The Suit. The Shirt. The Tie.

When choosing a shirt, it’s important to know just as much about yourself as it is to know about the outfit you’re trying to match it to.  There are some questions you must ask yourself before purchasing any part of fine men’s apparel.

• Do I know my measurements?
• Do I want a standard in stock shirt, or do I want to upgrade to a custom shirt?
• Do I need a full cut shirt or a shirt with a higher taper?
• Am I going to professionally launder my shirts, or am I going to wash them at home?
• Do I know what colors compliment my color palette?

If you’re looking for a standard in stock shirt, and you don’t know your measurements offhand, go to a reputable Haberdasher or retailer who can give you the correct measurements.  These usually are composed of a neck measurement (measured underneath the adams apple, rounded to the nearest half inch) and a sleeve measurement (measured from the middle of the back directly underneath the collar over the shoulder and down to the break of the hand).  A good haberdasher will always allow room for natural shrinkage of the shirt through washing (of any type) as well as a small amount of comfort room.   

Measuring for a custom shirt is often much more involved, including a multitude of measurements and much more time.  Read More...

The taper of the shirt is dependent on your body type.  Read More...

Laundering shirts also affects the purchase.  Read More...

Color palette plays an important role in choosing any part of an outfit.  Read More...

Style Tips:
Collar and cuff type has come a long way since the days of our fathers and grandfathers.  We are no longer tied down by staunch dressing modes, and the rules are seemingly made to be broken.  However, there are some tips that can help you in making a shirt purchase.

• Spread collars do compliment double breasted suits better, and don’t break up the visual lines created by the suit.
• Collars that have removable stays tend to keep their shape better, as the plastic stays that come with them can be replaced for brass, silver, or mother of pearl stays.
• French cuffs are a little more labor intensive alternative, but stylish alternative to the standard barrel cuffs.
• In this season, bold, bright, but somewhat darker colors are a good choice in a shirt.  If you wore a pastel pink shirt this spring, try a nice bright fuchsia for the fall.