A Shirt Style Guide

The modern dress shirt has come a long way, after it took shape and developed at the end of the nineteenth century, during Victorian times. Throughout history the dress shirt has been modernized with different details; the breast pocket introduced last. The standard modern shirt can be as diverse as choice and taste, and its style can be altered to ones liking. There are many elements that make up the dress shirt anatomy, but every classic dress shirt includes: a back, yoke, a front, plackets, cuffs, a collar, and hem. It is imperative to know the anatomy of a dress shirt (both terms and definitions) and not just something you simply pull on and off your head.

Collar Base: (or collar stand) is the band of fabric sewn into the neckline of a dress shirt, which the collar attaches to.

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COLLAR STYLE

When selecting a suitable collar style for a dress shirt, the most important thing to remember is that it should complement your face shape to give you a balanced look. If you have a round face, we recommend a regular collar with straighter points that will serve to elongate the look of your face and neck (A1 vs A2).   If your face is narrow, a spread collar will give you more balance (B1 vs B2).  If your face is neither round nor narrow, you can select any of the spread styles, but we recommend the spread style as it is more formal. The button-down collar should only be considered for a casual shirt.  Button-down collars should not be worn with a tie.

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