Men’s Dress Shirts: A Buying Guide

So, you’ve decided to buy a men’s dress shirt. Congratulations! Don’t worry, after reading this short guide, you’ll be on your way to be an expert on men’s shirts! Do you think the task of buying a men’s shirt seems simple enough? Even if it seems simple, there are many factors that should be considered before running out and buying a shirt.

Sizing and Fit

First, know your size. Ill-fitting clothes won’t impress anyone and will be uncomfortable for you, so be sure to measure yourself to get an exact fit…or even better, have yourself measured in a menswear store. The first number on standard shirt sizes is your neck circumference, and the second is your sleeve length.

The next thing to consider is cut. Men’s dress shirts come in myriad variations in regard to the cut and shape of the cloth, and it’s best to choose shirt fit based on your body type and personal style. Dress shirts are usually available in three different fits: athletic, regular and full. Athletic fit shirts, also called slim, tailored or fitted, are the narrowest fitting men’s dress shirt, and as the name suggests, work best on lean, in-shape frames.

Athletic Fit Dress Shirts

The regular, or standard shirt fit, is a little looser than the athletic fit. If a men’s dress shirt doesn’t have a fit listed, you can assume it is regular fit. Full is the loosest of all shirt fits, and is appropriate for men with a larger stature (may also be termed big and tall). Full-fit men’s shirts are usually a little longer to accommodate taller frames.

Size varies from brand to brand as well. Your best option is to try on any shirt you are considering for purchase. That way, you will know exactly how the shirt will fit.

Color

The market for menswear is more varied and up-to-date than ever before, so you’ll have many color options to consider. Things to think about: Does the color of the shirt “match” any other clothes in your wardrobe, such as suits or trousers? Does the shirt have a pattern with multiple colors? Again, does that pattern “match” several items in your wardrobe?

The style of most men’s shirts typically are not too flashy, so there are some colors that are classic mainstays of men’s fashion. Earth tones are among the most popular: Black, grey, blue, green, tan, and white are a few timeless colors that will surely go with anything in your wardrobe. But if you tend to be more of a fashion risktaker, or work in an industry that welcomes a little wardrobe flair, try something more daring…pink or purple, perhaps.

Pink Dress Shirts

Shirt styling

Be sure to notice the style of the cuffs, collar and pocket of a shirt before you decide to buy it. You might find there are a few shirt details that you prefer over others. Do you prefer button-down collars (slightly more casual) or collars with stays (more formal)? Also think about what would be most appropriate in your office…french cuffs worn with cufflinks might look right at home in a financial services or a law firm, but are probably out of place in a start-up company.

Shirts with French Cuffs

Make sure to choose a shirt collar that complements your face shape. For example, men who have narrow faces look best in narrow collars with pointed tips. There are several types of men’s collars, and each type has several variations, such as some tips will be more rounded, and some will have more space in between the front tips.

Pricing

Men’s shirts can vary drastically in price. Lower-end dress shirts can fall in the $20-30 range…JC Penney is a good source for affordable shirts that are still good quality.  Department stores like Nordstrom or Macy’s are good bets for mid-priced shirts ($50-150), while men’s designer or custom-tailored shirts can be priced as high as one thousand dollars!

Things to think about: Is this shirt something that you can only wear once a month without someone noticing you are wearing the shirt too often? If so, it might not be worth a large sum of money. Is the shirt versatile? If so, you could wear the shirt more often. Essentially, place a personal value on the shirt. If you consider the shirt to be personally valuable and it makes you feel like a million bucks heading into a big meeting, it might be worth any amount of money you are considering spending.

Wear and tear

There is nothing worse than buying a men’s shirt, only to have the shirt fall apart within a short amount of time after the initial purchase. In order to prevent this from happening, there are a few small actions that can be taken. When examining a shirt that you would like to buy, look closely. Are the stitches falling apart? Are there tears or holes in the shirt? Are buttons falling off?  If you ask yourself these questions while examining the shirt, you will likely save yourself the headache of a shirt that has fallen apart before your very eyes in a short amount of time. Once you’ve found a brand that fits well and holds up to frequent wear, you may find that you become a loyal customer!