The 12 Best Plus-Size Button-Ups for Women
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With picks from Athleta, L.L.Bean, and Universal Standard.
InStyle / Marcus Millan
For many plus-sized women, button-up shirts don’t always summon up the fondest of feelings. There are a bunch of reasons why—bust gapping, too-tight shoulders, and a common sadness over being relegated to spend your teen years sporting “business-casual” plus-size looks, to name a few—but perhaps those fears and resignations are misplaced in the modern world. More and more brands have begun to figure out just how to fit button-up shirts on the full range of plus-sized forms, and there’s a whole new world of cuts, styles, and fits, from the oversized boyfriend look to the boxy crop.
We enlisted the help of three fashion experts—Bleusalt CEO Lyndie Benson, Lane Bryant Senior Vice President of Design Alessandra Brunialti, and plus-sized influencer Jamie Hamilton—to help us put together a list of 15 best-fitting, most stylish, and coziest plus-size button-up shirts for sale today, from flannels for football Sundays to linen short-sleeve numbers that wouldn’t look out of place at a Hamptons farmer’s market.
Best Overall: Universal Standard Elbe Popover Stretch Poplin Shirt
What We Love: It comes in a wide range of colors and sizes.
What We Don’t Love: Some people say it fits large.
Let’s get this out of the way up top: Universal Standard’s Elbe shirt isn’t a traditional button-up, but that’s a good thing. Buyers have been gaga over it since Universal Standard introduced it, and Hamilton says this shirt is her "favorite ever" for classic button-ups. A half-button shirt you can pull over your head, the Elbe Popover looks great on all sorts of different body types because of its invisible stretch cotton construction and subtle style. There’s a half-placket that keeps the buttons in the center chest right where they should be, meaning no awkward boob gaps or bra peeks, and the shirt’s fit is somehow both shapely enough to look nice, but also loose enough that you won’t have to worry about hulking out if you twist too far or raise your arms above your head. If you’re not a fan of the pullover styling—and, really, you should give it a try—there’s also a classic fit Elbe, should that be more your thing.
Material: Cotton, elastane | Size: 00–40
Best Affordable: Old Navy Oversized Boyfriend Shirt
What We Love: There are Old Navy stores everywhere, so you can likely pop in and pick one up.
What We Don’t Love: As a fast fashion piece, the cotton material probably isn't the most high quality.
For a lot of plus-sized customers, wearing an oversized shirt can be a bit scary. “We are constantly told that we must cinch in our waist or our body shape gets lost,” says Hamilton. “These aren’t the same rules that our straight-size friends were told, and I think many people end up dressing for flattery before self-expression.” Still, she says, “there’s something extra freeing about dressing without rules,” throwing caution and tradition to the wind and throwing on something baggy, bright, or even a little belly-baring.
If baggy is what you’re after, Old Navy’s Oversized Boyfriend Shirt is a solid pick, particularly if you’re what Hamilton calls “a babe on a budget.” These button-ups are almost always available in multiple colors, prints, and sizes, meaning everyone up to a 4X can embrace the joy of sporting a big shirt. There’s nothing too fancy about this shirt overall—it’s got long sleeves, a spread collar, buttoned cuffs, and a blousy boyfriend fit—but that’s okay: Its simplicity is what makes it versatile. Tie it up over a maxi dress. Let the collar poke out from under a sweater. Throw it on over leggings to go to the farmer’s market. It all works, and it’s all easy.
Material: Cotton | Size: XS–4X; XS–XXL Tall; and XS–XXL Petite
Best Cotton: Tommy Hilfiger Cotton Utility Shirt
What We Love: Roll-tab sleeves give the wearer styling options.
What We Don’t Love: It’s only available in one color.
Tommy Hilfiger has always known his way around classic American apparel, so it makes sense that he makes a pretty damn good button-up shirt. Created for Macy’s, the Cotton Utility Shirt has slightly oversized styling so it’s casual and fun, but it’s not as billowy as a traditional boyfriend shirt. The roll-tab sleeves mean the wearer can opt for half sleeves or full-length—a feature that’s particularly nice to have on days when you might find yourself getting a little hot under the collar—and the classic light blue color looks great with basically everything. It’s 100 percent cotton and machine-washable, too, so if you muck it up you can just throw it in the hamper and move on.
Material: Cotton | Size: 0X–3X
Best Sleeveless: Athleta Everlasting Tank
What We Love: The cut of this shirt is super flattering, and the fabric feels durable and soft.
What We Don’t Love: Larger-chested customers may find the fit somewhat challenging.
Though Athleta is perhaps best known for its athletic wear, the brand does make some garments that bridge the gap between sporty and street, the Everlasting Tank being one of them. Made from recycled polyester and odor-controlling yarns, this well-made and super comfy shirt is clean and classic enough to be worn on a tennis court but also versatile enough that, paired with the right leather pants, it could even be a little badass.
One tip, though: If you’re large-busted, consider sizing up on this shirt. Its cut is generous and flattering, but it can also be a little tight up top if you’re packing anything bigger than a C cup.
Material: Recycled polyester, spandex | Size: XXS–3X; S–XL Tall; and XS–L Petite
Best Boyfriend: Maeve The Bennet Button-Down
What We Love: The Bennet comes in colors beyond the traditional blue, black, and white.
What We Don’t Love: It only comes in sizes up to 3X.
Available in both sheer and opaque styles, the Bennet Button-Down is the quintessential boyfriend shirt. Oversized yet tailored, brand new yet entirely worn in feeling, this shirt from Anthropologie’s Maeve is pretty much perfect. Best of all, it’s customized for plus customers, with sizes 1X-3X coming in about 2.25 inches longer than the “standard” sizes, meaning you’ll never have to worry about showing anything off that you don’t want to flaunt intentionally.
We also really love that the Bennet comes in colors beyond the traditional blue, black, white, and maybe pink. The bright red really pops, while the camel color can work for a fall look French tucked into some high-waisted jeans or in the summer, open and loose over a white tank dress.
Material: Cotton | Size: 1X–3X
Best Printed: Zuri Crossroads Shirt
What we love: This socially conscious brand makes shirts that just feel fun.
What we don’t love: Sizes and styles can come and go, meaning that if you like something that just hit the website, you have to pounce on it quickly.
Crafted with care in sustainably staffed studios in Africa by workers who are well-paid and taken care of, Zuri’s line of button-up shirts and shirt dresses is a must-see for anyone who loves bright, bold colors and joyful, interesting patterns. Take the Crossroads, for instance: Crafted of 100 percent cotton kitenge African wax print fabric sourced in Kenya, the shirt blends orange, red, blue, black, yellow, and white stripes into a print that could seem busy on paper, but somehow, on this shirt, just seems to work. The shirt has a flattering cut that sits away from the body, and even sports functional pockets, because who doesn’t love pockets? There’s not a lot of stretch in the mid-weight cotton so you might want to size up if you’re busty or do a lot of big motions with your arms, but it can ease up a bit over time.
Material: Cotton | Size: XXS–3X
Best on Amazon: Riders By Lee ¾ Sleeve Bella Shirt
What We Love: At just over $20, it’s extremely affordable.
What We Don’t Love: Front darts can make the shirt look a bit dowdy on some.
More than 17,000 Amazon customers have given Riders By Lee’s Bella Shirt over 4.3 stars, and for good reason: This low-priced, machine-washable shirt is stone-cold basic. With a princess-seamed cut, three-quarter sleeves, and a double-buttoned, gap-eliminating placket, the shirt looks good and feels comfortable for a whole lot of people. Amazon buyers say it’s a great pick if you need a nice shirt to wear to work because it iss easy to wash and doesn’t get too wrinkled, and the garment’s built-in stretch promotes good range of motion. It’s also 60 percent cotton, so it’s breathable enough to be worn all year round.
Material: Cotton, polyester, spandex | Size: Small–4X
Best Splurge: Bleusalt Classic Shirt
What We Love: This shirt feels great, and has lots of added touches that make it seem a bit more special.
What We Don’t Love: At just under $200, it’s an investment, but if you’ve got the money to spend, it might be worth it.
A Malibu-based brand that aims to craft luxurious essentials, Bleusalt makes the kinds of clothes you might see Meghan Markle or Sophie Turner bopping around Southern California in. They’re easy, but they’re also a bit posh. At first glance, the Classic white button-up might appear to be just that—the same old shirt you’ve seen 1,000 times—but get a little closer and you’ll notice all the precious detail, from abalone shell buttons to subtle elbow patches on the sleeves. The shirt’s double raw edge bottom makes it feel casual enough to wear over a pair of overalls, but French tuck it into a pair of jeans or throw it on under a business suit and you’ll appreciate how much of a stylish staple it is, even if it is a bit of a splurge.
Material: Tencel modal, spandex | Size: XXS–3X, though Bleusalt uses its own sizing system so be sure to consult the measurements and guide before ordering
Best Flannel: L.L.Bean Women's Scotch Plaid Relaxed Flannel Shirt
What We Love: It comes in regular, petite, plus, and tall sizes.
What We Don’t Love: Some buyers say the fit can run a bit small.
There’s been a surge of flannel button-ups in the market in recent years, and for good reason: They’re incredibly cozy and warm, and they look cute on. That being said, the more flannels you try on the more you realize that they’re not all created equal. Some wear better than others, and if you find one of those and take proper care of it, you could end up with a legacy piece that could serve you well for years to come.
That’s why it’s worth investing in a classic L.L.Bean Scotch Plaid Flannel Shirt because if anyone knows flannel, it’s a Maine-based outdoor-inspired retailer. Available in a range of colors and tartan patterns, the shirts are woven in Portugal, where L.L.Bean says the “expert craftspeople meticulously brush” the fabric eight times on each side to ensure an appropriately smooth and lush feel. From there, it gets sent for a touch test from a master weaver, and only they can declare the fabric soft enough to be made into shirts. In other words: With its soft, flattering, and timeless qualities, you can’t go wrong.
Material: Cotton | Size: 1X–3X
Best Wrinkle-Free: Lands' End Women's Wrinkle Free No Iron Button Front Shirt
What We Love: No irons! Ever!
What We Don’t Love: Though L.L.Bean’s No Iron Button-Up comes in a range of colors and patterns on the site, not every pattern is available in plus sizes.
There’s something so freeing about having a button-up shirt that never needs ironing, no matter how long it’s been folded up in the bottom of a suitcase. The No Iron Button Front certainly fits the bill, even though it’s made of 100 percent cotton. Lands’ End even offers what it calls a “30 washes, 0 wrinkles guarantee,” saying that if you find a wrinkle within the first 30 washes, the brand will refund your money no questions asked. And while 30 washes hardly constitute the full lifetime of the shirt, it’s still pretty good, especially if you can be judicious about whether it needs to hit the spin cycle.
The brand says it achieves the shirt’s wrinkle-free status by dipping it into a wrinkle-reducing substance instead of baking it on, a process that leaves the shirts feeling soft, easier to drape, and that much more comfy to wear.
Material: Cotton | Size: 16W–26W
Best Maternity: Storq Easy Button-Up
What We Love: You can wear this shirt even after the baby comes and it’ll still look great.
What We Don’t Love: It would be nice to see the shirt on a plus-size model on the brand’s site.
Though plus-size clothes have come a long way in recent years, stylish and cute plus-size maternity clothes can still be a bit hard to find.
Storq’s goal is to make maternity essentials that not only work while you’re pregnant but that ideally can also transition into your postpartum life. It’s not always the case, given how new moms’ bodies can shift and settle, but the brand’s Easy Button-Up, which is buttery soft, machine-washable, and has a relaxed, nursing-friendly fit, really can transition into the fourth trimester and beyond. It’s a bit more chic than a hoodie when you’re just pushing the stroller around but just as comfortable, and you can wear it everywhere from work to Thanksgiving dinner, something that’s important if you’re either nursing or pumping.
Material: Modal, polyester | Size: XS–4X
Best Chamois: L.L.Bean Heritage Chamois Shirt
What We Love: Chamois is warmer than regular flannel, meaning maximum coziness.
What We Don’t Love: Some wearers might find them to be a bit heavy.
An L.L.Bean staple for almost a century, the Chamois Shirt is an absolute classic. Crafted of fabric that feels like flannel but is both thicker and softer, this button-up can be a shirt, a jacket, or an extra layer, depending on what you need. Though some wearers might find the material to be just a bit too toasty—especially if they’re in it more for fashion than function—the thrice-washed fabric wears perfectly and the shirts come in a reasonable range of sizes and colors. On the brand’s site, buyers call the shirt “a buttoned-up hug,” and, for the most part, say they’re thrilled with their purchase, with one writing, “As soon as the L.L.Bean shipment bag was delivered, I tore into it and donned this shirt immediately.”
Material: Cotton | Size: 1X–3X
What to Keep in Mind
Fit: Ask any plus-size customer what they don’t love about button-up shirts, and they’ll probably say one thing: Those pesky button gaps. Often popping up around wearers’ busts and stomachs, the gaps can be due to the brand not fitting its sizes on plus-sized models, buyers not reading the brands’ size guides before making their purchases, and/or the wearer sporting a poorly fitting undergarment. As Brunialti explains, “Ensuring you are wearing a bra that fits impeccably and gives you a smooth silhouette under your shirt helps prevent the dreaded bust gap.” A good fit in the shoulders and waist is also essential.
Features: Some plus-focused, or at least plus-sensitive, brands are taking steps to bridge the gap, offering structural solutions to keep shirts closed. “[Lane Bryant’s] button-down shirts incorporate a hidden button on the shirt’s placket (the opening of the shirt where front-facing buttons are placed) that prevent the dreaded pulling, puckering, or gaping,” Brunialti says. For shirts where a back-up button isn’t an option, Hamilton swaps two buttons. She even has a helpful guide for how to execute it on her Instagram page. And if, like Hamilton, your hips are wider than your waist, you can always consider leaving the bottom buttons of your shirt open over a tank or tee, which can give you a loose, free look that seems fairly fashion-forward.
Material: Button-ups can be made from various fabrics. All of them have different stretch factors, and all of those can play into how a shirt fits and how it wears over time. "Look for materials that are comfortable, breathable, and durable, like cotton, linen, or silk," says Benson.
Function: Buyers should also consider if there’s somewhere specific they want to wear the shirt, or if they’re looking for something more classic that can be dressed up or dressed down. That way, you’ll know whether you should opt for a prim and party-ready pintuck, say, or a big and baggy boyfriend shirt.
Your Questions, Answered
What’s the difference between a button-up shirt and a button-down shirt?
Strictly speaking, a button-down shirt has buttons at the points of the collar while a button-up does not. Button-downs are typically associated with neckties and business meetings, while button-ups can be as casual or formal as you’d like them to be.
What's the difference between a men's button-up and women's button-up?
While they’re not always different, depending on the brand, men’s and women’s button-ups can vary quite a bit, even if they’re made by the same brand and called the same thing. Typically, women’s button-up shirts button on the opposite side from the men’s, and they might also have more darting and shape built into the structure of the garment. That could be for several reasons—to accommodate a bust, for visual style, or anything else a designer wants—but if you’re looking for a more masculine or gender-fluid fit, you’ll want to look for a button-up without the trappings of a traditional “women’s” shirt.
Why Shop With Us
Marah Eakin, the author of this article, has been a journalist reporting on entertainment, fashion, and culture for almost 15 years. She knows her way around a good button-up, having worked in more than a few offices, and she’s always on the hunt for something that both covers her bust and is long enough to fall below the waist of her pants. For even more insight, she spoke with Bleusalt CEO Lyndie Benson, Lane Bryant SVP of Design Alessandra Brunialti, and plus-sized influencer Jamie Hamilton.
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