We’re all in agreement: purchasing the perfect dress shirt can be intimidating. The stores for men can be snooty. Also, buying online is a crapshoot–unless you know exactly what you want. The dress shirts you buy are usually not inexpensive, neither. Therefore, you need to make sure that you’re purchasing the correct dress shirt. But how do you know what to look for especially when buying a formal shirt online?
We’re here to assist you. Here’s How to Buy A Dress Shirt.
#1: Fit
We cannot stress this enough fit is the foremost consideration when buying any dress-wear regardless of whether you’re buying shirts and trousers, jackets or suits. Even the most elegant, expensive garment in the world is going to appear haphazard in the event that it doesn’t fit your specific physique.
So get sized. by a professional. It doesn’t matter if you buy the complete suit at Macy’s and having it tailored on-the-spot (recommended) or simply visiting your local shop and getting your body measured professionally is the only way to be sure that the new dress you’ve purchased will look as nicely as you’d expect. If you’re spending, it’s reasonable to expect your new dress clothes to be stylish and fitted perfectly.
So get measured, and save your sizes in your phone or somewhere else. Note: If you work out or diet often, you may need to have your measurements measured every time you purchase the latest dress.
#2: Fit
If you’re shopping for the latest dress shirt it’s possible to be able to take your own measurements for your upper body. (Gentlemen Please don’t use a metal, construction-style tape measure to do this. Borrow your wife or girlfriends cloth sewing tape or buy one at Amazon for a few bucks. Thanks for your support.) Dress shirts for men are measured with two numbers which are neck size and the length of your sleeves.
Start taking measurements of the circumference of your neck. The measurement should be taken well below the jawline, across your Adam’s apple where the collar of a t-shirt will sit. Add 1/4″” to that measurement for breathing room, and increase it to the nearest half-inch. This is your neck’s measurement and is the initial number you’ll see on a pre-packaged retail dress shirt–i.e., “15 1/2 32-33.” Note this number.
The second number represents the length of the sleeves. Take a measurement of your sleeve using either of your arms hanging to your side. Start your tape measure at the bottom of your neck. Then, measure to the inside of your arm and stop at the top on your wrist. Then round up to the nearest inch. Keep this number in mind; it will be the second number on your dress shirt measurement, i.e., “15 1/2 32-33.”
Don’t worry about getting the sleeve’s measurement to be perfect! It’s better to round up. If the dress shirt you’ve bought are too long, you can always get them tailored later. It’s not expensive (usually around ten bucks) Any dry clean that’s worth their salt can do it in a day. That’s why you want to round up.
The two numbers that you’ve recorded will be your new shirt size. A well-fitting dress shirt should be spacious, but well-fitted around the chest, and tapered to the torso. Take care that the shirt isn’t too big over your waistline. If your arms bulge through the sleeves a bit, that’s great for you! Do you feel your chest is stretching the buttons? That’s okay–unless it’s uncomfortable. It’s okay to increase by a half inch around the neck next time.
#3: Fit
Didn’t we mention that fit was essential? In any style colour, hue, or style of dress shirt you buy Fit is definitely the most important aspect. Modern dress shirts offer particular cuts to fit your body. The average man isn’t going to be disappointed by the Classic (aka Standard or Regular) Fit shirt. It’s a Classic Fit dress shirt will fit most men but athletic or slim individuals may find them big or bulky when put on.
Slim or slim men should opt for slimmer or thinner men should opt for a Slim (or even Extra-slim) Slim Fit top. Slim Fit dress shirts are ideal for slim or skinny guys. Slim Fit dress shirt provides a tapered cut through the waist and midsection, with larger armholes and tapered sleeves, but often has little to no space on the upper body.
If you’re a strong muscular, athletic person with distinct chest, shoulders and arms, look for an Athletic Fit shirt. These Athletic Fit clothing offers more room on the upper body, with slightly smaller arm holes with sleeves that are fuller and an extremely tailored waist. Some have darts in the back, which pull the waistline in to stop the billowing. This is a great way to highlight your back. The Athletic Fit dress shirt is designed to fit snugly and is the perfect dress shirt for displaying the “V” silhouette of your body.
Choose A Fabric
With so many styles it’s difficult to decide which dress shirt is the most appropriate choice for you. Most of the words used to define them are simply definitions of their material or weave. Here are a few of the most popular:
Oxford: A simple, robust weave (most well-known, perfect for daily use);
Pinpoint or Royal Oxford–A smoother, lighter Oxford (dressier);
Poplin–Smooth with a light, loose web (very comfortable);
Herringbone–A textured weave with distinct “V” shapes (very formal)
Broadcloth–A smooth, tight, high-quality weave (dressy and, often, expensive);
Seersucker–light, textured, summer-weight fabric (casual or billowy).
A majority of men can choose an ordinary Oxford or Poplin dress shirt for any occasion all year round such as everyday work clothes to weddings and important events. If you’re looking to dress it up a bit for a party or interview you can opt for a Herringbone, but not in summer. If you do, be sure your men’s clothing is comfortable and fits right.
And here’s a general rule for all men to follow when wearing a dress shirt: If it is worn tucked in, you’re wearing an undershirt. The choice of v-neck, an A-style, or A-style is up to you. An undershirt will keep your dress shirt looking and feeling fresher, longer. It will also increase its life span, and help deter ring-around-the-collar. It is also a good idea to never want to be that guy who sweats on his dress shirt. Ever.
Choose Your Collar
Collars on dress shirt are trendy things for fashion designers to play with. Every year it seems there’s a new style men are supposed to stick to. But , it’s an option you decide to make and we’re not here to tell you what’s the best to your style. The bottom line is to be comfortable and to look sharp.
The Button-down collar is the most commonly used style of collar. It’s strong and versatile however, it’s casual. The rules have become less strict in recent years, but generally, you should not to wear a tie that has a button-down collar–unless you’re really shooting for that prep-school look. So if you’re going relaxed or business casual, a button-down collar is appropriate.
Pin and Tab collars are made to be worn with ties in very formal situations. However, they look fabulous and signify that you’re a man who gives the slightest bit of thought to how he looks. Pin collars are named because they’re anchored by a collar bar, while tab collars are held down with hidden tabs beneath the points.
In recent years the Spread collar has been very popular with suitably dressed men wearing tie. It’s really just a wider Point collar, with the ends facing outwards more than 90 degrees apart. A few people go even further, with the round Club collar. In the end, the Mandarin (or Band, or Nehru) collar is a shorter, folded standing collar. It’s a bold look that is one that requires courage to wear, however you’ll be able to find it in contemporary dress shirts if you’re in the mood to try something different.
It’s the Point Collar is the most basic kind of turndown collar, which is equally suitable for suits and neckties like it would be for boots and jeans. It’s been the most common style of collar for a dress shirt for the past century or more, because it’s easy and easy to use. It’s also appropriate regardless of the direction that the fashion trend is heading.
Cuff It Up
There are almost as many cuff options as collars and all of them are a bold statement. Here are a few of the most sought-after designs.
It is the Standard, Straight, or Square cuff is the most popular type of cuff. It features one button, and a sharp right angle corner. It’s also possible to select the Two-button style, which allows you to adjust the fit of your wrist. Two-button cuffs work well for casual wear, since you can leave the second button open for more of a casual look. It can come with a square, mitered, or rounded corner.
A Mitered cuff cuts across the corners at 45 degrees. It has two buttons. It’s a bit more formal than a normal cuff, and adds elegance and class to any dress shirt. A rounded cuff has the outside corner is rounded to a gentle arc. They’re perfect for offices, as the cuff’s point can get worn by repeated contact with a desk.
French cuffs make the perfect option to pair with an evening dress. They’re twice the length of a normal cuff, folded in half and secured with a cufflink. In the office this might be too formal. If you’re fancy, you can’t go wrong with this look.