There have been lots of variations in style and design over the years, but on the whole the shirt has remained a fairly consistent piece of clothing since its conception at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Choosing the correct shirt will make all the difference to any outfit, whether it is for work or a more formal event. While there are no ‘rules’ when it comes to choosing a design, following collar and cuff guidelines will help.

The Collar

A prominent feature of men’s formal shirts is the collar. Given how close to eye level it sits, the collar will make or break the outfit.

Types of collar include the tab, the club and the contrast colour. The button-down, the point collar and the spread collar are all also very popular.

The point collar is perhaps the most commonly seen on men’s dress shirts and features straight lines and a smallish spread. This style is very versatile and can comfortably be worn with or without a tie and many different styles of suit lapel. Dress up with a tie and traditional suit, or down with loafers and a modern blazer.

The spread collar is more visible than the point collar and is nearly always worn with a tie. This style works well for those with a slimmer build, as it balances the vertical lines of the body. A wide spread collar can be worn with a thicker tie knot or textured tie.

The button-down collar is a more casual shirt, worn with or without a tie . The button-down collar tends to be worn buttoned right to the top. It can be teamed with chinos for a smart-casual look.

The Cuffs

The cuffs are another prominent feature of men’s formal shirts, and care should be taken to choose the right style for the occasion. Common cuff designs include the Barrel (or button), the Turnback (or cocktail) and the French. The Barrel is the most popular. It is a single- or multiple-buttoned cuff, wrapped around the wrist. The French is more formal and tends to be fastened using cuff links, while the Turnback is really a two-buttoned, double-length, folded-back Barrel cuff, typically more formal than the single Barrel and less formal than the French.

There is a large range of men’s formal shirts available, so take a look around. Don’t forget to bear the above points in mind when making your selection.

The post Choosing Men’s Formal Shirts appeared first on Joseph Turner News.