Shirts make crucial aspect of any man’s regular clothing. It is hard to replace a shirt with any other item without looking either ridiculous or out of place. As long sleeve shirts have played up the game, their semi-formal relative, the short sleeved shirts give men the respite at relaxed piece of shirting. Besides, they provide leisurely alternative to wear with chino, jeans and sneakers.
However, there is no exact comparison between the two as both long and short sleeve shirts have their own time, occasion and unique importance.
Long Sleeve Over A Short Sleeve Shirt
- Take a suit jacket vs vest; former covers full shoulders, full arms, torso below the belt and therefore creates better look than a vest.
- Pants are far above in style and performance than shorts. Dressing up is not about wearing less but effectively.
Same way a long sleeve shirt helps a man appear rounded off than a short sleeve shirt. Its more mathematical- half the size half the performance. As I always say look at big shots, bureaucrats, Top brass of the country, they never wear short sleeve in official hours. Of course we need to understand a proper dress code. Here I am not taking away the value and worth of a short sleeved shirt but mentioning the occasion.
Let us take all the factors of equation into consideration one by one.
Fit
Both long sleeve and short sleeve shirts fit the torso the same way but the sleeves and cuffs take the style game further. This is where a long sleeve shirt takes preference for men.
Human body parts are designed and placed to coordinate each other, every article you put on requires another coordinating piece of clothing in size, shape, color and style .
1. When you wear a long sleeve shirt [upper body]with formal trousers or denim it defines your arms in proportion to the trunk and consequently looks well-matched with the trousers [lower body].
Even if an ill-fitting long sleeve shirt will fall flat with a fitting trouser.
2. Cuffs are functional as well as work as a style element to your shirt.
3. A long sleeve shirt has an advantage- it can be worn under a suit jacket or sports jacket which is double benefit for a man-a short sleeve shirt gets no marks here. Both shirt cuff and jacket cuff look put together. If a shirt cuff is missing, jacket cuff would look empty and lose its grace.
4. Long sleeve shirt can be turned into a short sleeve shirt in seconds-roll up your sleeves and you are done. Opposite is impossible!
5. Long sleeve shirt works well with a wrist watch. Why? As mentioned above in case of a short sleeve shirt there will be an empty space between shirt sleeve and watch – that does not look systematic.
How To Wear A Short-Sleeve shirt
Short sleeve shirt can be styled more casually than formally. Short sleeves restrict the the shirt from becoming a perfect formal wear. Avoid wearing short sleeves in a work environment when you could wear a long sleeve.
1. Short sleeve with denim
Wear a short sleeve with denim. Match a plain light blue shirt with dark denim. Pair watch and sunglasses. Wear boots to get a rugged look and if you have a muscular biceps wear a fitting sleeve shirt to showcase some ripples. Select a spread and bigger collar. A slim man should also choose a more fitting short sleeve shirt to appear normal in any loose shirt he will appear slimmer.
In my opinion men should not accept a patch pocket in short sleeve just because it is ubiquitous and comes as a necessary feature, though it is not. If you disagree ask yourself how many times you have put a hanky or pen there. This not practical to keep anything in a breast pocket of shirt. It might drop as a result of fast movement or keeps your mind busy.
2. Unbuttoned Over Tee Shirt
Wear unbuttoned checker short sleeve shirt over a Tee shirt with chinos. This is a more fancy way to add flair to your attire wherein you rock two different patterns of shirt and tee shirt at the same time. Unbuttoned shirt suddenly makes you seem vibrant and fashionable.
3. Denim short sleeve with Shorts
Wear a denim short sleeve with shorts in hot weather or when you are roaming around the city or cycling through the streets. Denim shirt looks awesome and adds fullness to the trunk making you look more manly and handsome. Choose white, blue, pink or green colour.
4. Short Sleeved Shirt as Formal wear
A plain or striped short sleeve shirt can be paired with formal trousers, dress pants or chinos. Tuck in the shirt and wear a belt. Wear leather shoes for a complete look. You can also match loafers to keep the style semi-formal.
5. A printed or paisley short sleeve
Do wear a print shirt in fall, spring or rainy season. A fabulous print shirt blossoms in morning hours as everything seems so fresh. Pair a comfortable denim and loafers and feel like a free man. Pair no watch and forget about bothering yourself with tick-tick. Let the zephyr blow through your arms while you spend time drinking you favourite beverage at a natural place.
Once in a while prints look great on our body since they feature natural elements, trees, leaves, flowers. Prints connect us with the creativity and art and inspire us while we are wearing them. Do it randomly to wake an animated man inside you.
6. Linen short sleeve
Linen might come to you in any form. Wear a minimalist short sleeve linen shirt to relax and feel cool. You can also pick a button-down. Summer, fall and spring are the best durations to wear a linen shirt.
Short sleeve shirt style mistakes
Some men pick anything they see and pair with anything they want. It is not that easy, no matter a simple short sleeved shirt.
1. Wearing contrast colour turned up cuffed sleeves
Short sleeve with contrast collar and cuffs is not a good choice when you are a mature man. Wearing it makes you appear a novice, in stead choose a good colour and design for your shirt and avoid too much detailing on any shirt, epaulette, flap pockets, unnecessary buttons. In fact a breast pocket too is optional. Think before buying any article.
2. Too loose a shirt
Wearing any clothing article that does fit you is a serious fashion mistake. It is as bad a s wearing too short an item. It hangs on your body and conceals your actual details which might look more flattering than this. If you are a thin or short man still wear a good fitting shirt that shapes your torso proportionally.
3. Paisley/Prints with dress trousers.
It is a serious style mistake when you choose to wear a paisley short sleeve shirt tucked in dress pants and add a belt. I feel what you can do in stead, keep it untucked- pair a white or grey chino trousers and remove belt.
