Comparison: Super OCBD Battle 2 – Asket vs TM Lewin vs Spier & Mackay vs Everlane

The Oxford Cloth Button Down shirt (OCBD) shouldn’t be a stranger to most guy’s wardrobes. It’s a versatile shirt that can be dressed up/down depending on the occasion and outfit you put together.

I’ve been using Uniqlo and Charles Tyrwhitt OCBD’s for years now and compared them in a past article and asked for other OCBD recommendations. These were the 3 most recommended brands: Asket, TM Lewin and Spier & Mackay. I’ve also added Everlane in this comparison because I didn’t have comparable photos last time around.

The Specs

	Asket	TM Lewin	Spier & Mackay –	Everlane
Type	Light Grey Stripe Oxford	Slim Fit Heavy Oxford Blue Single Cuff Shirt	Brown Stripe Oxford	White Blue Stripe Oxford
Price	86 EUR	$89.95AUD	$48 USD	$99AUD
Material	100% American Cotton	100% Cotton	100% Egyptian Cotton	100% Japanese Cotton
Buttons	Mother of pearl	ABS polymer	Natural river shell	ABS polymer
Made in	Portugal	Vietnam	India	Vietnam
Shoulders	18.3″	18″	18″	18.25″
Size	L (Short)	M (Slim)	15.5/33	M (Slim)
Pleats	1 (centre)	None	None	1 (centre)
Pit to Pit	23.6″	22″	21.5″	22″
Slimmest Width	21.7″	19.25″	19″	20.5″
Sleeve Length	26.25	25.9″	23.9″	25.5″
Body Length	30.5″	31.9″	30.5″	31″
Collar Length	2.75″	2.75″	3.25″	2.3″

(Left) Asket front, (Right) Spier & Mackay front

(Left) TM Lewin front, (Right) Everlane front

(Left) Asket back, (Right) Spier & Mackay back

(Left) TM Lewin back, (Right) Everlane back

The Look

All of them look very similar as they are the same type of shirt, but I just wanted to highlight the differences in each OCBD.

Let’s get the ball rolling discussing collar length, in this case longer is more desirable for a nice collar roll. Spier & Mackay knock it out of the park with their collar being over 3 inches, while Asket and TM Lewin measure in just under 3 inches you still get a slight collar roll. Everlane has essentially no roll at all.

Both TM Lewin and Spier & Mackay shirts have gussets at the bottom/side seam for reinforcement. Not a detail most would consider a must have, but good to know it’s there.

Oh also, the last buttonhole on the TM Lewin and Spier & Mackay shirts are horizontal, this helps to reduce the stress on the last button and prevent it from popping open. Sweet.

Asket and TM Lewin also have buttons on the back of their collars to help keep your tie in place and prevent the collar from riding up.

All of the shirts have front pockets except for the TM Lewin OCBD, I would have preferred a pocket on this shirt too but it’s all they had in stock when I ordered. TM Lewin do have an OCBD with a front pocket if you’re interested in getting one though.

The measurements I’ve taken essentially reflect their fit as well, Spier and Mackay is the slimmest, TM Lewin is slightly roomier while Everlane has a more slim-straight fit. Asket’s shirt isn’t advertised as slim at all, it’s straight cut so it’s great if you want an overall more relaxed fit. All of them are long enough to be tucked in without any issue.

Do I have short arms? Or does everyone just have long arms? Most likely the former. I could probably get all of the OCBD’s sleeves shortened, besides the Spier and Mackay shirt which allowed me to choose my sleeve length. Cool.

I should note that I could have ordered the Asket OCDB in Medium but opted for a Large (short) just to fit my shoulders better. Their measurement guide on their website is pretty fantastic.

(Left) Asket collar, (Right) Spier & Mackay collar

(Left) TM Lewin collar, (Right) Everlane collar

(Left) TM Lewin gusset, (Right) Spier & Mackay gusset

(Left) Asket collar button, (Right) TM Lewin collar button

The Feel

All of these OCBDs are made of 100% cotton fabric made in various parts of the world. Asket and Everlane’s shirts feel finer and softer, while TM Lewin and Spier Mackay’s shirts feel coarser to the touch. They all seem to be about the same thickness, not super thick or thin.

Construction and stitching seemed to be quite similar between TM Lewin and Everlane, there were noticeable flyway threads, but nothing that you couldn’t trim back. In contrast Asket and Spier Mackay were definitely better, not many flyway threads around at all.

In terms of fit on body, they all felt good to me in their respective cuts. I could lose a few kilos to fit in the Spier Mackay shirt better, otherwise depending on the rest of the clothes making up a particular outfit I’ve got the slim to straight silhouettes covered.

(Left) Asket fabric detail, (Right) Spier & Mackay fabric detail

(Left) TM Lewin fabric and flyaway, (Right) Everlane fabric detail

Are they Affordable?

Yes, but they hit at all different price points especially when they’re on sale.

Spier & Mackay is a standout at this price point, you get a lot for your money. Shipping is a bit of a bummer to get shipped to Australia, but when discounted and buying multiple I would definitely recommend grabbing their OCBD.

Asket make a great shirt, it’s expensive and shipping plus taxes to Australia make it even more so. But they do make a great OCBD.

TM Lewin have loads of sales and have free shipping once you spend over a certain amount. Their retail on a shirt is around $90AUD, but you can usually get 3 shirts for this amount when on sale. Bargain.

With Everlane, I probably would only buy them if I wanted a particular colour or pattern. It’s more expensive and quality seems to be about on par with shirts from TM Lewin, Charles Tyrwhitt and Uniqlo.

If I need to re-up on a basic blue or white OCBD, I’d probably just grab one from TM Lewin, Charles Tyrwhitt or Uniqlo. But if I wanted something nicer or a particular colour or pattern, Asket and Spier & Mackay are definitely where I’d be looking first.

As always, I’m always open to suggestions for other OCBDs or even other clothes you’d like me to compare. Let me know if you have any suggestions or feedback. Cheers!

Fit Pics

(Left) Asket fit front, (Right) Spier & Mackay fit front

(Left) TM Lewin fit front, (Right) Everlane fit front

(Left) Asket fit side, (Right) Spier & Mackay fit side

(Left) TM Lewin fit side, (Right) Everlane fit side

(Left) Asket fit back, (Right) Spier & Mackay fit back

(Left) TM Lewin fit back, (Right) Everlane fit back

• Beanies: Asket and Uniqlo U
• Chinos: Asket
• Shoes: Becket Simonon Preston Chelsea and Meermin Suede Loafer

Note: The OCBDs by Everlane and Asket were gifted to me, but this comparison was not sponsored. Like all my comparisons and reviews, I strive to write honest reviews based on my experience with each product.