Mugsy Chambray Button-Down Review: Collared Travel Shirt with Quality

The Mugsy Chambray Button-Down has become my go-to button-down for business trips, casual travel and basically looking presentable in real life. The Portuguese-made construction and organic cotton blend make it stand out from typical chambray shirts. It feels like linen, but it’s easily washable, and it’s a moderate investment for a lot of wear.

In this review, learn about why it’s unique and why I’ve been trusting it, coming from jeans brand Mugsy.

What makes it special

The Mugsy Chambray Button-Down is a button-down shirt that has a crisp and starched feel. It fit right, on the first try, with a flattering style that hits a nice spot on my pants.

• Portuguese craftsmanship: It’s made with care in Portugal, not in fast-fashion locations in factories farther away.
• Organic cotton blend: Made with 75% organic cotton, 23% cotton, and 2% elastane for comfort and stretch. Surprisingly, it feels like linen to me.
• Classic chambray styling: Perfect for wearing with the top button undone and sleeves rolled up (which is how I always wear it), and ideal for casual travel or business casual settings.
• Chest pocket detail: It has a buttoned chest pocket that adds a little unique detail.

The shirt feels well-put-together and sturdy, with attention to detail that I expect from the Mugsy brand (if you’ve seen my jeans reviews, Mugsy tends to perform well on lots of occasions). It’s the perfect update to replace older button-downs (some of mine have wear and tear at the neck) in my travel wardrobe.

Perfect for business travel

I wore this shirt during a business trip to Texas, and it performed exactly as I hoped. The chambray fabric is mid-weight and soft, making it comfortable for long days in meetings and office environments. The 2% elastane provides just enough stretch to move comfortably without feeling restrictive.

I think the elastane component makes it just a little bit different from a 100% cotton shirt, or a linen one.

Because it’s chambray rather than a formal dress shirt, it’s designed to be worn more casually - top button undone, sleeves rolled up. That’s my style.

This makes it perfect for the kind of business casual environments you encounter while traveling, where you want to look put-together but not overly formal. It was a solid choice for me when I had a week in a client office in Texas: I was not presenting at a conference or anything, but I had to adhere to a company dress code.

Pants, shoes and other accessories will help dress the shirt up or down. For summer occasions, I wear some casual chinos like my Mugsy Chinos

Build quality and materials

The Portuguese manufacturing really shows in the construction quality. The shirt feels substantial without being heavy, and the stitching appears durable. The chest pocket has a proper button closure, and the overall attention to detail suggests this shirt will last through many wears and washes.

The organic cotton blend gives it a soft hand feel while maintaining the structure that makes chambray appealing. The fabric has just enough weight to drape well without being bulky, making it ideal for packing and wearing while traveling.

What to know about sizing

For the Mugsy Chambray Button-Down in particular, the Medium was a fit for me. It’s a good fit, too. I haven’t had to tailor, hem or alter this shirt for wear.

I typically wear either small or medium depending on the brand, and this makes it challenging to shop online. I’ve had times where a M is overly wide, but a S is too narrow at the hips. So, this is my constant men’s sizing struggle.

The only sizing advice given is to “size up,” which isn’t particularly helpful when you’re trying to determine the right fit online. This is something to keep in mind when ordering. I hope this advice helps you out with getting it right the first time so you don’t have to do an exchange.

Quick takeaways

In summary, should you consider adding this chambray button-down to your travel attire, especially if you have some events on a trip where you have to look decent? These are my quick facts about it:

• Hand-milled Portuguese construction makes it high quality and durable, feeling like linen but with the ease of washing.
• Organic cotton blend with elastane provides comfort and stretch.
• Perfect for business casual travel and everyday wear while on a trip, or close to home.
• Chest pocket adds functionality and some design element beyond being just plain!
• Sizing can be tricky without clear size charts, but I suggest sizing up.

The Mugsy Chambray Button-Down is worth the investment if you’re looking for a high-quality, travel-friendly button-down shirt. The Portuguese manufacturing and organic materials justify the higher price point, and it’s become a reliable choice for business travel and casual outings.

Plus, have you seen my Mugsy brand review? In it, I mention this classic button-down shirt, along with my take on the chinos and Classic Mugsy Jeans that have so many people buzzing online. I’ll be packing my Mugsy apparel for my next business casual trip, and I’ll be grabbing it from my closet the next time I want to look put-together and elevated.