How to Choose a Dress Shirt

Whether for yourself or for someone else, choosing a men's dress shirt can be more complicated that you think. Here are a couple of steps to keep in mind when selecting a dress shirt.

                                          

Choose a color. Are you buying a dress shirt for a job interview, or are you looking to dress up more fashionably?

• For an interview, the traditional choices are conservative colors. A light blue is usually the safest. White is very formal. Grays are also generally safe.
• If you are looking to portray a more lively image, choose bright, unconventional colors. Bright greens and oranges are relatively popular, as well as pink.

Choose a pattern. Solid colors are considered wardrobe staples because they are easiest to match, but you might consider choosing stripes or a plaid pattern.

• Solid shirts are beneficial in that you can wear virtually any tie with them [solid or patterned].
• Patterned shirts are a bit more difficult to match with ties.

Choose a style. Are you looking for a more trendy, tapered-cut shirt, or would you prefer to stick with a standard, full-cut shirt? Do you want a standard collar, or a spread collar? Will your collar be buttoned down, or will you use collar stays? Each of these are points to consider.

• A tailored-fit, or slim-fit dress shirt is slightly tighter around the chest and sides. A standard-fit dress shirt has a slightly baggy, but traditional "full-cut" appearance. Finally, athletic cut shirts have a full chest but are tapered at the waist.
• A standard straight collar is the most common type of collar, where the collar edges point downward and there is little space between the section where the collar meets.
• A spread collar is a bit more modern and is considered by some to be "youthful" and "effeminate". It is smaller, and has a wider spread, as is illustrated in the image. Since a spread collar gives a wider appearance, it is a good choice for men with slim builds, and perhaps less so for stockier types.
  
                                                 

Determine your neck size and sleeve length. If you are shopping at a retailer, most salespeople can help you find your neck size and sleeve length by using measuring tape. The chart below displays a guideline for common neck sizes and approximate sleeve lengths, determined by normal shirt size.
Shirt Size Neck Size Sleeve Length
Small 14 - 14 ½ 32 - 33
Medium 15 - 15 ½ 32 - 33
Large 16 - 16 ½ 34 - 35
X-Large 17 - 17 ½ 34 - 35
XX-Large 18 - 18 ½ 35 - 36


Complete with a suitable tie. You will want to choose a tie that matches the rest of your outfit. The color of your tie should closely complement with your shirt, whether in the "background" of the tie, or inside of a subtle pattern on the tie. Striped ties are classic and conservative. Solid ties are generally more formal.