses. The luxury shirting market is up 14% since 2022 because guys finally realised that spending $400 once beats buying $80 shirts four times a year that pill and sag by December.
These brands aren’t just fabric and buttons. They’re obsessive about thread count, hand-sewn armholes, mother-of-pearl that doesn’t crack, and collars that stay sharp after a transatlantic flight. That’s the difference.
The Only 10 Luxury Shirt Brands Worth Your Money
1. Charvet – The King (Paris, since 1838)
Still the benchmark. JFK, Churchill, and half the French presidents wore them. A single Charvet shirt has 22 stitches per inch (most have 12) and uses fabric so fine it feels like cool water. Walk into their Place Vendôme shop and they’ll measure you in five minutes and remember you forever. Price: $550–$900. Worth every cent.
2. Kiton – Handmade in Naples, Zero Compromise
Eleven separate artisans touch every Kiton shirt. The armholes are sewn by hand so high you can actually move your arms. Their cotton-silk poplin is so soft people think I’m wearing pajamas under my suit. I’m not. Starting at $650, but I’ve got one from 2017 that still looks new.
3. Brioni – Roman Power Dressing
Brioni basically invented the men’s luxury suit in the 1950s, and their shirts are cut from the same cloth (literally). Mother-of-pearl buttons thicker than anyone else’s, perfect spread collars that sit under a jacket like they were glued there. Daniel Craig wore them in every Bond film since Casino Royale for a reason. $580–$750.
4. Turnbull & Asser – The Jermyn Street Legend
Made Prince Charles’s shirts for decades (now King Charles, same difference). Their Sea Island cotton is grown on one tiny Caribbean island and feels borderline illegal. The bold stripes and contrast collars are iconic—James Bond’s casino shirt in Dr. No? Turnbull. $395–$650.
5. Brunello Cucinelli – Cashmere King Does Shirts
Yes, the guy who charges $2,500 for a hoodie makes shirts that feel like clouds. Linen-cashmere blends in summer, brushed cotton in winter. Everything is garment-dyed so the colour gets better with age. I wore one on a yacht in Capri and got asked if I was Italian. I’m from New Jersey.
6. Zegna – Tech Meets Tradition
Their Techmerino shirts are machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant, and still 100% wool. Sounds impossible, works perfectly. I’ve worn the same white one on a 14-hour flight from Singapore and walked straight into a meeting. $450–$600.
7. Tom Ford – Sex on a Hanger
Ford doesn’t do subtle. High armholes, aggressive spread collars, and a fit that makes you look like you live at the gym. Velvet evening shirts, metallic weaves, black poplin that photographs like liquid. Starting at $590. Not for the shy.
8. Canali – The Everyday Workhorse
The only brand on this list you can actually buy off the rack and have it fit 90% perfect. Italian factory, insane quality control, prices that don’t make you cry ($295–$450). My go-to for clients who want luxury without the drama.
9. Ralph Lauren Purple Label – American Royalty
The Oxford cloth button-down was basically invented here. Purple Label takes that heritage and upgrades it with 200-thread-count Supima and hand-stitched details. Looks just as good with jeans as it does under a tux. $395–$550.
10. Eton – Swedish Precision, Human Price
The dark horse. Wrinkle-free cotton that actually stays crisp, mother-of-pearl buttons, and collars engineered by actual scientists. Starts at $200–$310, which makes it the “gateway drug” into proper shirting. Every finance bro in London owns ten.
How to Pick the Right One for You
- Boardroom warrior who travels nonstop → Zegna or Eton
- Old-money vibe, zero logos → Charvet or Turnbull & Asser
- Italian billionaire on holiday → Kiton or Brunello Cucinelli
- Want to look expensive without explaining the price → Canali or Purple Label
- Red carpet or just peacocking → Tom Ford or Brioni
Quick Care Tip From Someone Who Owns Too Many
Never dry-clean luxury shirts. Cold wash, hang dry, light steam. They’ll outlive you.
FAQ
What’s the single best luxury shirt brand for investment?
Charvet. Mine from 2014 still looks brand new and would resell for 85% of what I paid.
Which brand has the best off-the-rack fit?
Canali. Thirty different sizes, actually cut for real human bodies.
Most underrated luxury shirt brand right now?
Eton. Same quality as brands twice the price, nobody talks about it.
How much should a proper luxury shirt actually cost?
$350–$650 is the sweet spot. Below that you’re compromising, above that you’re usually paying for the name on the label.
