Understanding Formal Shirts

The majority of people do not pay attention to the anatomy of formal shirts, but to neglect to pay attention to such things is to run the potential of a fashion faux pas. You see, although most people do not understand the way in which formal shirts are constructed, one set of people do: the fashionista.

What we are trying to say is that if you want to look good in a shirt, you need to understand its composite parts, and you must translate this knowledge to inform your style. From collar stays to shirt pockets, it is important to understand what looks good, and what does not. Here we have collated all the things that you need to consider when choosing a shirt. Read on and you will learn how to avoid many fashion mistakes.

Let us start with the collar: aside from certain outlandish embellishments, such as diamante detailing or graphic prints, the collar is the part of the shirt that draws the most attention. It is important therefore to choose a shirt with a collar that suits you.

Collars come in a variety of styles. Firstly, there are round collars or sharp collars; secondly, there are long (Elvis) wings or short wings.

Rounded collars are informal and tend towards the childish, avoid these if you wish to appear discerning. Sharp collars are more formal and reflect a certain level of sophistication. When wearing sharp collars always use collar stays to make sure that the collar stay straight, pressed, and rigid. When choosing a shirt with a sharp collar, ensure that the collar stays are removable as they tend to degenerate with washing, thus shirts with permanent stays will look tatty sooner than shirts that allow for stays to be changed.

When choosing the length of the collar, opt for a long length if you have a heavy or long jaw, to draw attention away from the chin. If you have a weak chin, opt for a shorter length shirt, as this will appear to elongate the chin somewhat.

The Placket: is the central section of the shirt, along which you will find the buttons. There are several different styles of placket depending on the manufacturers. Remember, with a man's shirt, the buttons are always located on the left.

In general, it is better to have a placket that reveals the buttons, rather than having that extra strip of fabric that hides the buttons. This gives the shirt an added flair that would be lost should the buttons be hidden. If needs be, buttons can always be concealed by the use of a tie.

Bottom Cut

This is the cut of the shirt around the bottom. This area will generally reveal whether the shirt is fitted or not. If the shirt is fitted, the shirt should come in slightly from the sides, and then cut nicely below the buttocks in a curved cut.

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