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Glossary · Oxfords & Shirts

Poplin (Broadcloth)

Poplin — called broadcloth in the US — is a simple over-under plain weave with fine yarns, producing a smooth, tightly woven, crisp fabric with little texture. It is the classic dress-shirt cloth: it takes a press well, reads formal, and can feel cool and light. Trade-offs against oxford: poplin shows wrinkles more and can feel thinner, so weight and yarn quality matter to avoid a papery hand. If a shirt is meant to go under a suit, poplin is usually right; for a rugged solo casual shirt, oxford wears tougher.

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