Fabrics & Materials II

Oxford cloth

Oxford cloth is a cotton shirting fabric woven in a basketweave, where two yarns cross together, giving it a slightly heavier, textured, and more matte surface than smooth poplin. Durable and a touch casual, it's the fabric of the classic oxford-cloth button-down (OCBD), a preppy and smart-casual staple.

The basketweave often pairs a colored warp yarn with a white weft, producing the soft, heathered look of a classic blue oxford shirt. It's sturdier and more forgiving of wrinkles than poplin, so it leans everyday rather than formal.

Oxford cloth is the more textured, casual counterpart to crisp poplin, and a cornerstone of preppy and old money shirting.