A man’s dress shirt is an essential piece of clothing that can either make you look stunning or not-so-good-looking at all. It can be a stand-alone piece or worn for complementing your sports jacket.
However, in the absence of a jacket, your dress shirt will speak on behalf of your outfit. Make sure this non-verbal communication will do justice to what you are actually trying to express.
What is a Dress Shirt?
A dress shirt is a button-up shirt with collar, long sleeves, and wrist cuffs. Dress shirts vary in patterns and colors.
The Fit
You’ll know that a dress shirt fits properly if it’s comfortable enough and is neither tight nor too loose. A fit dress shirt should:
– Allow you to slip two fingers in the collar when buttoned
– Have long sleeves that are long enough for you to raise your arms but also short enough, so there is no fabric bunching near the cuff when you hang your arms
– Have shoulder points that extend only to the end of the shoulder but not any farther
– Have tight enough fit around the wrist so unbuttoning the cuffs is necessary to slip your hands off
– Allow you to pinch 1-3 inches of fabric from the chest and waist
The Fabrics
Cotton: the most popular yet inexpensive fabric that is mostly used for almost all types of clothing. It conducts heat and moisture well. On top of that, cotton is smooth, durable, and takes shape especially when ironed.
Man-made Fibers: These fibers may not possess the natural, desirable properties of cotton but they are changing the game in terms of important properties as well such as wrinkle and stain resistance.
Silk: The silk has a sheen and light drape but not highly recommended since its maintenance costs are relatively high durability is low.
The Colors
White – This is the most common shirt color and originally dominated as the only choice for the gentlemen. The lack of color implies not having to do any dirty work. White dress shirts are popular and iconic.
Blue – The popularity of blue is perhaps due to its ability to complement most complexions. Blue is a safe alternative to white so having one on your wardrobe is ideal.
Other Colors – Other distinct bright colors such as pink, gold, lavender, green, red are made available for men who like the unconventional. These colors, just like blue can complement most complexion well. Dress shirts of these colors can straight up set yourself apart in a room of like dressed men.
The Patterns
Solid – Solid might be the most formal and the simplest but is the most versatile of all. Solid fabrics have a different look and feel that can better display your style and fit.
Stripe – A classic blue on white is a definite go-to but adding another color to accentuate it can liven up your overall getup. Striped dress shirts look especially good under a solid colored suit.
Check – Originally, the check was used as a signifier of the wearer’s background. Today, checked shirts are rarely worn because the pattern seems overpowering especially with a suit. The check pattern is the least formal but can be mixed and matched with different patterns such as a stripe.
The Collar
The shirt collar proximity to the face makes it a very important part of the clothing. It also properly balances and frames a man’s face. There are two major variants of turndown collars, the point, and spread.
– Point: This type of collar is the most common and can be found on 95{09c4984b2daad12ea44dc04bb543566d84c83d28b9c75f61575496cafc88c793} of most off-the-rack dress shirts. The points are relatively close together with an angle of about 60 degrees or less. This collar style can elongate the face.
– Spread: Spread collar has a wider look with a greater than a 90-degree angle. It is also called a cutaway collar because it reveals more of the upper shirt area. Spread collars accentuate a man’s features and are ideal for men with medium to long-shaped face.
The Cuffs
When wearing a jacket, the collar and the cuffs are the visible parts of a dress shirt. The cuffs are also very important, and there are two types of it, the button and French.
– Button Cuffs: These are single cuffs that wrap around the arm with a button to keep it in place. Ready-made shirts usually have this type of cuff. You may have a single or adjustable one with two buttons side-by-side. You can also opt for a more formal option called the barrel button where two buttonholes and two vertical buttons are used.
– French Cuffs: This type is the most formal option but is very appropriate for daily wear. It is a double cuff that is folded back and fastened with cufflinks. Cufflinks have subtle options available such as fabric knots.