Men’s shirts – guide

When the formal shirts for men first appeared is somewhat of a mystery and depends on what you actually define as a shirt. Some say it goes all the way back to ancient Egypt but it first appeared in Europe in the 17th century. The men’s white shirt was for a long time a symbol for the upper class or at least upper middle-class men. Men in the lower class with manual labor work found the garment extremely impractical since they were often covered in dirt.

The shirt was originally designed to protect expensive and more exclusive jackets and coats from sweat and dirt and acted as a kind of underwear. It wasn’t seen as a garment of its own until the early 18th century and not until the laundry techniques improved did the formal and casual shirt become a garment available for all men.

The royalties and upper class in England paved the way for a clean and well-styled look and made the shirt an essential garment in the male wardrobe.

The shirt has evolved and is now available in an endless variety of styles, colors, and designs. Casual shirts and formal shirts for men might be quite different in terms of use but all fine shirts have one thing in common, a great fit. That’s why, at least for us, there is no other alternative than a custom tailored men’s shirt.

By creating a unique fit profile for each customer, in our showroom or online, we can make sure your shirt will have a perfect fit. 

Even though the construction of the men’s shirt is not as complex as a jacket(, since the main part of the shirt only has one layer of fabric,) there are many ways we can alter the pattern to achieve the perfect fit. Each shirt we produce features work made by hand by skilled craftsmen with years of experience. When it comes to the buttons, they are made by mother of pearl. 

The result when choosing a custom tailored men’s shirt is often a shirt with a longer life span due to its predetermined and obvious place in the wardrobe. And since you are also involved in creating the design of the shirt it is also often a favorite go-to shirt for everyday use. Check out all of our shirts for men here, both casual and formal.

The men’s formal shirt is, and has been, a staple piece in men’s wardrobes. Even if you’re not wearing a suit or a formal outfit in your everyday life it is always a good idea to make sure you have at least one formal shirt in your wardrobe arsenal. Every now and then you might receive an invitation that requires a formal outfit and a man should always be prepared. With a crisp white shirt and a midnight blue suit, you can be sure to have what it takes to never be underdressed. 

As mentioned before the formal shirt for men comes in various styles and fabrics but a formal shirt often has a higher level of luster.
A great choice is our Royal Oxford shirt. The quality of this fabric gives it a fine structure as well as an elegant luster. The perfect business shirt for days at the office or night out. 

The fit of a casual shirt for men usually offers a little bit more room over the waist, chest, and shoulder area and can be perceived as more comfortable than the classic formal shirt. 

As mentioned before, a matte surface and texture are more suitable for casual occasions and high luster is better suited for formal attire. Therefore, you often tend to go for a shirt with less luster when looking for the perfect casual shirt. Don’t worry, there are many great fabrics to choose from. For example, a flannel shirt for colder seasons or a linen shirt for summer. 

The areas of use for a casual shirt are close to endless, according to us, and it can easily be used to dress any outfit up or down a notch. Combine a light blue flannel shirt with a pair of denim and a knitwear for a super casual but yet well-dressed look. If you instead choose to wear it with a pair of light grey trousers in a brushed flannel and a jacket you will instantly perceive a semi-formal outfit. 

The overshirt is best described as the perfect alternative for a casual outfit when you don’t want to wear a jacket. A great middle layer to complete an outfit. Our overshirts are unconstructed, unlined, and extremely versatile. 

The versatility of the overshirt makes it a staple piece in your closet and can quickly become a natural go-to, possibly always hanging by the door, ready at any time. 

You can wear it in a variety of different ways depending on what look you are going for. Fully buttoned or unbuttoned, tucked in or not. Combine it with a pair of chinos and a t-shirt or as a second layer with a piquet underneath. 

There are several selections of shirt fabric materials available but the most common in our range are cotton, wool, and linen. All with their own pros and advantages and when mixed together they can create fantastic fabrics. The fabric and luster will also determine the level of formality you can achieve in a shirt and is therefore something that is very important when choosing the material. 

• Cotton is without doubt one of the most popular and versatile materials when it comes to clothing due to its lightweight and breathability. It is 100% natural fiber, grown from the cotton plant. 

• The unique advantage of woolen fabric is that it will keep you warm when it’s cold, and cool when it’s hot. It will not wrinkle or hold any odor. Wool can be sourced from different animals and since the quality of the wool from each kind of animal will vary the wool is suited for different kinds of use. 

• For summer and warmer weather, linen cloth is definitely the our favorite fabric. It’s a fabric that feels incredibly cool and breathable which makes it perfect for warmer climates. It completely lacks the ability to stretch and is a fabric that wrinkles very easily. Because of that, it is mostly used for more relaxed occasions. If you wish to have a linen shirt that does not wrinkle as easily, you can choose a mixture of linen and cotton.

The appearance and feel of a men’s shirt is mostly determined by its weave, as well as the breathability and likeliness of creasing. There are many, many different kinds of weaves in our collection of shirts and here we will go through a few of them. 

Twill – The twill weave is easily recognizable for its diagonal weave and is very tightly woven, often with a high thread count. The twill weave is also characterized by its smooth finish and high luster, which gives an elegant and formal impression and even though its relativity resistant to wrinkles it is also easy to iron.

Herringbone – The herringbone weave has a distinctive texture and the twill is mirrored to create a v-shaped look, a clear resemblance to the bones of a herring fish, hence its name. A weave that is suitable for both casual and formal wear. 

Flannel – The flannel fabric is often 100% cotton, brushed to get its soft and fuzzy feeling. Ideal for colder weather in fall and winter due to its ability to keep warm. 

Oxford – The Oxford weave is a very popular shirting fabric and is slightly thicker than what some might consider a ”fine” dress shirt fabric. This fabric is both durable and resistant to wrinkles. 

Royal Oxford – The Royal Oxford weave has a distinct texture and shine and is well-known for its softness. For many, known as the perfect business shirt. 

Denim – Denim, as we all know, is used for jeans but it is actually a twill fabric and when used for shirts it is usually a softer and lighter version. The denim fabric is very durable and also known for its unique tendency to change color when washing and due to wear and tear. 

Chambray – Chambray is a plain weave fabric, generally made with a bit heavier yarn for a more casual look. The weave usually has white threads running horizontally which gives the fabric an inconsistent color. It’s a durable fabric with a casual and relaxed appeal. 

Jersey – Jersey is an elastic, single-knit fabric known for being soft, light, flexible, and also for draping well. This is a fabric that can easily be worn all year round and is solely suitable for casual wear.

The collar of the men’s shirt is also something important to consider to achieve the look you want. The level of formality of the shirt can be changed depending on what collar style you choose. That is of course also a choice that has to do with your personal preferences and what you feel most comfortable wearing. Early on, the collar was even detachable for a while to make it easier to clean.

Some of the most common collars to choose from are the following: 

• Button down
• Hidden button down
• Cutaway
• Semi cutaway
• Kent
• Widespread

To make sure your shirt will last as long as possible we have gathered some care instructions below, 

• Wear deodorant, not antiperspirant.  Aluminum-based antiperspirants can easily cause yellow stains in the armpit area, use clean deodorant instead. 

• Keep your ’collar stays’ in position as much as possible (but don’t forget to remove them before washing)

• Try to avoid tumble dry altogether, the fabric can be damaged by the rotation in the machine.

• To avoid creasing it’s always a good idea to hang your shirts with a proper hanger when drying.

To be able to create the perfect shirt you have to start with the perfect measurements. Since all of our clothes, without exception, are produced on-demand you never have to compromise on any part of the fit. 

When creating a fit profile for shirts there is a number of points we can alter, for example, 

• Sleeve length (which can be set as different for each sleeve if needed)
• Total length
• Width back
• Width chest
• Armhole