The classic shirt, a wardrobe staple March 20, 2009

The comfort it gives you every time you wear it, the way you return to it time and time again. Its fast and easy to decide what to wear, it is a no-brainer because you don’t want to be messing around trying to work out what to wear or which shirt goes with those pants. You want to pull on that shirt just before you head out of the door and then forget about it knowing you look good whatever the day might send your way.

The style of a classic shirt is a very personal thing. For me nothing can beat the coolness of crisp, clean starched cotton, it must be white and as expensive as you can afford. The cut and the style of the shirt are very important though, no 70’s style collars here, thank you very much. Pure unadulterated luxury!

It is the type of classic shirt that the leading lady in chick flicks usually ends up wearing when the male star accidentally pours wine on their top. It makes it almost worth spilling the wine yourself!

Classic shirts to look good March 2, 2009

An Oxford shirt would definitely count as a classic shirt due to its over all style and look. Wearing an Oxford shirt really makes you look as well as feel the part. It is arguably best to get an Oxford shirt out of your wardrobe (or if you have not got one go and buy one) when it is vital that you make a big impression.

On the other hand whilst Polo shirts have long been considered to be a classic shirt they have lost a bit of their class in recent years. Polo shirts have become increasingly popular as part of work place uniforms as companies have gone from the traditional collar and tie look. I do not know about anybody else but I would not like to go out in a Polo shirt if it looked like somebody else’s work uniform.

Even sports shirts are now been described as classic shirts. If you support a Football League club the chances are that you can buy a replica shirt from the 1950s or the 1970s that will cost the same as their current shirt and will not be able to buy them half price at the end of each season.

Great shirt debate: Long sleeves vs short sleeves November 19, 2008

The sun is out and we all know what that means – the shirt debate begins. Its time to start contemplating revealing those arms, but what should you go for? Rolling up your long sleeves or investing in shirts of the short-sleeved variety? Let the debate begin.

Going Casual
Short-sleeved shirts have come a long way in terms of fashion and we’re starting to see more wearable short-sleeved shirts. The problem with short sleeved shirts in the past has been that there’s just so many bad ones out there – ill fitting in unflattering colours and patterns. This season we’re seeing a move away from that with more tailored looks and stylish designs.

But don’t disregard the long sleeves altogether. For a casual summer look, there’s a lot to be said about a loose linen shirt with rolled up sleeves, plus you’ve got the advantage of rolling down when the afternoon breeze comes in.

Sleeves in the Workplace
Short sleeves in the workplace are becoming more accepted as the short sleeve designs up their game in the professional stakes but at the end of the day, the short sleeve shirt is always a more casual look.

For conservative offices, you’re probably better off sticking to the long sleeved shirts, keeping in mind that summer is a great opportunity to experiment with a bit of colour.

The Verdicts in:
There’s a time and a place for both short sleeved and long, as a general rule of thumb long sleeves work best for formal occasions, while for casual looks, you can get away with either. No matter what shirt you go for this summer, make sure you’re buying shirts with breathable fabrics like cotton to prevent you feeling the heat and avoid sweat marks. Remember that a bad fitting shirt is still a bad fitting shirt, regardless of the style.

Does the office need shirt and cufflinks October 12, 2008

I think the offices that require shirt and cufflinks are ones that are stuffy and out of date. What is the point of cufflinks anyway, especially those stupid novelty ones that look like aeroplanes or golf clubs? For people who want to look professtional in front of customers and a company that wants to be taken seriously, then the shirt and suit would seem the way to go but more often than not it can give off the impression of a dodgy car sales man.

Why should a person be pigeon holed into only wearing the classic suited and booted look with the crisp white shirt and cuff links? A crisp Lyle and Scott polo shirt can look just as smart but give the impression of a funkier company up to date with it’s times. A company where the worker matters. A company that realises most people are not suckered in by the suit and short back and sides any longer.

The modern day office paints a picture where workers can go into work later, finish earlier and spend most of their time facebooking. The days when shirts and cuff links are a must in an office are long gone or are they?

Do men actually want to go into the office in their ’street’ clothes. There are some men out there who are actually happy when they get cuff links for christmas, they like to collect their freshly laundered crisp white shirts from the dry cleaners, hell some of them even like to iron those shirts! Putting on a suit can make a person feel important and give them a confidence boost.

It is easy to look stuffy but if a man take time when shopping for work attire he can look cool as well as professtional just remeber, you will not be taken seriously if your shirt is two toned, you wear a novelty tie or your cuff links are shaped like aeroplanes and you are not a pilot. Be careful lads, it’s a mad world out there.

What defines a classic shirt? September 4, 2008

The term “classic shirt” is one of the most subjective phrases to have ever graced mankind. “One man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure” has never been more true. Whereas I may prefer a modest button-down tight-fitted piece of pure clothing charm, you might be more partial to a 70’s-style polo shirt, with popped collar for added effect. Some may even prefer a simple t-shirt.

So how can so many people have so many different opinions on what a “classic” shirt is? A lot of it is to do with how you feel when you’re wearing it. A classic shirt should make a man feel like he’s king of the party; a true alpha male. It should be suitable for the occasion, yet distinctive enough to make the wearer stand out at any event. It would not be unfair to say that most gentlemen’s classic shirt would also be their favourite, or “lucky” shirt. Maybe someone made an off-hand comment about how they liked it so much, maybe it helped to steal a kiss from a young lady, or maybe they just like the way it looks on them. So it seems almost impossible to define what a “classic” shirt would be. All I know is, if I go out wearing my classic shirt I’m in for a great night.

Thomas Pink all the way August 18, 2008

I’ve only ever tried on one Thomas Pink shirt but have spent many hours negotiating the cheap curtains of the changing rooms at my local Tesco in search of the perfect little white shirt.

In my blinder less money saving days I used to plumb for the cheap and cheerful try it ,buy it, wash it, throw it ,type of fashion whose fitting philosophy bore more of a resemblance to one size fits the entire population of this universe than any individual attention.

My thoughts were always – £10 great bargain but after three wears and one wash where the white bore more resemblance to smoggy grey I realised my error. Ten shirts per year at £10 = £100 or go to Thomas Pink, but something that actually accentuates instead of drowns the figure, washes well and still comes up bright and white after a year. Definitely go for the quality Thomas Pink and view it as a longer term investment-they always pay off in the end.

Dress code that dictates your environment July 3, 2008

Shirts are traditionally officewear because they look official and smart.Nobody is going to choose to consult a solicitor if he is wearing a tshirt and jeans.Shirts make people appear more credible.Men and women who come to work dressed smartly ,look as though they are in control of things.They are the ones who will gain promotion, all else being equal.Imagine approaching a policeman or woman for help in the street and then discovering that they are wearing lycra ! You would think twice about whether they were really able to help you with your problem.You rarely see a doctor who is not smartly dressed for the same reason.

A shirt is acceptable wear nearly everywhere and that makes it an ideal garment.Cuff links can only be worn on shirts where the cuff is made to accept them.A shirt with buttons, wont have the holes that the cufflinks must go through to ‘link’ the cuff.That makes them more of a fashion accessory than a practical piece of wear in this modern day.

The type of clothing you wear to the office rather depends on what type of office you are working in. The clothes you decide to wear forms the basis of what other people think about you and you also have to consider the image of your company. If you are working in a legal firm for example you would certainly be expected to dress very smartly in a suit, shirt and tie. You might decide to wear cufflinks but this is probably a matter of personal choice. Sandals and shorts are certainly not an option!

However if you were working in a graphic design or media setting you would probably be expected to wear more casual clothing maybe even jeans as it would be seen as a sign of your creativity.

If in doubt about what to wear you should look at what the boss is wearing and take your clue from that. If he is dressed in a tailored suit don’t turn up in jeans.

Why we need to be different with shirts June 22, 2008

One of the biggest dilemmas for men is choosing what shirt to wear when they are going out! Should they a dressy shirt be worn or is it an occasion for a formal shirt? It is a tough decision to make but as long as you clearly know the difference between a dress shirt and a formal shirt you will be just fine.
As a rule of thumb, formal shirts are more a basic shirt.

One major colour. Simple pattern and stitching and a regular fit. Whereas, dressy shirts can be a blend of a variety of colours, with decorative stitching and being either flared fit, tight fit or any other kind of ‘non basic’ fitting.

Now you know the difference, when should each shirt be used? Dress shirts are suitable for nights out in pubs and clubs for example and also for in restaurants, whereas formal shirts are more for work, conventions and sophisticated venues, such as expensive restaurants.
It is an important choice for men as you simply cannot be caught wearing the wrong type of shirt for an occasion.

Packing for Summer Holiday – Top 5 Items April 30, 2008

When it comes to packing for vacation, men usually have the least headache. In fact most men prefer to travel light. Bringing along essential items that suits the weather is very common for short trips lasting no more than few weeks. Traveling light is considered convenient and practical.

Not surprisingly, most men are not embarrassed to rotate or even wear the same few pieces of shirts or pants for the entire holiday, assuming laundry services are available. However, for the ladies, this is quite unthinkable as most will pack in a few extra sets just for photo taking purposes.

So, what do men usually pack with them if they are going for summer holiday? It is always best to bring along casual clothing that are cooling, easy to clean and dry of course. Having a set of formal wear is also common for an unanticipated formal dinning.

Here are the Top 5 items men should have in their luggage:

1. 3 sets of T-shirt
2. 2 sets of short pants or Bermuda
3. 4 sets of under wear
4. 1 set of formal wear (long sleeves shirts and long pants)
5. 1 piece of sweater/ wind breaker (to be worn during flights or night traveling)

And for sure, I won’t be leaving without my set of jewellery.

Smart Shirts back on style March 28, 2008

I stumbled on an article on shirts which have brought back quiet alot of the 70’s fashion sense. I can remember way back in the days when a very tight jeans, smart body hugging shirt would be the talk of the day by the opposite sex. Walking down your road, heading to the movies and with your walkman listening to “cool and the gang” with an old pair of levi’s jeans – the bomb..

The fashion world have evolved from the days of tight pointed jeans to a more free styled straight,boot cut jeans. But is it thesame for shirts? well this was a topic of debate by top clothing designer in the LA catwalk show early this year. Men’s shirts range from different style down to quality, you’ll always want to wear a good simple shirt with enamel cufflinks. Yes, we do love how we look either casual or formal..How many shirts is enough! For every season of the year..your demand for new style increases, a good body hugging slim fit shirt will be in the wardrobe till the next summer..And trust me, that same shirt will be out of fashion that coming year..

Van heusen, a world brand in men’s shirts- casual,dressesd and even accessories such as cufflinks and ties, have launched an all seasoned style.