Today, we’ll provide a shirt guide for men, as we’ve seen lots of guys fail to take advantage of a good looking shirt. A man’s shirt can play a supporting role by enhancing his blazer or it can stand alone and be the centerpiece of his outfit.
However, despite the importance of this garment, a lot of men fail to grasp just how vital a shirt is to his style. Having said that, here are some tips to keep in mind when you are buying your next shirt:
Shirt Guide For Men – The 5 Rules You Need To Address
1. Fit
A well fitted shirt should first and foremost be comfortable. This can be different for every man as larger men are usually complimented by a looser fit. While smaller and thinner men are complimented by a slimmer cut.
Most men wear shirts that do not fit them properly. The problem is that ready-made clothes are made to fit many people. As a result, nobody gets a perfect fit. But that doesn’t mean you can go out to every store and not be able to buy a perfect shirt.
It just means you will have to visit a tailor if you want the optimum fit of your shirt.
A well-fitted shirt should feel clean, comfortable and classic. Different brands have a very good fit according to your requirements.
Three Main Shirts Fit
Slim Fit: These shirts are tapered from waist and chest and a good choice for slim, lean people or athletes. H&M, Zara, Charles Tyrwhitt and Banana Republic have very good collections in slim fit and tailored.
Modern Fit: They are tapered from the waist but have slightly more room for shoulders and chest. They are best for broad shoulders and muscular men. Mizzen+Maiz, Express and Bonobos have athletic and fitted attire.
Classic/Regular Fit: The classic fits are an ideal choice for the larger build and the men who prefer a relaxed fit. Ralph Lauran, J.Crew and Brooks Brothers offer larger cuts that don’t cling.
Select your shirt according to your body shape and figure, Slim fit for sharpness, athletic for balance and classic for comfort.
How to Measure Yourself
You can easily measure yourself by measuring around these key areas.
Neck: Wrap tape around your neck where the collar sits and add ½ inch for comfort.
Chest: Measure from the fullest part of your chest, under the armpit.
Waist: Measure around your natural waistline. Waist measurement is the key that your shirt won’t bunch.
Sleeve Length: Measure from the center of your neck to the shoulders and then to the wrist. Standard measurement is 32-36.
Shoulder Width: Measure from edge of shoulder to the other. This measure keeps your shirt aligned to your frame.
2. Fabric
Cotton – no shirt guide for men is complete without the best fabric choice for centuries. A finely woven cotton fabric gives the best feeling a man can have from a garment worn close to the body.
Excellent heat and moisture conduction, great durability, very pleasant smoothness, and the ability to take a good shape when ironed, makes the cotton fabric for a shirt the number one choice.
Although all cotton shirts are the same, yet the weaves make a difference how they feel and look.
Popline(Broadcloth): This fabric is lightweight, crisp and has a silky touch, best for business meetings and formal wear. They are breathable and best for layering but wrinkles too easily and are not suitable for cold weather.
Oxford: It is thicker and more textured weave with matte finish. It is best for smart wear and casual fits. It is durable and wrinkle-resistant but not suitable for black or business dress codes.
Broadcloth: Its texture is smooth, fine and tightly-woven just like popline but more structured weaves. It is ideal for formal settings. It gives a refined and elegant finish but wrinkles more easily and may feel stiff for casual wear.
Linen: This fabric is light, breathable and with a natural texture. It is a summer hero, ideal for hot, humid weather and beach vacations. It gives a cool vibe and is eco-friendly. Its only drawback is, it wrinkles too easily.
Man-Made Fibers – being often wrinkled and stain resistant, this type of fabric plays a major role in menswear.
Even though they do not have the same desirable properties as cotton, man-made fibers are still a good choice, especially since they come at lower prices than the cotton made shirts.
It is advisable though, not to buy shirts that have more than 50% man-made fiber.
Silk – luxury fabric, is easily recognizable because of its soft and light cloth. Since it is low in durability, as well as shiny and flashy, it is not recommended to buy silk shirts.
Unless a wedding is in place or you have an unlimited budget, due to its high maintenance cost.
3. Color
When building an interchangeable wardrobe with shirts there are a couple essential pieces that can be very versatile to almost any outfit:
White – the most common color for a shirt. At least one is a must have as a white shirt goes with every possible combination you can think of, from the most casual setting to the most formal ones. No shirt guide for men doesn’t include a white-colored shirt.
Blue – there are certain shades of blue that you have to keep in mind. A solid sky blue shirt is best for business or office outfits or generally a day time shirt. A navy shirt can go with any setting, day time or night-time. You should avoid light blue shirts, unless it is a strictly office or day time outfit. The light blue shirt is hardly recognizable at night.
Grey – being a neutral color it can go with almost every combination. Day time, night-time, office or casual outing, a grey shirt is highly flexible.
While the first three are most essential pieces for an interchangeable wardrobe, other colors such as pink, black or red might come in handy in certain situations.
Pastel Shades(Pink, Lavender and Mint) — They are stylish and soft, adding personality without going overboard. Pastel shirts can pair best with tan, grey and navy chinos and pants. They are ideal for spring and summer giving a cool and fresh vibe.
Black– Black shirt gives a modern, authoritative and bold look. A denim, grey and beige chinos with a fine blazer will make a perfect combination. If you want to stand out at night parties and date dinners, select a black shirt.
4. Patterns
Solid – the simplest and the most versatile pattern. Must have style of pattern for a wardrobe as it can be worn anytime and for every occasion.
Stripe – this pattern looks the best when combined with a suit. You can pull of wearing it in a casual setting as well, but the best place you can wear a striped shirt is at the office.
Gingham – a very different approach than the solid and striped ones, a gingham shirt is best used when combined with casual clothes for casual events.
Having at least one of each three pattern types will make for a very versatile wardrobe.
5. Collars
And the last rule of our shirt guide for men is the collar. The purpose of the collar is to properly balance and frame a man’s face. It is the most visible part of a shirt when wearing a blazer and plays a very large role in determining the formality and use of the shirt.
There are two types of collars that should be considered for a shirt: pointed collars ( being the most common ) and spread collars. When choosing the type of collar keep in mind how firm the collar is. You want the collar to keep its shape even without a tie, so the firmer it is the better.
Pointed Collars: They are most common and traditional collars with points angled downwards. They are best for formal and business settings.
Spread Collars: Wider distance between the collar points. They pair well with windsor-knot ties to complement the wider faces.
Button-down Collars: They are casual and preppy, having small buttons on collar points fasting to the shirt. They are best for casual and business-casual fits.
Band Collars: They are without the collar flaps, minimal just like a simple band around the neck. They are ideal for hot weather and travel gives a relaxed and comfortable look.
Mandarin Collars: They are inspired by Asian tailoring, small, unfolded collar just like band collars but slightly stiffer. They complement your modern and classy look in smart-casual events.
Final thoughts
A good shirt isn’t clothing–but a statement that appeals to your style, confidence and overall appearance. Whether you prefer a white crisp shirt or pattern linen, the key is fabric, fit and color combination and above all the confidence to carry the look. By following these 7 rules you can stand out in any event or occasion.
Here a guide on what constitutes a good fit in the shoulders, chest, and waist.
Following are some different stripe widths, gingham sizes shirts.
Thanks for reading this post! – MyPlugin