“Hello, Mr. Bond.”
James bond in his crisp white shirt is the epitome of style and confidence. Men’s shirts are a way to break out of the office doldrums and really show your own creative genius. Make your shirts a real statement about your style. Dark rich colours with contrasting light coloured ties; a monochromatic combination of light sexy baby blue or powder pink with perfectly matching tie; the 100% cotton white shirt with pearl buttons and sophisticated top stitching all make a statement when you walk into the room. What ever it is that you want to communicate; think about it, find your groove and make a splash. Cheer up the girls in the office with your dapper ways.
“Made it, Ma! Top of the World.”
Changing your style is one way to get noticed in an increasingly competitive job market. Your jacket is the frame and the men’s shirt the matting that will enhance artwork contained within it. The shirt works to frame the tie, braces (which are underwear) and the face. What colours will enhance these features? Look at the whole picture and determine what story you want the viewer to participate in. Sometimes the shirt can be the artwork; attention to detail in fabric, colour, design, print, top stitching and collar are like the brush details on a fine painting. The suit and tie then ground and frame the art, which is the shirt and should not compete with it.
“Hasta la vista, baby.”
As a minimum a man should have at least 3 white shirts and 2 blue. This gives us 5 shirts and we can do the laundry on the weekend. If you plan to work through most weekends or travel extensively for business or pleasure. Invest in more. The more shirts you have the less frequently you have to do laundry or make it to the dry cleaners.
“Well it’s not the men in your life that count, it’s the life in your men.”
Colour, fabric and style of collar and cuff will tell a story about the man and the shirt. Buy the best quality fabric that you can, the smoother and finer the cotton the dressier the man’s shirt. Choose a collar that suits your face and body frame and make sure that the cuffs fit properly. The cuffs of a man’s shirt should not slide off over the wrist nor should they get stuck when you lift your arms up in the air.
“Love your shirt.”
Finally, make sure that the shirt fits. Measure and try on before buying. Do not purchase men’s shirts in plastic bags with the pins still in. Take it out and try it on. Make sure that the fit is not too tight or too big through the torso. The current fashion is a little more tailored and fitted through the upper body.
“You had me at Hello.”
Men’s shirts make a statement. Think about the leading men in film, remembering their most famous roles it is easy to picture the shirt that each was wearing. What do you want to be remembered for? Find a style that really makes you feel like a leading man in your own life.