A blue and white bengal stripe dress shirt with a crisp white collar and white cuffs, the classic Winchester look. The collar is a tall English spread with a two-button band, so it stands up cleanly under a jacket and frames a tie knot well. The body is a lightweight 100% cotton broadcloth woven from 100s 2-ply yarn. Every shirt is made to order in your size or to your own measurements.
What is a Winchester shirt?
A Winchester shirt has a colored or patterned body with a contrasting collar and cuffs, almost always in white. The style goes back to the days of detachable collars, when men paired a white collar with a striped shirt body. Today it reads as a step up from a plain striped shirt: the white collar gives your tie a clean background, and the striped body adds color in the V of your jacket. In the US you'll also hear it called a contrast collar shirt, a white collar and cuffs shirt, or a banker shirt.
Bengal stripe broadcloth
A bengal stripe is a bold, even stripe, with the colored and white stripes close to the same width. It's one of the strongest stripes that still looks right with a suit, and it has long been paired with a white contrast collar. Here the stripes are a clear mid-blue on white, as you can see in the fabric photo.
The fabric is broadcloth, a plain weave with a smooth, flat surface. American shoppers often know it as poplin. It's woven from 100s 2-ply cotton: 100s is the yarn count, which means a fine yarn and a smooth feel, and 2-ply means two yarns are twisted together before weaving for extra strength. The cloth is lightweight, fairly opaque (3 out of 5) and slightly wrinkle-resistant (3 out of 5), so it stays comfortable through a warm day and presses easily.
A two-button high collar
The white collar is an English spread: a moderate spread that sits between a point collar and a cutaway. The collar points are 3.75 inches long and the band is 1.75 inches tall. A standard dress shirt band is usually closer to 1.25 inches, so this collar sits higher on the neck. Two buttons on the band keep that taller band closed flat and upright, with no gaps above the tie.
Wear it with a tie in a four-in-hand or half-Windsor knot. Without a tie, leave the top button undone and the collar still keeps its shape.
White two-button angle cuffs
The cuffs match the collar in white. They are angle cuffs, also called mitred cuffs, with the corners cut on a diagonal, and they close with two buttons. At 3 inches wide they look substantial and show neatly below a jacket sleeve. No cufflinks are needed.
Clean construction
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Tab placket: a classic front placket down the buttons.
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No chest pocket, for a clean front under a jacket.
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Smooth back with no pleats.
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Classic curved hem, cut to stay tucked in.
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White buttons on the front, collar band and cuffs.
How to wear a white collar striped shirt
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Business: navy or charcoal suit with a solid navy, burgundy or dark green tie. A darker tie stands out against the white collar.
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Weddings and events: grey or navy suit, silk tie and a white pocket square to echo the collar.
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With a striped tie: choose a tie with a much wider stripe than the shirt, so the two patterns don't compete.
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No jacket: tailored trousers and a leather belt. The white collar and cuffs keep the shirt looking dressed on its own.
For more business shirts, browse our business dress shirts, or see other tall collars in our high collar shirts.
Made to your size or your measurements
Choose a standard collar size and sleeve length, or choose Custom and send your measurements. You can also change the fit (slim, regular, trim or loose) and add initials. Our size guide and how to measure yourself for a custom dress shirt explain each step. The easiest way to get a good fit is to measure a shirt you already own and like.
Care
- Machine wash cold.
- Use non-chlorine bleach only. Chlorine bleach can fade the blue stripes.
- Hang to dry.
- Iron on low heat.
Specifications
- Fabric: 100% cotton broadcloth, 100s 2-ply
- Weight: lightweight
- Opacity: 3 / 5, fairly opaque
- Wrinkle resistance: 3 / 5, slightly wrinkle-resistant
- Pattern: blue and white bengal stripe
- Collar: white English spread high collar, two-button band, 3.75 in collar points, 1.75 in band height
- Cuffs: white two-button angle cuffs, 3 in wide
- Placket: tab placket
- Chest pocket: none
- Back: smooth, no pleats
- Bottom: classic curved hem
- Buttons: white
- Tailoring: made to order in your selected size or custom measurements
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Winchester shirt and a regular striped shirt?
A Winchester shirt has a white collar and white cuffs on a striped or colored body. A regular striped shirt uses the same fabric throughout. The white collar makes the shirt look a little more formal and gives a tie a clean frame.
Why does the collar have two buttons?
The collar band is 1.75 inches tall, taller than a standard dress shirt band. Two buttons hold the taller band closed and keep it standing straight.
Do I need cufflinks?
No. The angle cuffs close with two buttons.
Is broadcloth the same as poplin?
Yes, for most shoppers. Broadcloth and poplin are both plain-weave shirting fabrics with a smooth, flat finish. In the US the names are often used for the same cloth.
Can I change the collar, cuffs or fit?
Yes. You can choose a standard size or send your own measurements, change the fit, and add initials. If you want a different detail, such as a chest pocket, mention it in your order notes.
Do you ship to the USA, UK and Europe?
Yes. We ship worldwide with tracking. See our shipping policy for rates and delivery times.
