Matching Collar and Cuffs

The wearing of shirts has changed dramatically through the years. Think of a man wearing a business suit. Many years ago it would always be accompanied by a white shirt and a tie.

Nowadays, dress shirts are more…well, dressy really. The range of styles fabrics and colors has expanded constantly. It’s a good thing too because your choice of shirt and how you wear it is often regarded as a pointer to your persona.

Shirt collars are the most important feature of your shirt mainly because they are the most visible part. However, more importantly they always accentuate your face. If you have a long, thin face you should avoid pointed collars on a shirt. Those with rounded faces are advised not to choose shorter rounded collars. These will make your face appear fat.

Collars in a different color to the rest of the shirt should be chosen with care. Whilst they can look extremely businesslike, they can be too much so. These shirts give the impression of a powerful dynamic wearer and if you fail to reach the mark the whole ensemble will let you down dramatically.

Cuffs are difficult to get wrong. Most dress shirts that accompany men’s suits are of a fairly standard barrel design. The only thing that can go drastically wrong here is the length on display from beneath the arm of your jacket. If in any doubt whatsoever, stick to the golden rule….less is more! Between one and two centimeters on display is always sufficient.

As far as the breast pocket is concerned, choose a shirt without one if possible. After all, it will not be visible beneath your jacket. If you remove your jacket and you have anything in your shirt pocket (for example a pen) it will simply look untidy. It’s unnecessary and adds nothing to the cut of the shirt.

Some like to have their initials embroidered onto their dress shirts or cuffs. The perception depends upon how well this has been carried out. Your initials in large, bold letters scream “I’m still at school and often lose my clothes”

Initials that are nicely embroidered in a subtle (or identical) color show the care and attention you pay to your dress and (almost certainly) many other aspects of your life. If you wish to dress to impress, plan your dress shirt choice.