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Browse all Drake's button-ups →Light Blue Bengal Stripe Cotton Poplin Button-Down Shirt
The verdict
Fit
Poplin shirts from Drake's cut the same as their oxford line but with a crisper, less forgiving drape. Expect the collar to stand a touch stiffer and the body to wrinkle more between washes.
Quality
Poplin is finer than oxford and will soften faster, but Drake's construction ensures it won't pill or lose shape. Better for warmer climates; less durable to the touch over years.
Is the price fair?
At 225 GBP, the price is similar to oxford but you're trading durability for weight and breathability. Fair for warm-weather rotations; less so if worn year-round.
Best for
Someone who values the stripe detail and prefers a crisper, lighter shirt for summer work or warmer climates, willing to replace it sooner than an oxford.
Care
Poplin wrinkles readily; iron between wears if you want that crisp look, or embrace the casual rumple.
What owners report about Drake's button-ups
Owners rate the oxford cloth very highly — a four-shirt comparison review called it the softest tested and said it stayed soft after repeated washing — and the lined-but-unfused collar draws praise for its natural roll, though wearers note the roll varies shirt to shirt because they are handmade. Recurring complaints are practical rather than about quality: the cut is slim with high armholes, which one reviewer found uncomfortable next to roomier fits, and forum posters report the published size chart doesn't match delivered shirts because measurements are taken before washing. Posters who own several oxfords also report the fabric weight is not consistent across the range.
- Strengths
- Soft oxford cloth that holds up through washing and an unfused collar with a natural roll, made in the brand's own UK factory.
- Watch out for
- A slim cut with high armholes, size-chart measurements owners say overstate the delivered (washed) shirt, and fabric weight that varies between shirts — all at a top-of-category price.
- Sizing
- Forum posters report delivered shirts measure smaller than the online size chart (the brand takes measurements pre-wash), so go by actual garment measurements and consider sizing up if between sizes or broad-shouldered.
About Drake's's button-ups line as a whole. Sources: The Best Oxford Cloth Button Down Shirt — Typical Contents · Drake's Debuts Ultra-Premium, Unfused Oxford With Third Button — Ivy Style · The unofficial Drake's London Appreciation Thread (p.433) — Styleforum
