Guide to Classics – The White Dress Shirt
Even men’s fashion is guilty of having a fair amount of lingo to it. Open any men’s style magazine and you’re bound to come across an alien word within a few pages. Terms like ‘underpinnings’ and ‘foundation pieces’ sound strange unless you’re a seasoned reader. Those two terms refer to the same things: those items that every guy should own. It’s a list of essentials that never goes without the white shirt.
Why White?
Think of white as fashion’s water, the color palette’s universal solvent. No matter what color or pattern you throw at it, you’re (almost) sure that the two things will mix. Not only does it make for a very smart outfit with whatever necktie you decide to wear, but it’s also a go-to option at 5AM and you can’t be bothered to coordinate colors.
Like an immaculate four-in-hand tie knot, a great white shirt is one of the marks of a truly well-styled gentleman. A plain white shirt’s quality is told not by the shade of the color or the print, but by finer details like the weight of the cloth or weave of the fabric.
Styles, Styles, Styles
If you own any magazine willing to describe a white shirt as an ‘underpinning’, those same writers might also discuss details as seemingly trivial as cuffs and collars. Why bother? It’s these same little details that distinguish one shirt apart from another, that draw the line between a shirt that says ‘retail’ and one that says ‘refined’.
Collars are the single most significant reason why a shirt would look perfect on the rack but slightly off once worn. Everything from your trousers to your necktie has to be in the right proportion for your body these days, and the shirt collar is no exception. Regular collars – the standard downward triangle – are the standard option that works for most. If you want to really make an impression, though, it’s worth finding that right collar.
Spread collars, which have a wider reach, complement longer and leaner faces. Point collars that stretch downward, meanwhile, balance out a heftier noggin. If you’re at a casual event, button-down collars are a classic choice for any shape of face.
Cuffs are also a major consideration on a white shirt, since there’s little else in this style of garment to look at. French collars, formerly relegated to formal fashion, is gaining popularity in the office and more dressed down contexts as well. That’s not to say that a plain cuff is casual-only; a pair of classy cuff links should give it enough dressy style.
Detailed Demands
It’s only the truly discerning who can identify a great white shirt, which is why heritage labels like Charvet are so prized in the fashion industry. Names like theirs automatically mean the kind of quality you want hanging in your closet.
Although technical aspects like thread count (remember, the smoother the surface is, the higher the thread count and the more formal the shirt) are important, the process doesn’t end there. Everything down to the buttons on the shirt (ideally mother of pearl, but any plain matte material works too) and the stitching ought to be examined.
If the whole process of searching for a white shirt sounds complicated, that’s because it rather is at that. Once you’re lucky enough to stumble upon a shop that sells the perfect white shirt (or a tailor who can make it for you), stock up with ten instead of just one.
Other Articles You May Like:
Guide to Blazer Jackets
Guide to Smart Casual Attire
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