Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; prop styling by Elizabeth SerwinWe love a good button-up shirt — and when it’s done in a lustrous fabric like silk or satin, the versatile silhouette can travel beyond daytime and into the evening. For a professional event, you can tuck it into a pair of high-rise trousers in a material that contrasts with the slinky silk, like wool or heavy cotton twill. And for a night out, wear it with several buttons undone and lots of necklaces with flares or slim cigarette pants.Despite silk’s delicate look and luxe reputation, it’s a surprisingly practical fabric: Silk is innately breathable, temperature-regulating, and moisture-wicking. And it’s actually very durable, able to stand the test of time when properly cared for.Top pickThis timeless button-up blouse is made from deliciously drapey and breathable silk georgette and features luxe details such as mother-of-pearl buttons. The cut is slim and fitted, and this shirt runs small — we suggest going up by one or even two sizes.When you’re spending nearly $250 on a shirt, you want some assurances that it’ll be worth the investment. The Theory Fitted Shirt in Silk Georgette delivers: This long-sleeve button-up, beautifully made from high-quality silk georgette, has a sophisticated, simple design and a tailored fit that will never go out of style. This shirt is made from a high-quality silk; in the ivory color, it’s slightly transparent. Michael Murtaugh/NYT WirecutterIt has a minimalist look that’s easy to style. The Fitted Shirt is a sleek, sophisticated button-up pared down to the most essential elements. It has a placket that keeps the front row of buttons hidden and a simple single-button cuffed sleeve. It can easily pair with everything from structured trousers to vintage jeans to statement skirts.“I could easily see myself wearing this five years from now,” noted one tester. “It’s basically trend-proof.” Style editor Ingela Ratledge Amundson has been testing this blouse since August 2025. “I’m shocked by how much wear I’ve gotten out of it — I reach for it over and over again,” she says. “In fall and winter, I love the look and feel of it fully buttoned up under a sweater, and it’s also a great piece to wear on its own with fuller trousers.”Premium materials turn this staple into something special. This blouse is made from a lovely 100% silk georgette fabric, which has a matte finish. (Warning: The finish does make grease stains “pop,” and they aren’t easy to spot-treat.) It’s lightweight without being flimsy, and the material has an impressive amount of integrity. Because of the structure and drape, when you get a crease it “falls out” easily, so it looks better over the course of the day.“I gasped when I first touched the fabric,” said one tester. “It’s heavier than I thought it would be, but in a luxe way, not a heat-inducing way. It’s actually very breathable.” Mother-of-pearl buttons along the front and at the cuffs are a fine finishing touch.I’m 5-foot-3 and wearing the Theory Fitted Shirt in size XL. This 100% silk shirt has a slim fit that runs small. Nicola Fumo/NYT WirecutterDarts on the back of the shirt give it a more tailored fit. Zoe Vanderweide/NYT WirecutterThe concealed button placket is a sleek, elegant touch. Nicola Fumo/NYT WirecutterThis model is 6-foot and wearing size L. Ingela Amundson/NYT WirecutterI’m 5-foot-3 and wearing the Theory Fitted Shirt in size XL. This 100% silk shirt has a slim fit that runs small. Nicola Fumo/NYT WirecutterYou’d better size up. In addition to having a trim, tailored cut, this button-up runs small — like, really, really small. Multiple testers had to send back their original samples for larger sizes.Our 5-foot-6 tester, who wears a size 36H/J bra, tried this blouse in XXL, the largest size available, and complained, “I could barely close this around my boobs. It was way too tight in the shoulders, arms, and waist, too.”My usual size, S, didn’t come anywhere close to buttoning over my 38C chest and was tight through the arms as well. Size L almost fit but gaped at the bust, so I settled on size XL to fit my torso — but then the sleeves were too long for my 5-foot-3 frame.Flaws but not dealbreakersThis shirt runs extremely small; go up at least one size from your usual, maybe more if you have a large bust.It’s pricey.The matte finish of the silk makes stains easy to spot, especially grease stains.The care label emphatically states that this shirt is dry-clean only. Ignore that warning at your own risk. One rebellious tester has been machine-washing (delicate cycle) and air-drying hers, and reported that it’s shrunk by about a half-size as a result, though it otherwise looks fine.Key specsSizes: P to XXLMaterial: 100% silkColors: six Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; prop styling by Elizabeth SerwinTop pickThis well-priced, machine-washable silk blouse contains 10% spandex, which makes it especially comfortable and easy to move in. It has a slim fit, and it runs about a size small. Also, its notched collar isn’t for everyone.Silk blouses have a bad rap for being expensive and hard to care for. Quince’s Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse addresses both concerns: It costs well under 100 bucks, and it can tolerate being tossed in the wash at home. This V-neck button-up, made from 90% silk and 10% spandex, has a long, slim fit; even with the stretch content, we recommend sizing up. This silk shirt has a notched collar that gives it a slightly ’70s feel. Michael Murtaugh/NYT WirecutterIt has a little stretch. This midweight blouse is made from a blend of 90% mulberry silk and 10% spandex. That stretch allows the shirt to move with you and drape nicely without any tugging or pulling. The spandex fibers also give the material more structure than a 100% silk blouse has, and they help the fabric release wrinkles and creases.You can toss it in the wash. Unlike some silk shirts, including our dry-clean-only pick from Theory, this one is machine-washable. Quince recommends washing it in cold water on the delicate setting and hanging it to dry. A Wirecutter staffer who has had this blouse since 2021 says that her shirt has held up well over years of laundering, though it has lost some of its original luster and turned more matte.I’m 5-foot-3 and wearing the Quince Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse in size M. This blouse has a V-neck with a retro notched collar. Nicola Fumo/NYT WirecutterBecause it contains some stretch, this blouse is exceptionally easy to move in. Jason Toledo/NYT WirecutterThe size M fit my 38C chest but was snug across my hips, so I preferred wearing it tucked in. Nicola Fumo/NYT WirecutterThis model is 5-foot-6 and wearing size XL. Catherine Kast/NYT WirecutterI’m 5-foot-3 and wearing the Quince Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse in size M. This blouse has a V-neck with a retro notched collar. Nicola Fumo/NYT WirecutterThe notched collar gives it a retro feel. Testers had mixed feelings about this shirt’s collar, which has a notched design (like that of a bowling shirt) fixed in a splayed-open position. I liked the funky collar, and I was drawn to the open V-neckline that it created, but another tester wasn’t a fan: “The shirt is great quality, but I felt like the cut of the collar combined with the sheen made me look like a cater waiter.”If you’re not into the collar, but you do like the sound of washable silk, you may want to check out other tops from Quince in the same material, which we haven’t tested.Flaws but not dealbreakersAlthough this shirt is available in several colors, we found many of the shades unappealing. We think the neutrals, such as navy and black, are the best bet.Key specsSizes: XS to XL, 1X to 3XMaterial: 90% silk 10% spandexColors: eight
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