How to Pick a Tailored Shirt

Tailored shirts are the "little black dresses" of the professional wardrobe. A sharply tailored shirt not only can slim off 10 or even 15 lbs., but it will make you feel put together, confident and powerful. Paired with a pair of dark pants and high heels, tailored shirts are also one of the most comfortable ways to dress for work--you do not even have to tuck them in. However, you must make sure that your tailored shirt is exactly that--tailored. A fitted shirt that does not fit you is possibly the most unflattering look possible. A little forethought can help you avoid this disaster and fill your closet with flattering, confidence-boosting clothes. Read on to learn how to pick a tailored shirt.

Things You'll Need

• Full-length mirror
• Black pants
• Heels
• Black skirt
• The bra you plan on wearing or that you wear most often

Instructions

1. Decide where you want to wear the shirt. If it is for a night out, then you may want to select a top that fits tightly across your rib cage and possibly does not button all the way to the neck. This type of shirt can be very sexy and dramatically increase the appearance of your bust. However, if you are planning to wear the shirt to work, you will need something that can be buttoned discreetly and that will stay shut.

2. Try several shirts on in various sizes. This will give you an idea of what you want to emphasize and what you want to hide with the shirt. As we mentioned, a well-fitting shirt can easily "take off" lbs., so try several different styles and fits to see what suits you.

3. 

   Try several shirts in various lengths. Once you have identified your style, you need to decide how long you want the tails on your shirt to be. Unless you are positive that you will never tuck this shirt in for any reason, they should at the very least skim the top of your buttocks. Also, if you want to hide heavy hips or thighs with this outfit, make sure that the shirt covers them, but does not balloon over them or they will appear larger instead of smaller.

4. Try the shirt on with the rest of the outfit. Depending on the cut of your skirt or pants, you may need to tuck the shirt in, wear a belt or simply select a different top all together. Many tailored shirts look best with pencil skirts or tight fitting pants--even if you do not usually wear these clothes--because the shirt camouflages problem areas.

5. Move around. Once you have identified your shirt, leap into action--literally. Many people try on a tailored shirt, love the look and buy it. Then, the first time they wear it out they discover that the shoulders are too tight and they cannot raise their arms or that they cannot sit down without popping a button. This means that the shirt was not severely tailored, but rather just too small. Make sure that you can sit, stand, reach, walk, talk and breath without difficulty or a wardrobe malfunction.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that you use enough starch to keep your shirt unwrinkled and sharply pressed. While there are few more universally good looks than a tailored shirt, it can all go to waste if you wrinkle in the car before you ever arrive at your destination.