Mens dress shirts date back more than 1500 years. In early times people were wearing them as undergarments for hygienic reasons. As with many things, through time they slowly evolved.
The most important article of clothing every man should have is the dress shirt and having the right fit can mean everything for first impressions. When buying dress shirts, many only consider one thing, the color and pattern, and are satisfied with the mediocre fit of standard sized dress shirts. Even the men who are aware of the mediocre fit standard size dress shirts have, there is a general lack of fitted dress shirts in stores anyways. While the color and pattern are important, having the perfect fit according to your specific body type should be of equal importance. If the shirt doesn’t fit correctly, then you aren’t going to like how it looks no matter how much you like the color and pattern.
When broken down to different parts, each component of the dress shirt can have a different effect on a person’s body. Whether it is how different dress shirt collars compliment different face shapes or how certain cuffs can make your arms look longer or shorter, only with tailored dress shirts can you get the perfect match for your specific body type. Learning how each aspect of a dress shirt can compliment a person’s body type is essential in creating a tailored dress shirt you’ll look your best in.
Most tailored dress shirts for men will use at least 9 different measurements of your upper body, but to ensure the best fit possible some tailors will take into account the slope of your shoulders, back posture, and the size of your stomach. Usually tailors factor in shrinkage of the fabric and so you should not give this much thought if you are taking measurements yourself unless specified. Another option any decent shirt maker will give you is whether you want the shirt to be slim, normal, or loose fit. As mentioned earlier you can buy slim fit shirts ‘off the rack’, but they still won’t be made after your specific dimensions.
These shirts are the only ones made entirely for you. If you have an athletic build there are shirts designed to enhance the look of your stature. Fits for this type of build are usually called athletic, slim, or modern fit. These fits come with a more narrow waist, chest, and hip area. If you have a body that fits perfectly into a standard sized dress shirt, you’re lucky, but let’s be realistic it’s is only a small percentage that are in this category. If you do, just pass any store and get your fitted dress shirt. Be careful though sizes change from store to store. Although you may fit well into a standard size at one store, sizes vary from store to store, so to guarantee the best fit the tailored dress shirt is the best choice.
