Guide to Men's Formal Shirts
The right formal shirt, worn with a tuxedo or nice suit, completes your look for a special occasion. It's the fine details that make a shirt more formal than casual. Choose a style and fit that suits your body type, then accessorize to add your personal style. Does this Spark an idea?
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Styles and Fit
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Formal tuxedo shirts typically feature a pleated front, but plain-front shirts are also appropriate. The most important feature is the fit. Choose a shirt whose sleeves and body have a slim fit. Excess fabric on the sleeves or body will billow and look baggy. Cuffs should touch just above the hinge of the wrist and be a quarter inch to half an inch longer than your jacket sleeve. The collar fits correctly when you can just slip your index and middle finger side by side snugly between your collar and neck.
Collars
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The collar of your formal shirt can make or break your outfit. Choose from the spread collar, or Windsor collar, or a pointed collar. A spread collar draws more attention to the neck and shows more of the upper part of the shirt. Both collars accommodate a traditional tie. Tuxedo shirts come with two types of collars. The traditional wing tip -- or laydown -- collar is worn with a bow tie. The mandarin -- or band -- collar doesn't require a tie of any kind.
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Cuffs
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Cuffs are visible under a suit or tuxedo jacket. Single cuffs are the most formal and traditional for white tie and may be worn for black tie. A double cuff, or French cuff, is often seen on high-end and custom-made shirts, but also available in ready-to-wear collections. Either single cuffs or French cuffs may be worn with a tuxedo.
Accessories
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The right accessories can add flair to a formal look. Go traditional with a bow tie and a wing-tip tuxedo shirt. Ascots, knot ties, band ties and crossover ties may be appropriate for some events. Ties in a larger knot, such as the Windsor knot, look best on a spread collar. Personalize your look with a distinctive tie clip or detailed cuff links. Add personality to your tuxedo shirt with button covers, or replace the buttons with shirt studs.
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References
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