Fashion & Style: Selecting a quality dress shirt

Men are no longer limited to the standard white dress shirt. While it remains a classic choice, options have expanded to include many more colours and styles. Choosing a man’s dress shirt is an important part of dressing well. Whether you are purchasing a shirt for yourself, or as a gift, many considerations should be taken. Style, colour, quality and fit are very important and small touches can make a big difference. Even though they are all referred to as dress shirts, men’s shirts can range from very formal to dress casual. Factors such as fabric, cut and colour will determine how dressy a shirt is considered. The first thing to consider when choosing a quality dress shirt is fabric. Men’s dress shirts can come in a wide variety of fabrics, ranging from polyester blends or cottons generally considered more casual, to dressier silks or linens. Will the shirt be worn with khakis or jeans, or under the jacket of a fine suit? Colour;Unless you are buying a full wardrobe of shirts, or have a job that requires only white shirts, the colour will need to be considered. Look at the suits you own. Chocolate or cream shirts would be a poor choice if your suits are greys and blacks, but would work well with brown suits or casual khakis or jeans. Take a friend along to help you select shirts that look attractive with your colouring. Don’t be afraid of colour. Brighten up a pair of casual trousers with a bright coloured shirt or bold pattern. Fit;Once you choose a shirt from the rack, it is important to try it on. Button the shirt all the way to the top and check to make sure the buttons are well spaced and that there are no missing ones between them. Make sure you can put two or three fingers between your neck and the collar of the shirt. Bend your arms to make sure that the sleeves are long enough. They should not ride up your wrist. Move around as you normally would to make sure the shirt isn’t tight on your chest or over your back and raise your arms over your head to ensure the shirt is long enough and will not pull out of the waistband of your pants. One thing to consider when you choose a men’s dress shirt is that most shirts will shrink a little upon washing so select a shirt that has a little extra room. If you are purchasing a shirt as a gift, make sure you have all the required measurements. These include neck and chest sizes as well as sleeve length. If you are purchasing the shirt as a surprise gift, check the sizes on the shirts he has hanging in the closet for guidance. martin.bishop18@yahoo.com