The formal shirt is the vital
component of a man’s wardrobe. It lends a dignified personality and
temperament to the wearer. A little attention to detail is definitely called
for, while purchasing a formal shirt, which is also part of a man’s office
wear. However modern and nonconformist a person maybe, certain aspects cannot
be overlooked or ignored.
Features to look out for
There are some very important features that one has to look for in
a formal shirt- the collar, the cuff, the fit, the placket or the button
panel, pocket and the material used.
Collar
The collar is the most prominent and visible feature of the shirt.
There are many types of collars like the point collar, button down collar,
turndown collar, spread collar etc. The point collar is most associated with
the formal shirt. Owing to its plain and quiet style it is blends well with
both formal and casual shirts. It need not always be teamed with a tie.
The spread collar as the name suggests has the points of the collar
placed wide apart and is to be worn with a tie. The buttoned down collar is
buttoned to the shirt with the help of two small buttons and can be worn with
or without the tie.
Cuff
The cuff comes in various styles – Barrel cuff, French cuff, Turn
back cuff. The French cuff is worn with cuff links.
Placket
The button panel is also called the placket. It is a vertical
panel with button holes and overlaps the panel with the buttons on the right
hand side of the shirt.
The typical formal shit has a single pocket sewn on to the left
side of the shirt. It is meant to hold small things like a pen and a small
piece of paper.
Material
Formal shirts are usually made from materials cotton, silk, polyester
blend, satin etc.