A Shirt Is Never Just A Shirt

Every man needs a smart shirt at some stage in his life, whether it’s for five days a week in the office, to impress on a first date or pair with a dress suit for a ‘once a year’ formal event. That being said, in every man’s life there is a time where you will need to go and buy the shirt, and if you don’t know what you are looking for, this can be a rather daunting task.



When looking for the perfect shirt, it’s helpful to have some knowledge of what all the confusing jargon actually means. This will help you find the perfect shirt, that fits right, suits your style and the occasion.



Wearing an ill-fitting shirt is the quickest way to be exiled to the ‘worst dressed’ list, so it’s a good idea to get yourself measured at a shirt merchant or by a tailor and find out your exact sizing. Dress shirt sizes include both your neck size and your sleeve length.



Shirts come in three typical fits: regular, athletic and full. The regular fit works with most body shapes and is the ‘standard’ fit that you will find most common in the stores, available in small, medium and large. The athletic fit, also known as tailored or fitted, sits close to the body and is suitable for fitter or leaner men. The full fit is designed to be loose on the body and is for the more heavy set men.

The fabric of a shirt is also very important, as the last thing you want is to be trapped in a shirt that feels itchy and irritating. As a general rule, the smoother a fabric feels, the more formal it is and most likely, more expensive. Cotton, and cotton blends are the main shirt fabric you will come across, and for good reason. It’s breathable, lightweight and doesn’t wrinkle too easily. It’s the weave of the cotton that notably determines its feel and look. Oxford is a weave on the rougher end of the spectrum, durable and more for outdoor work attire. Twill and poplin are slightly smoother, great for professional day-to-day wear. King twill, sea island and broadcloth weaves are for your top end professional and formal attire. Other shirt fabrics include satin, silk and linen.



Other decisions you are going to come across when scouting for a mens shirt will include colour, pattern and prints. All these details depend on your personal style and what will make you feel comfortable and confident. Think about elements such as how your peers will be dressed, will the colour suit your skin tone, will you feel good wearing it and does it suit the occasion.



Although it’s a lot to take in, it doesn’t quite end there. On top of fit, fabric, and colouring or pattern, you also need to consider the small details such as collars and cuffs. There are many types of collars and it’s always best to try on a few different types to see which best suits your face shape. The straight-point collar suits most face shapes and is the most popular collar choice. Cuffs come in three styles: the convertible and French (also known as double) styles require cufflinks and are considered more formal whereas the barrel cuffs simply do up with a button.



Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.