Donning a crisp, clean shirt is a confidence booster like no other—especially one that’s tailored to a T. Shopping for such an essential item of clothing may not be rocket science, but there is an art to getting the details right, from the cut to the cuffs to the collar. Lucky for you, we’ve got the latter covered. First and foremost, know your measurements: you don’t want your collar so loose it dangles from your neck, nor so tight it cuts off your air supply. And secondly, know your styles: your collar choice, from the semi spread to the straight point, is an important part of your look.
Semi Spread
The semi-spread is our go-to collar choice. It walks the fine line between conservative and fashion-forward, and pairs well with a variety of suits. Tuck a sized-down oxford into a sharply tailored suit, or leave it un-tucked and let a collegiate tie and boat shoes complete the cool-and-collected look.
Straight Point
If you consider yourself a minimalist, then this is the collar for you. As its name suggests, this no-frills style is sharp and angular. Wear it with an A-line silhouetted jacket or a double-breasted coat so no one mistakes who is boss.
Button-Down
Perhaps no collar choice is more symbolic of the all-American man than the button-down. This old-school option is a great investment since it will likely never go out of style. Top it off with another American classic: the blue blazer.
Band
Don’t feel like dressing up (but don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed, either)? Enter: the band collar. It may not be a classic—yet—but this collar style is undoubtedly chic. It’s also neat and tidy, so be sure the shirt itself is slim fitting. Team it with a blazer and jeans for a weekend jaunt.
Wing
Never fear a black tie event again! A dress shirt with a winged collar is traditionally reserved for formal occasions, where tuxedos are required. This heavily starched short collar features horizontal-pointing tips so that a bow tie can take center stage.
Armed with this vital information, stick your neck out the next time you go dress-shirt shopping.
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