How to choose a proper shirt?
How to choose a proper shirt?
A men’s elegant shirt boosts every look up instantly. However, only if it’s perfectly-fitted. Its brand isn’t as important as its colour, design, fabric and above all, proper size. So, how to choose a shirt to look good no matter what?
Slim and regular fit – few words about the cut
Men’s shirts can vary hugely. Firstly, a shirt should be fitted to the silhouette. Nowadays, almost every brand offers slim and regular fit shirts. The first one is a tailored cut that underlines the silhouette and fits to the body. Unfortunately, it looks astonishing only on tall or athletic men. A men’s regular fit shirt is a good offer for those who want to improve their body proportions or hide a few extra pounds.
Collar type and face shape – what to pay attention to?
Selecting the shirt’s cut is only the beginning. There are several other factors that decide how the shirt is going to look. The collar is a very important element that should be chosen in accordance to the occasion and face shape. The most classic collar, aka Kent, fits best to men with a round or square face. A Kent collar looks good alone and a bit loosen but also complemented with a bow tie or a tie. On the other hand, a spread collar with its wide points is the best offer for a man with an oval face. It visually widens the face and exposes the tie knot amazingly.
If you create a casual styling, place a bet on a button-down collar with characteristic fastening on its points. It’s certainly less formal than a cutaway and spread collar. It can be freely matched with a suit jacket and even a tie in casual stylings. While choosing a perfect shirt, pay attention not only to a collar type but also to its size. The perfect collar should fit to the neck and have as much free space as for a finger. It’s worth to focus on it because wrongly selected collar may spoil the entire look, disturb its proportions and make it look sloppy.
Perfect fit – the right length and sleeves
The collar and the shirts’ cut aren't the only important features. When choosing a shirt, it’s good to care about its length. The perfect shirt can’t be too short in order to get it tucked into trousers comfortably. On the other hand, a casual shirt that is worn untucked shouldn’t be too long because it doesn't look good with the silhouette. To avoid that, place a bet on a casual model with a curved bottom. Another important feature is fitting a shirt in the shoulders and sleeves. The seam that links the front and the sleeve should be exactly on the shoulder’s line. If it comes to sleeves, they can be neither too short nor too wide. They should reach to a wrist and be about 1 cm longer than your suit jacket. For everyday use, the most versatile are shirts with button-fastened cuffs. However, special events require a shirt with a double cuff that is fastened with cufflinks. If you decide on such a shirt, remember that it looks good only if matched with elegant clothes and accessories. Therefore, wearing it means matching it with a suit, a bow-tie or a tie and tasteful cufflinks.
Fabrics do matter
A fabric that is used to sew a shirt is quite an important feature. Definitely, the most versatile are comfy cotton shirts that fit both to very formal and casual stylings. Another good idea is a long-sleeved shirt manufactured from cotton and synthetic fabrics. They’re as cosy, yet more crease-resistant. However, avoid all synthetic fabrics in summer. During the hottest days, place a bet on cotton and linen models. If it comes to winter, get a warm flannel shirt that matches amazingly to jumpers and woollen suit jackets. For everyday use, try on a denim shirt and if you prepare for a very special occasion – get a silk one.
The finest colours
Finally, the last important issue concerning a shirt – its colour. A white long sleeve shirt with a classic collar is the absolute must-have. You can freely use it every day but also create elegant sets with a suit jacket or a suit. It’s also worth to have a blue shirt and a pink one. A Vichy shirt is also a good model to have. If it comes to a casual look, place a bet on variously patterned shirts. An expressive shirt in a large checked pattern. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Another amazing choice is a striped shirt or a patterned one.
It’s worth remembering that the colour of a shirt should fit to the occasion but also to the man’s look and his face contrast. Blond men look best in bright colours. A man with dark hair and complexion is the most attractive when wearing darker colours. The luckiest are men with dark hair and light complexion – almost every shirt and colour fits to them.
