Formal shirts are an integral part of business attire, so it is essential to know about them. Choosing a formal shirt for men seems easy, but it takes a lot of consideration. In this article, we have covered all the little details of a dress shirt you should focus on while selecting yours.
Formal Shirt Fit
A well-fit shirt dramatically improves your appearance and stands you apart from others. But unfortunately, most men do not wear a properly fitting shirt. Instead, they go with generalised measurements categorised as small, medium, large, extra-large, etc. Hence getting tailored your shirt is a much better option than buying pre-tailored.
But if you still prefer buying ready-made formal shirts, be conscious about measurements. A well-fit shirt should be slim at the chest but not too tight. Moreover, the shoulder seams should fall on top of the shoulders, and the sleeves should end at the wrists.
Formal Shirt Fabric
There are two popular fabric varieties in formal shirts: cotton and blended. Cotton fabrics give you much breathability and comfort, but they are more expensive, and most men might not afford that. Cotton formal shirts are ideal for those who travel a lot or spend their time in hot weather.
On the other hand, blended fabrics are more cost-efficient than pure cotton ones. They might not be comfortable in hot environments, but if you spend most of the time in an air-conditioned office, you won't have any problems.
Formal Shirt Collar
Collars play an essential role in drawing people's attention to shirt wearers' faces, aiding in delivering the message. In addition, it helps determine how the wearer's face will appear to observers, and thus you should take extra care in choosing the perfect collar for your formal shirt.
Regarding collar styles, turndown collars are a staple in gentlemen's formal shirts. These collars come in mainly two variations, namely, point and spread. The point-style collars are closest to each other, almost hiding a tie, whereas spread-style collars create a wide triable around the tie.
Formal Shirt Cuffs
Besides the collars, shirt cuffs are the only visible part of the men's formal shirt. Mostly, cuffs have a single button and touch the end of the wrists. However, some shirts have two buttonholes and two vertical buttons. This is a more formal style called barrel cuffs.
Apart from this, a french cuff style is a more popular option and is often worn with jackets. French cuffs have two buttonholes on both sides. You have to slip an additional accessory called cufflinks, which hold both sides together and gives you an ultra-modern appearance.
Formal Shirt Front Style
Your choice of the placket determines the font style of your formal shirt. The placket is a fabric edge of the left front part of your shirt. Generally, the standard placket style has a strip of fabric stitched down from both sides. Most casual shirts and even dress shirts have this style of the placket.
Another style is the french placket, which does not have any additional piece of cloth on the left side. Instead, the garment is folded inward and held together with stitched buttonholes. This gives a much simpler appearance and is considered best for formal clothes.
Formal Shirt Back Style
There are three common back styles of a formal shirt: Single pleats, doubled pleats, and no pleats. Single and double pleat shirts are more commonly found in ready-made shirts. These pleats are located on the back centre of most shirts. Their job is to conform to a variety of men's figures.
On the other hand, custom-made shirts do not need any pleats as they are tailored with the correct measurements of a man. However, the pleated shirts are so loved by style enthusiasts that nowadays, they ask them to draw on customised shirts as well, despite their unnecessity.
Summing up
When selected with every bit of detail in mind, formal shirts can instantly make you look dapper and sway your formal look. Hence you should always consider these details when buying a formal shirt.
If you are building your office wardrobe, you might also want to invest in a good suit. At Khaliques, we offer a variety of men's designer suits online and at our exclusive store in South Africa. Have a look at our most expansive collection of suits and formal wear.
