Having trouble deciding what shirt to buy? Choosing a shirt can be difficult, but with the right knowledge and tips it doesn’t have to be too complicated. This article will provide readers with helpful rules for choosing the perfect shirt for any occasion. From considering sizing, materials and color, there are several factors that need to be taken into account when shopping for shirts. With this guide, readers will be able to find an outfit that is both stylish and comfortable.
Color, ornament and type of fabric
To begin with, it is worth considering how strict a Shirt you need. The most Men’s formal shirts are made from white fabrics, but the most versatile shirts tend to be light blue (solid or near-solid). For wearing in the office with a strict dress code, as well as for interviews and business negotiations, light-colored shirts with the most neutral design are required; at the same time, classical ornaments such as thin stripes and microcells are often acceptable.
If you are not constrained by the dress code, you can get shirts in more unusual colors and with larger patterns, but we advise you to refrain from buying dark, very bright and very peculiar shirts (for example, with large paisley patterns).
Twill, which is sometimes called twill, is also very versatile, but it is clearly not the best choice for hot weather, as well as oxford – a less formal fabric with a pronounced texture (however, in parentheses, we note that the so-called royal oxford is also suitable for business shirts ).
If you do not want to delve into the study of terminology, just bring this or that shirt to your eyes and evaluate the degree of its transparency. The better you can see through a particular fabric, the better (ceteris paribus) it is suitable for summer and worse for winter.
Shirt silhouette and fabric type
When you understand which shirts of which colors and patterns suit you, you can proceed to a personal examination of candidates or to study specific offers in online stores. At this stage, maximum attention should be paid to the silhouette and characteristics of the fabric. A well-tailored dress shirt does not fit the body, and it is comfortable to sit in it. Excessive bagging, of course, is a minus. Beware of models that stretch over the chest and gather in many folds, as well as Men’s shirts that hang in a bag.
In addition, when looking at candidates for purchase, attention should be paid to the composition and type of fabric, as well as the type of weave of threads and the manufacturer of the fabric. Unfortunately, complete information about the material can not always be found, but the more you can find encouraging information (let’s say so), the better. We have already mentioned the types of weave (poplin, oxford, twill) above, but here we note that in the vast majority of cases good shirt fabrics contain only natural fibers, the most versatile of which is cotton.
Among the reliable manufacturers of shirt fabrics are Alumo, Thomas Mason, Monti, Albini, Grandi & Rubinelli, Bonfanti, Riva, Testa. We talked in detail about materials for shirts in this article .
Collar and other details
Another important nuance that many people ignore is the parameters of the collar, that is, its shape and size. English fashion designer Hardy Amis writes that “attentive Men’s Casual Shirt choose a collar according to the structure of their neck.”
The size of the face and neck also matters; so, people with a short neck should choose low collars, but the owner of a long neck can afford a high collar. On men with large faces, large collars look good, but small ones suit them worse. In addition, you need to remember that the degree of formality of the shirt depends on the collar – for wearing in an office with a strict dress code, you should not, for example, purchase shirts with a collar, the corners of which are fastened with buttons. We talked about collars in detail in a separate article .
We add that other details are also important – for example, cuffs, about the types of which we also wrote a large article . Mother-of-pearl buttons, sewn yoke , gussets , side seams in “one needle” (single-needle stitching), as well as other details can testify to the high quality of shirts . However, the fabric, the design of the shirt as a whole, the silhouette and the collar are of primary importance.
Shirt fit
If the shirt suits you in all important parameters (design, fabric, silhouette, collar and maybe something else), you need to try it on. It is necessary that her collar fits well on your neck – it should not squeeze it and cause discomfort, but it should not hang out. The well-fitting collar hugs your neck softly and doesn’t move away from your neck when you’re standing upright. Remember that it is impossible to reduce or increase the size of the collar.
