For Gentlemen Only: Perfecting Your Corporate Shirt Choices

By Oritsegbubemi Peace Pessu.

There’s always the bid to dress up, look suave, and make ladies in the office go ooh-lah-lahcious. However, there are times when you don’t seem to strike it on point, feel awkward and the male machismo doesn’t just cut. The suit is A-Okay but the shirt doesn’t feel right because it is either too bogus or too tight so that you feel the discomfort all through the day and not too good enough for the ladies. It boils down to the fact that most guys don’t really know what to look out for when shopping for corporate shirts, so, I’m going to delve into the world and minds of the gentlemen today, supplying tidbits on choosing the right corporate shirt. First off, there is a need to know the types of corporate shirts, which are: Athletic – Slim or tailored with the narrowest feeling. Regular – Standard shirt, a little looser than athletic. Full – Loosest, appropriate for men with largest stature.   In shopping for corporate or business shirts, you need to consider the following: Decide the purpose: Some shirts styles work for both formal and informal but make sure you have both casual and formal to avoid over-wearing a particular set because they pair with everything hence extending the shirt life.∙ Frame your face: The trick is, “opposite attract”. For a long face, opt for a cut away collar, it prevents your face from looking longer while for a round face, going for a spread collar, which has a shorter distance from point to point, elongates the face.∙ What you already have: Take stock of what patterns you already have in your wardrobe especially what you have too much of and try something different or new.∙ “Trials and hates”: Curious about trying something, contrasting cufflinks? Give it a go, don’t hold back. Don’t be afraid to try something new because you think it won’t work. Match suits and trousers: Try selecting shirts and fabrics that coordinate. Material is everything: This plays a huge part so go ahead, feel the material and determine if it’s something you’d like to wear or feel comfortable with. Know this; the fabric of a good tailored shirt is going to feel good and natural against your skin. Though the king of fabrics is cotton, pay attention to the yarn count (the number of threads per square inch) of whatever fabric you are buying, the higher the count, the softer.∙ Color: The color of shirt should be complimented by the background of the tie or inside, subtle pattern. Stripped shirts are classic and conservative while solid colored shirts are formal.∙ The lifestyle you lead at the office: If you sit all day or usually move around much.   In trying on or testing on shirts while shopping, it would be wise to pay attention to: The feeling of the neckline and shoulders, it should not be baggy or constrictive to avoid looking poorly dressed. To determine that,

try it with a suit over it and try to place two of your fingers between the top of your collar and suit jacket. Sleeve length should be appropriate, check if the sleeves are too tight by bending your arms. Exact sleeve sizing is preferable.∙ The cuffs should be snug such that you’d be unable to slip into the sleeve without undoing buttons or cufflinks. Ensure that the cuffs don’t show more than 2 to 4 inches beyond the suit sleeve. Inspect the buttons to make sure they are well placed and don’t have gap holes exposing the chest.∙ Raise your arms to make sure the shirt tail doesn’t come out. Now tailored shirts are for athletic bodies, hence big tummies please stick to full the traditional full cut but the new style conscious thing to do is to take your clothes to a tailor to get the shirt fit for your body especially if purchase goes south. Bearing these tips in mind I can bet you that your next purchase of a business shirt would leave a smile on your face, with a touch of pride in your heart when it is worn. P.S. and don’t forget to drop me a thank you note though.