The shirt maketh the man.
A foundation of your menswear outfit is the dress shirt. It is usually the first item of clothing that others notice and the design, cut, style, and condition of your shirt will leave a lasting impression not only of your image, but of your personality, professionalism, and attention to detail.
First impressions are impossible to repeat and dress shirts are a sure way to make an excellent first impression.
The dress shirt is a foundation of your outfit providing a central point of interest to your general attire. It is the garment the rest of your outfit is built around playing an important part not only in physical comfort but in style and intention. It is therefore important that you match yourself with a dress shirt that complements your personal style.
However, with such a wide range of styles and designs available, it can appear a daunting task to find the right fit. Traditionally the dress shirt was worn beneath a waistcoat or jacket, nowadays it is more commonplace to see shirts worn as a solo item covering the top portion of the frame.
Different Dress Shirts Serve Different Functions
Dress shirts can be bought in a wide variety of styles, colours, and cuts, depending on the occasion that they are intended for. A Hawaiian shirt decorated with floral pineapples may be appropriate for a beach holiday in southern Thailand, but it would not be appropriate for an insurance seminar in Oslo.
Shirt features can even be expressly reserved for very particular shirt occasions and dress codes. Two obvious examples are the Black-Tie Evening Shirt and the White-Tie Evening Shirt, which are sometimes, confusingly enough, referred to as “Full-Dress” shirts. Winged collared dress shirts look appropriate with a bowtie but take away the bowtie and the shirt appear dysfunctional.
Dress shirts can range in the extent of their formality from the casual to the extremely formal. How casual or formal a dress shirt needs to be depended entirely upon the situation or event to which it has historically become accustomed.
Wearing the right shirt to an event or occasion shows respect for the people involved in the function. Dressing appropriately demonstrates a willingness to value the social occasions and the individuals that you are socially interacting with. The right shirt also indicates a degree of professionalism that will enhance your credibility and role within your peer groups. While a certain degree of self-expression is to be encouraged with dress and style one should adhere to social norms that fit the context of the situation.
In addition, with the correct attire, your self-confidence will increase, and your sense of awkwardness will decrease. Wearing the incorrect attire can result in unwanted negative attention and feelings of self-discomfort. Avoid this. People do judge others on what they wear so begin on the right foot with a smart and appropriate dress shirt for any given occasion.
In conclusion, wearing the right clothes for the right event opens doors without closing any.
