How to Choose a Dress Shirt

How many times have you heard it said that the clothes make the man? While this might not necessarily be true, clothing can carry a significant importance in business situations. First impressions make lasting impressions and a big part of the first impression someone gets from you has to do with your clothing. With this in mind, it is worth paying close attention to the clothing choices you make. Crucial to your attire is a high quality pair of dress pants in brown or black that will match many colors. Go with quality shoes at the bottom and an impressive shirt at the top. How do you choose a dress shirt? It might be a little more involved than you think.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Choosing a Dress Shirt

1. Visit a high quality men's shop and get properly measured so you will be sure to buy a dress shirt that really fits you. You can spend hundreds of dollars on a dress shirt, but if it doesn't fit properly, you may as well have bought something from the bargain bin because that is the impression your shirt will give as it hangs awkwardly or clings oddly in all the wrong places.

2. Know your purpose when you set out to choose a dress shirt. There is a difference between a dress shirt meant for use in a formal situation and a dress shirt intended for a slightly more casual look. Some shirts are intended for wear under a jacket or sports coat while others are well suited for wearing alone. If a shirt seems transparent enough that your undershirt is visible through the dress shirt, it is best to wear it under a jacket or coat. If a dress shirt seems to be of a higher thread count it is likely suitable for wearing alone.

3. Bring the rest of your ensemble with you as you shop for your dress shirt. Sometimes the only way to know if a dress shirt is the right choice is to try it on with the pants, jacket and tie.

4. Pay attention to the collar. The collar of your dress shirt should match the way you will wear your shirt. Some collars are called button-down. As the title implies, these collars button to the shirt to keep the corners crisp looking and well positioned with your tie. Thus, this style of collar is intended to be worn with a tie. If you do not plan to wear a tie with your dress shirt, you should opt for a collar that has no buttons at the tips of the collar.

5. Match the color of your dress shirt to the color that works best for you. Everyone has a "power color," a color that really works well to complement their own skin tones. Find yours and buy your dress shirt accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• Even though you might find him overbearing, the salesperson's advice is worth listening too. After all, he spends the entire day helping people just like you!