Shirt Guide: 14 Different Types of Shirts

A shirt is a garment for the upper body. The oldest preserved shirt, made of linen, dates back to 3000 BCE in Egypt. Until the nineteenth century, shirts were primarily worn by men, and women wore chemises, a type of undershirt, underneath dresses. From 1860 onward, European and American women began wearing shirts. Today, shirts are worn regularly by people of all genders and come in different styles. There are various types of shirt styles and materials. Women's shirts tend to be more form-fitting than men's shirts, with more embellishments, but the overall styles are the same across genders. Types of shirts include: 1. __Baseball shirt__: This collarless shirt, worn by baseball players as a uniform with team logos, features three-quarter-length sleeves and buttons down the front. A baseball shirt can also refer to a three-quarter-length buttonless shirt with a white body and a contrasting color on the sleeves. 2. __Button-down shirt__: A button-down shirt is a collared shirt with long sleeves, half sleeves, or short sleeves. Contrary to a button-up shirt, a button-down has a button in the collar and can be formal or casual in style. 3. __Cuban collar shirt__: These short-sleeve shirts are button-ups with an open, double-notch, one-piece collar, also known as a camp collar. Cuban collar shirts are made with breathable materials and are boxy and loose-fitting. Typically, this type of shirt is worn untucked, but you can tuck it in for a more fitted look. 4. __Denim shirt__: [Denim](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-denim-fabric-a-guide-to-the-history-of-denim) shirts are denim—a rugged cotton fabric—and feature a button-down collar. Cowboys first wore these durable, easily washable shirts. 5. __Dress shirt__: This formal shirt has a stiff collar, buttons down the front, sleeve cuffs, and a spread collar to accommodate a Windsor knot tie. You can wear a dress shirt under a blazer. 6. __Flannel shirt__: Flannel is a loosely woven fabric known for being soft and warm. Flannel shirts can be button-up or button-down shirts. 7. __Henley shirt__: Henleys are casual, collarless shirts with long or short sleeves and a button placket down the center front. 8. __Linen shirt__: Linen is a strong, lightweight fabric made from the flax plant. [Linen](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-linen-everything-you-need-to-know-about-using-and-caring-for-linen) shirts are ideal for keeping the body cool during the summer months and come in a variety of collar and sleeve styles, as well as buttons and pullovers. 9. __Oxford shirt__: These button-down shirts feature Oxford material, a basket weave that’s slightly shiny. You can wear an Oxford shirt for both casual and formal occasions. 10. __Polo shirt__: The polo shirt, created by American designer Ralph Lauren, has short sleeves, a collar, and a button placket down the center front. The polo shirt was designed as casual wear, but you can also sport a polo shirt on more formal occasions, especially under a blazer. 11. __T-shirt__: This quintessential [casual shirt](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tan-frances-tips-for-creating-the-ideal-capsule-wardrobe#tan-frances-9-tips-for-creating-a-capsule-wardrobe-for-women) can come in long-sleeve, half-sleeve, short-sleeve, and sleeveless varieties. T-shirts can also have various necklines: V-neck, crew neck, or a band collar. You can layer a lightweight T-shirt under an overshirt or with a blazer. 12. __Tank top__: Tank tops are sleeveless shirts made from knit and woven fabrics. Tank tops can be undershirts for work shirts or formal shirts, or you can wear tank tops by themselves as casualwear. 13. __Tunic__: A tunic shirt is a loose pullover made from light and airy fabric, such as cotton or linen. 14. __Tuxedo shirt__: The shirt you wear beneath a tuxedo suit is known as a tuxedo shirt. These button-down shirts can have a spread collar or a formal wing collar, which has a slightly narrower spread between the collar points to accommodate a bowtie. The long sleeves have french cuffs, which can be folded back and connected with cufflinks. Tuxedo shirts can also have pleats down the front or a bib. Become a better fashion designer with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Marc Jacobs, Laura Kim & Fernando Garcia, Tan France, Diane von Furstenberg, Anna Wintour, and more. From baseball tees to formal pleats, learn about the various styles and materials of shirts.