Choosing the Best Formal Shirt for You

With many other types of fashion, it seems that anything goes. But formal attire is deeply rooted in Western tradition, and deviating from the norm will often result in a social faux pas. So stick to the rules! If you understand these rules and follow them down to the 'T', you'll be guaranteed to look smart, polished, dapper and debonair wherever you go.

Get the right size

To begin with, it is best to measure your neck size and sleeve length, and perhaps also your chest size, so that you can find the best fitting shirt. If you don't find the right size shirt, the sleeves will be that little bit too long, creating a ruffled effect at the wrist, or even too short, which will leave too much of your wrist exposed. If you find a poor fitting shirt with a tight collar, it will feel ten times tighter after wearing a tie all day, and will be massively uncomfortable by the end of the night. At the other end of the spectrum, a loose collar will make it look as though you are drowning in cotton. Getting a shirt made to fit your collar and sleeves will not only look great, but will be comfortable too. And let's face it: if you look good and feel good, you'll be more confident.

Choosing a colour

Secondly, we need to address the subject of colour. If you're not 100% sure, always choose white. Your first thought might be that this is a boring colour and a dull option, especially if you're buying a high quality formal shirt. However, every man should have a white formal shirt in his wardrobe = it is one of the best and most versatile items of men's clothing and you will undoubtedly use it again and again and again, for work and business, smart evening events, and even black tie events. After you've purchased your white shirt, and if you're still looking for something a bit more interesting, try not to go overboard. Keep repeating to yourself that this is a formal shirt for formal occasions. Stay conservative with your choices, and if you need to introduce more colour to your look, try out some ties in bolder colours and patterns. For a formal shirt, look for soft colours or very subtle patterns, like light stripes. The plainer the colours are that you choose, the easier you will find them to match other items in your wardrobe. Plus there's so much choice in men's neck ties these days, you'll also find many ties to match, either patterned or plain. Also, a more subtle coloured shirt will stand the test of time. It's tempting to buy trendy, up-to-the-minute shirts with wild patterns, but you really need to ask yourself how long they will be in fashion for. Probably only a year or so at the most. Your choice of colour will also depend on the event you are about to attend. White is traditionally the smartest, but if you have a job interview, blues and greys always work well too.

Slim or Regular fit?

The type of shirt you choose is also key to your formal look as a whole. Standard-fit dress shirts are the traditional and popular choice, as they are the more classic of styles and are less likely to go out of fashion. These shirts are slightly baggy around the torso. Alternatively, you might like to choose a slim-fit formal shirt, or tailored fit. Another style is the athletic cut. These formal shirts are fuller around the chest, but narrow down around the waist.

Choice of collar style

Then you have the choice of collar. A modern option is the spread-collar dress shirt. As the collar is spread, it gives the illusion of wideness. These types of collars are more suited to slim-built men rather than stockier builds. The classic and most popular type of collar is the standard straight collar. This type points down.

Don't forget the tie

Finally, complete the whole formal look with the perfect tie. It absolutely must complement the shirt, as well as the rest of your outfit. If you're unsure what type to choose, go for the safe block colour choice.