Silk has been among the most luxurious fabrics throughout most of human history. So much so that its production method was once the object of intense secrecy and medieval James Bond-esque espionage.
At this precise moment of fashion history, however, silk occupies a strange place. Although the material feels just as soft as ever, men’s silk shirts can seem like they belong only in Miami-set gangster movies. But let me tell you, whenever you’re wearing a silk shirt, everybody’s going to want to feel the fabric.
As you’ll see in this rundown of the best silk shirts for men, modern brands and designers are creating some stunning pieces that both move beyond and play with those stereotypes. You can enjoy wearing silk on a hot summer day and look great while doing it.
Let’s jump right into it.
Key Takeaways
I’ve been partaking in the silk shirt revival for a few years now, allowing me to collect a number of stunning additions to my summer wardrobe. After looking through my closet and shopping around for some new designs, I’m thrilled with the list of the best silk shirts for men I’ve put together.
The Luca Faloni Amalfi Polo Shirt, my top pick, looks just as good on the beach as it does at a casual dinner. Its collar and long sleeves can help shelter you from the sun while the light fabric keeps you cool.
I’ve also recommended an excellent everyday silk T-shirt, the Collars & Co. Lucca Luxury Touch Cotton and Silk T-Shirt, and the more formal LilySilk 22MM Mulberry Silk Mens Shirt, which covers the silk dress shirts for men category.
Our Top Picks
Why it’s great: The Amalfi Polo Shirt by Luca Faloni is a quality take on a classic design: the monochrome long-sleeve polo. No matter which one of its understated colors you choose, the silk-cotton blend won’t leave you looking shiny or reflective—if that’s what you’re trying to avoid while shopping for silk dress shirts for men.
I often wear my light gray version of the shirt underneath a sleek blazer.
Who is this for? This is one of the best silk shirts for men. I’d say this shirt would be right at home in the closet of any man whose taste is for understated clothes that have a touch of elegance.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This isn’t the best silk shirt if you’re trying to make a big statement. But don’t worry, there will be plenty of those coming up.
Material: 60% Silk, 40% Cotton | Sizes: XS–2XL | Colors: 10 | Care: Hand Wash or Dry Clean
Why it’s great: Silk isn’t often used as a material for tiger fitting items like T-shirts (and the same goes for athletic dress shirts or performance dress shirts) because of how delicate it is. But, Collars & Co. has managed to combine silk with a fine cotton to create this soft and breathable T-shirt.
Who is this for? You can feel great while wearing this T-shirt even if you’re not dressed much differently than you usually do.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The silk content isn’t the highest on this list, at only 20%, but you can definitely still feel it’s there.
Material: 20% Silk, 80% Cotton | Sizes: S–3XL | Colors: 5 | Care: Machine Wash
Why it’s great: Here’s a great option to put in your suitcase if you’re on the way to Miami and want to look the part (even if the trip is just in your head). The laid-back palm fronds design puts me in a relaxed mood from the moment I put the shirt on.
Who is this for? This is one of the best silk shirts for men. One of the standout features of this 100% silk garment is the fact that it’s machine-washable, making it a great fit for someone who doesn’t make a habit of going to the dry cleaners.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: It’s a small complaint, but I’m not really a fan of the standard-issue plastic buttons on this shirt. A wood or dark shell button would really set off the bright colors of the shirt if you ask me.
Material: 100% Silk | Sizes: M–XL | Colors: 2 | Care: Machine Wash
Why it’s great: You might have been given advice that goes something along the lines of “always go for silk, since so-called ‘silky-feeling satins’ are just a pale imitation of the real thing.” And usually I agree, with the exception of satin weaves that are made from real silk.
And that’s the case with the Camp-Collar Floral-Print Silk-Satin Shirt by Celine Homme, which has an arresting pattern and feels unbelievably soft.
Who is this for? This shirt features the absolute finest silk material you can find. This is for the guy who will appreciate it.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This is one of the best silk shirts for men. I can’t really mention anything other than the price tag here, since it is substantial.
Material: 100% Silk | Sizes: EU37–EU44 | Colors: 1 | Care: Hand wash
Why it’s great: This classy silk and cotton sweater polo looks like an athleisure product from an older, better time—what a Cambridge student would wear to the pub after playing cricket or polo in the ’20s.
It might be a bit more of a spring shirt than a summer one, but you might find yourself appreciating the slightly thicker fabric on a cool summer night.
Who is this for? The style profile of this garment is casual upper crust. If you often find yourself going for that sort of look, then it should be right up your alley.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This guy runs a little large. You might want to size down when buying this product; otherwise, you might end up with an oversized or baggy shirt.
Material: 55% Silk, 45% Cotton | Sizes: XS–XL | Colors: 3 | Care: Dry Clean
Why it’s great: Finally, I’ve got a great silk shirt that you can count on for just about any formal occasion you might need to appear at. I’ve worn black men’s silk shirts like this one to a few different weddings, and I often spend more time without my jacket on than with it.
I’d also mention the mother-of-pearl buttons, which are a really luxurious touch. Honestly, this is one of the best silk shirts for men out there.
Who is this for? The shirt comes in four classic colors, so you’ll surely be able to find one to match a variety of pieces you already own.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: I find the shirt’s hem hangs a little too low to wear untucked, which does restrict your styling options a little bit.
Material: 100% Silk | Sizes: XS–2 XL | Colors: 4 | Care: Hand Wash or Dry Clean
Buying Considerations for The Best Silk Shirts For Men
Material
As you can tell from the range of products I’ve recommended, the best silk shirts for men can come in a variety of different fabrics. You have your classic 100% silk garments, like the LilySilk 22MM Mulberry Silk Mens Shirt, but many designers are employing cotton-silk blends in their collections.
Some men really value the softness and breathability of 100% silk, but others like the extra durability that adding other fibers to the mix can bring.
Size & Fit
Silk is traditionally worn a great deal looser than dress shirts or T-shirts made from more common materials. That’s because a looser fit really allows you to feel the special qualities of silk.
The luxurious appearance of silk also lends itself to these looks since the swathes and folds of a flowing silk shirt can take on different textures as it catches the light in various ways. After all, the whole point of wearing silk is looking and feeling like you’re oh-so-lightly covered in the softest way possible.
Color & Design
The color and design of a silk shirt is where the most personal taste comes into play. Some of the bright colors and flashy designs that designers put on silk shirts can feel like a bit too much for me, personally speaking, but others have no problem pulling those kinds of designs off.
Just make sure that you’ve got a pair of pants that will complement your new silk shirt (or pick one out from this list).
How We Chose
There are tons of brands that claim to offer the best silk shirts for men; not all their products are created equal. First off, you’ve always got to be on the lookout for statins masquerading as silk, which was my first criterion when putting together this list.
I also did tons of online research by looking into the quality and reputability of each brand on this list, what customers who own each shirt think of their purchase and the price and value that each potential purchase offers.
Brand Reputation: The best guide for the quality and design that a brand puts out is what they’ve put out before. That’s why reputation is so important in this industry.
Customer Reviews: I always put a lot of stock into what customers think of a product. A second or third opinion is always helpful when putting together lists like this one.
Price: Since this was a list of the best silk shirts for men, a lot of the products do come with a hefty price tag. But that made it all the more important to pick products that offer real value.
Transparency: Whether or not a company is up front and honest about factors like their pricing, materials, and return policy was another crucial factor I considered.
Why Trust Us?
As the proud owners of countless silk shirts running the gamut from ultra-formal to extremely casual, we here at FashionBeans have learned a little bit about what features are important for the best silk shirts for men. When we find one that has the right look and fit, it goes straight into our regular rotations.
We spent a couple days combing through new collections and the best menswear forums to come up with this list of the best silk shirts for men. Out of the hundreds of products we considered, these were the top six. Trust us; we have your back.
Final Verdict
I really hope you’ve found an item you love on this list of the best silk shirts for me. For my money, the Luca Faloni Amalfi Polo Shirt stands in the top spot. But you can’t really go wrong with any of the exceptional products featured here.
FAQ
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Wearing a beautiful silk shirt can help any man feel comfortable and confident in any situation, so I’d say the answer to this question is yes. Whatever type of shirt you’re shopping for, you can up the luxury by getting it in silk.
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Although silk shirts require considerably more care than cotton or linen garments, they can last many years if you avoid machine washing them and are reasonably careful when you have them on.
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Silk is a premium fiber that is extremely expensive to produce, so silk shirts do usually come with a price to match that. However, you can find affordable silk shirts if you shop the right brands or keep an eye out for sales.
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