Things You'll Need:
- Measuring tape
- Necktie
- Dress pants
- Jacket or blazer
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Step 1
Determine the type of dress shirt you are looking for by choosing a cut that works for your body type. A tailored-fit shirt is more form fitting, while a standard fit has a much looser feel. Athletic style shirts generally have a full chest and tapered waist.
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Step 2
Choose a spread collar, which has slightly bigger lapels, or a straight or point collar, which has a more narrow and conservative fit. Pin collars are meant to be worn with a collar pin, while a tab collar has a tab attached to the shirt to hold a necktie in place. For a more casual look, try a banded collar; it doesn't fold down and is not meant to be worn with a necktie.
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Step 3
Determine your neck size with a measuring tape to allow a dress shirt to fit properly when worn with or without a necktie. Your shirt collar should fit snugly but be comfortable enough to fit two fingers inside.
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Step 4
Measure your chest with a measuring tape to determine the right size and style of your dress shirt. Your shirt should be slightly form fitting in the chest, but not so tight that it stretches and is uncomfortable.
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Step 5
Measure the length of your arms with a measuring tape to ensure that your sleeves are the appropriate size. As a general guideline, sleeves should fall about 1" below your wrist bone, and you should see about 1/4" inch of your shirtsleeves underneath a jacket.
