We’re all in agreement: purchasing an elegant dress shirt is an intimidating experience. Men’s stores are often snooty. Shopping online is impossible unless you are certain of what you’re looking for. Dress shirts tend to be not inexpensive, neither. Therefore, you need to make certain that you’re buying the right one. How do you know what to look for especially when buying a dress shirt online?
We’re here for you. Here’s how to buy a Dress Shirt.
#1: Fit
It’s not enough to say that fit is the primary consideration when purchasing all dress clothing such as shirts and trousers, jackets or suits. Even the most elegant, expensive garment in the world is going to appear haphazard should it not match your particular physique.
So get sized. Professionally. Whether that means buying a full suit from Macy’s and then having it altered in-store (recommended) or going to your local shop and getting your body measured Professional tailoring is your best option to ensure your new clothes appear as nice as you expect. For the amount that you’re paying for, you ought to expect your new attire to look amazing and fit perfectly.
Get measured, and save the measurements in your phone or elsewhere. Remember: If you exercise or eat often, you may need to measure again each time you purchase the latest dress.
#2: Fit
If you’re shopping for the latest dress shirt you could be able to take your own measurements for your upper body. (Gentlemen Please don’t make use of a construction-style, metal tape measure to do this. Use your girlfriend’s the sewing tape made of cloth, or purchase one from Amazon at a cost of a few dollars. I’m grateful.) Men’s dress shirts are measured with two numbers: your neck size and the length of your sleeves.
Begin in measuring your neck’s circumference of your neck. Measure it well below your jawline, and across your Adam’s Apple, where the collar of a t-shirt will be. Add 1/4″” for breathing room, and round to within a half-inch. This is your neck’s measurement and the first number you’ll see on a packaged, on-the-rack shirt–i.e., “15 1/2 32-33.” Record this number.
That second number is the length of the sleeves. Measure your sleeve with either of your arms hanging at your side. Begin the tape measure at the bottom of your neck and measure all the way down the arm’s outside and stop at the top of your wrist. Round it up to the closest inch. Keep this number in mind; it will be the second number in your dress shirt measurement, i.e., “15 1/2 32-33.”
Don’t worry about getting your sleeve length measurement just right! It’s better to round up. If the sleeves of your dress shirt are too long, you can always tailor them later. It’s inexpensive (usually around ten bucks) and any dry cleaner who is worth their salt will be able to complete the job for you in one day. This is why you should gather.
The two numbers that you’ve recorded will be your new shirt size. A well-fitting dress shirt should be spacious, but well-fitted at the chest and tapered down the torso. Make sure the shirt isn’t too big over your waistline. If your arms stretch out through the sleeves a little, it’s a good thing! Are your shoulders stretching out the buttons? That’s okay–unless it’s uncomfortable. Feel free to size up about a half-inch in the neck the next time.
#3: Fit
Didn’t we tell you that the fit was crucial? Whatever style colour, hue, or style of dress shirt you buy Fit is definitely the most important thing. Modern dress shirts feature specific cuts, to suit your torso. A man of average height will not be disappointed with an Classic (aka Standard or Regular) Fit shirt. An Classic Fit dress shirt will fit most men but athletic or slim individuals may find them billowy or boxy when worn.
Trim or skinny guys are advised to choose slim or skinny guys should choose a Slim (or even an Extra-slim) Fit shirt. The Slim Fit dress shirt provides a tapered cut through the waist and midsection, with higher armholes and tapered sleeves–but generally, there is not much space for the upper body.
If you’re a strong, athletic guy with a well-defined chest, shoulders, and arms, consider an Athletic Fit shirt. Athletic Fit shirts provide more room in the upper body, with slightly smaller armholes as well as sleeves that are longer and fuller. the waist is slack. Certain styles have darts on the back pull the waist line in to stop billowing. This accentuates your back. Your Athletic Fit dress shirt is designed to fit snugly and is the perfect dress shirt for displaying you “V” silhouette of your body.
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Choose A Fabric
With all the styles available it’s difficult to determine how to choose the best style for you. The majority of words used to describe them are just description of the fabric and/or weave. Here are a few of the most frequently used ones:
Oxford – A simple, strong weave (most popular, great for daily use);
Pinpoint or Royal Oxford – A smoother, lighter oxford (dressier);
Poplin–Smooth , with a light and open fabric (very comfortable);
Herringbone is a textured weave that has distinct “V” shapes (very formal)
Broadcloth: A silky tightly-woven, high-quality, and durable weave (dressy and, often, expensive);
Seersucker–light, textured, summer-weight cloth (casual and billowy).
The majority of guys can pick an ordinary Oxford or Poplin dress shirt for any occasion year-round, from daily office dress to weddings and other special occasions. If you’re looking to make it a little more formal for a formal event or interview, opt for a Herringbone–but not in summertime. Whichever you choose, make sure it’s comfortable and fits right.
And here’s a general rule all men should follow When your dress shirt is tucked in, then you should wear an undershirt. What you decide to wear, whether v-neck an A-style, or A-style is your choice. However, an undershirt can keep your dress outfit looking fresh and younger, longer. It will also increase its life span, and help deter ring-around-the-collar. And you never, ever want to be that guy who sweats on his dress shirt. Ever.
Choose Your Collar
Dress shirt collars are a trendy thing for fashion-conscious designers to experiment with. Every couple of years it seems like there’s an edgy style that which men have to adhere to. But , it’s a choice you make and we’re not here to advise you on what’s best to your style. The bottom line is to feel comfortable and look sharp.
The Button-down is probably the most well-known kind of collar. It’s sturdy and versatile, but casual. The rules have become less rigid over the years, but in general you don’t want wear a tie with the button-down collar unless you’re looking to emulate that pre-school style. If you’re looking for a relaxed or casual with a button-down, a button-down is appropriate.
Pin and Tab collars are made to be worn with ties when you’re in formal circumstances. They are stunning and prove that you’re a gentleman who doesn’t give a damn about his appearance. Pin collars get their name because they’re held in place by an adjustable collar bar. tab collars are held down by hidden tabs under the points.
In recent times, the Spread collar has been well-liked by men in suits wearing ties. It’s actually a larger Point collar, with its ends pointed outward about 90 degrees. Some men take the style to the next level, using the round Club collar. The Mandarin (or Band, or Nehru) collar is a small, unrolled standing collar. It’s a bold look that is one that requires courage to pull off, but it’s a common style in trendy dress shirts if you’re in the mood to try something new.
It’s the Point Collar is the most basic kind of turndown collar, and is just as suitable for suits and neckties like it would be for jeans and boots. It’s been the most popular style of collar for a dress shirt for the past century or more, because it’s easy and straightforward. It’s also suitable no matter which direction fashion is trending.
Cuff It Up
There are nearly as many cuff options as collar options, and they all create a strong impression. Here are a few of the most popular designs.
It is the Standard, Straight, or Square cuff is the most common type of cuff. It features only one button as well as a sharp right angle corner. You can also opt for the Two-button model, which allows you to adjust how snug the wrist fits. Two-button cuffs are great for casual settings, since you can leave the second button open for an informal look. It could have a square with a mitered or round corner.
It is fitted across its corner at 45 degrees. It has two buttons. It’s slightly more formal than the standard cuff and adds a glamour and style to any dress shirt. With a cuff that is rounded, the outside corners are smoothed out to form a gentle curve. They’re perfect for workplace settings, where cuff points can become worn due to repeated contact with the desk.
French cuffs are a great option to match the look of a formal dress. They’re twice the length of a regular cuff, folded in half and tied by cufflinks. At work, this is likely far too formal a look. But if you’re going fancy there’s no reason to be uninformed here.