All men need dress shirts and they should know how to wear them in different ways, with various articles, in different contexts. A dress shirt is a special partner with a formal suit and tie attire but this is not the only way you can style it.
There are virtually infinite other options to pair with dress shirt and simultaneously forgo a suit and tie. But, every outfit depends upon where you are heading, to whom you are meeting or what the occasion is.
What A Dress Shirt Is?
In essence, a dress shirt is the cornerstone of any man’s collection. Without one, an ideal wardrobe will be a far-fetched idea. It is one of those essentials, men cant survive without, with main parts as sleeves, collar and cuffs as main functional parts with buttons to do in the front. As a custom all buttons should be done leaving the top button. In case you wear a necktie closing the top button is compulsory.
Dress shirts can be divided into two chief categories- formal and casual. Formal shirts are workhorse of business professional outfits. Generally solid, light coloured pieces with white dress shirt being the keystone. Other viable colours are pale blue and pale grey. Thin stripes such as pencil stipes and pin striped shirts are also counted as dress shirts, white being the base colour.
Solid black dress shirt as opposite to white shirt is the most casual colour of all shirts, so is navy. Avoid these colours at serious and business occasions. Red and green are fun & party colours.
Casual shirt collection is comprised of darker colours and busy patterns- broad stripes, plaid shirt and checkered shirt.
Wear A White Dress Shirt
Not only one, but have it in twos or threes; you will need them. White being the most formal is also prone to staining within few hours of wear. Therefore you need back up ready for the next day.
A white dress shirt is a classic staple in men’s collection. It is as versatile with formal suits as with casual pieces like denim. There is not a single occasion where you cannot showcase a white shirt. It will suffice you through office hours and extend its service over the evening event.
Casual Button Down Dress Shirt
Primary staple of the preppy and Ivy League clothing culture, a button down is an essential shirt for men. It is a smart piece to inaugurate your semi-formal or casual shirt collection.
By semi-formal it means that a button down shirt is not to be paired with traditional suits. Because suit characterizes a formal garment and a button down shirt will look inappropriate with it.
However a button-down is a go-to item with jeans and casual pants. You can pair a white button-down with dark blue jeans or navy chino pants. Men with a style taste can combine khaki pants with this type of shirt.
Besides, there may be occasions when you want to wear a blazer or sport coat over a button-down but you need to find a more casual blazer or better wear a sport coat to harmonize all the elements together.
How To Wash A Dress Shirt Clean
Dress Shirt & Suit
Out of many, the most up to date manner for dressing up is to wear a suit with a dress shirt. Solid shirts in white, blue or lavender are ideal for suit attire. Confirm perfect ensemble by adding a polished neck tie. Cool! Teaming a tie with a suit leaves no doubt of formality while elevating your style quotient.
Wear a light colour shirt white, off white or blue with a suit since these are preferred colours for work and business situations and best for preparing a professional outfit.
Neckties With Dress Shirt
Necktie imparts sophistication and enhances formal character of any dress shirt since it defines the area around neck which is key factor for a perfect execution.
But, you need choose a collar type before you choose a tie. For a business professional outfit either classic or spread collar makes an excellent choice. These collar types can accommodate any tie knot and sit perfectly under any face type.
Furthermore, solid neck ties complement solid dress shirts but striped and other muted patterned ties also go well with them.
Always confirm right width and length of a necktie with a dress shirt. Tip of the tie should only kiss the buckle of the belt or the fastening button of the pants on the waistband. It should never pass beyond that point. Likewise width of the tie should be proportional to the lapel width of the suit jacket or blazer or sport jacket.
Wear A Waistcoat With Dress Shirt
To look the part in a dress shirt you need not own a suit. There is a less expensive, short way round to appear natty without investing in a suit is wearing a vest, instead.
A waistcoat is a sleeveless short jacket worn as a part of three piece suit but sporting a waistcoat alone over dress shirt is also smart and elegant outfit but not as impeccable as a full suit. Wear it with separates or same colour trousers.
Dress Shirt Buying Considerations
Wear Checkered Shirt
Check dress shirts are casual; therefore their best accompaniment is denim or chinos. Check pattern can work as smart casual element and give zest to the outfit. Popular checks such as tattersall and gingham are office-appropriate. You can wear them at work, given the dress code is not too strict and the base colour of the shirt is white.
Dark colour check shirts are most casual and mostly Tartan and buffalo check come in this category. Better wear these patterns with casual pants and casual denim fits- slim and skinny jeans.
Put On A Denim Dress Shirt
Although denim shirt is contrary to the concept of the dress shirt for it is the most casual shirt category but soft denim dress shirt sans of casual details like- flap pockets and decorative stitching is suave and casual substitute to wear with sport coat, trousers, denim and shorts.
Denim Dress shirt is lighter, breezier and more comfortable than its rugged heavy predecessor; consequently it is an interesting number in summer months as smart casual and casual.
You might wonder where to start? Dark blue is a right colour to set out. It’s cool, viable and no doubt, very popular.
To pull off any outfit prioritize fit. Denim shirt is too, made to fit you like other dress shirts. Button-down is always a super-stylish option. Wear it with a slim sport coat.
In legs anything will go- from navy jeans to khakis, white jeans or chino pants, for a presentable look. Dark colour pants emit chicness and authenticate urbane elegance.
Short Sleeve Dress Shirt
Spending most of its life in the shadows a short sleeve shirt has seen many ups and downs in menswear fashion, but now, it is back with a new reputation as a worthy wardrobe must-have for modern gentlemen. So you had better not overlook this breezy, workable and uniquely stylish staple, a short sleeve shirt.
A slim fitting short-sleeved shirt with- sleeves long enough to reach two inches above the elbow, neither longer, but slightly shorter will look smooth and elegant. Sleeve riding too high revealing triceps is a minus point and you always want to score high. Don’t you?
Shoulders must coincide exactly at the tip and the body should taper down snugly to the waist. That’s what you want to look absolutely handsome!
And then there is a fancy short sleeve button-down variant for fashion-forward men. Chicer and sleeker button-down is as versatile as its full sleeve relative.
