Men’s Dress Shirt Style Guide — Choose the Best Fit, Collar, & Cuffs for Your Shirts.
You only get one first impression, and it is important to make it count. This is huge especially in a formal setting, where a person has already made a decision about you based on your look. This is why you should always ‘dress to impress’! When choosing a dress shirt, it is important to take into consideration a few things — Fit, Style, Collar, Cuffs, Pockets, etc. This is where a Men’s Dress Shirt Style Guide can come in handy.
Depending on the type of look you are going for, all of this is going to change. For formal settings, you’d require a classy dress shirt with subtle colors, but for a casual setting, you can go with dress shirts that can be dressed down with a pair of Chino’s or Jeans. These shirts can also be in bright or bold colors and have fun Check Prints or Stripes.
In this Men’s Dress Shirt Style Guide, let’s take a look at the different dress shirt styles and how can you go about selecting the right one for you:
Fit — The most important aspect.
While the shirts you buy must off the rack in ready to wear sizes fit you just right in size, but this is not the type of fit we are talking about here. The first and foremost thing that you should always look for in a dress shirt is the fit. The fit determines not only how it will look on you but will also define your style. There are three different type of fits.
· Normal Fit or Regular Fit.
This is the most traditional fit. It sits slightly loose on the body but is form-fitting when tucked in. This gives you a lot of room to move around and doesn’t hug the body when you flex your body or stretch it.
· Slim Fit
A slim fit shirt is a bit snugger as compared to the normal fit. It is figure-hugging. This is a great style for someone who is lean and often finds the shirt that fits perfectly on the shoulders, is looser around the stomach area. This fit gives less room to move about in.
· Comfort Fit or Loose Fit
This fit is more common in casual settings, instead of formal ones. Shirts with a loose fit offers more room for you to move in. It doesn’t hug the body and it hangs loose on the body frame. It feels relaxed at the waist, chest, and arms.
Collar
Traditional dress shirts only offered one collar style, but these days you have more options. There are dozens of different collar styles, but let’s cover the four most common ones.
· Cutaway Collar or popularly known as Spread collar
This is often the standard collar you’ll find in dress shirts. It is characterized by the collar points spreading outward away from the neck, instead of straight down.
· Classic collar or popularly known as American collar
A classic collar has a smaller spread, i.e., the space between its points. It offers a tighter look and works well with small to mid-size tie knots. This collar works well in casual and formal situations.
· Widespread collar or popularly known as Italian Collar
This style has a wider spread and is often found in more casual dress shirts. It offers more room for tie knots in case you want to dress it up, or you can choose to keep it unbuttoned. This collar is more suited for people who are lean and have a narrow neck.
· Button-down collar
This one is similar to a classic collar, but has small buttons where the point ends to ensure it stays in place. This collar style is often found in more casual dress shirts.
Cuffs
Cuffs might not seem like an important part of a shirt, but it is the tiny detail that brings your entire outfit together. It is also the only part of the shirt that is visible when worn with a jacket. There are three popular cuffs that you can commonly find on a dress shirt.
· Barrel Cuffs or Single Cuffs
This is the cuff that you’ll find most commonly on dress shirts. The barrel name comes from shape it resembles when buttoned. It is most commonly found in shirts that are worn with jeans and suits, but not black-ties.
· French Cuffs or Double Cuffs
This cuff is used on shirts for formal wear and black-tie affairs. This is similar to single cuffs but double back on itself to create a dual layer cuff that is fastened with cufflinks.
Monograms
Having an initial of your name on the cuff or pockets gives a signature look to your Dress Shirt, the option of getting a monogramed shirt is only available when you go for a Custom Tailored Shirt, and this gives an impression that your shirt is exclusively tailored to your style and Taste.
There are a lot of options available when you buy Tailored Shirts, You can choose the Collar, Cuffs, Monograms, Pockets and it’s tailored to give you a perfect fit.
Make your first impression count! We hope this Men’s Dress Shirt Style Guide helps you find the perfect dress shirt for your occasion. Let us know in the comments section below in case of any questions or advice. You can even drop us a comment and let us know your favorite shirt style!
