What to Look for in Buying a Shirt?

1. The fabric

Where possible try to buy a shirt that has a high percentage of cotton.
When a shirt has polyester or nylon in it, it tends to sweat and smell overtime. However some shirts with a little nylon can mean you don't need to iron as often. So a shirt that has at least 90% cotton if not 100% cotton is going to breathe and last you for a longer period of time. Also look out for shirts that are made of organic cotton or bamboo as these are both better for the environment.

2. The fit

You should always wear a shirt that fits your body. Darts in the back of a shirt can help with this if you have a slim body. Look out for the length of the shirt in comparison to your body. Subtle details like a scoop that is longer at the back can transform a shirt from something normal into something special. Its very easy to wear a shirt that is roomy and sloppy, but when you know that first impressions count, you want to make sure your shirt makes you look fantastic.
 

3. The construction

  
      
The collar - This should be firm and strong enough to hold its shape. This is because of the quality of the fusing that is used. If the collar is floppy and soft it will lose it shape. If it is too stiff it will not feel comfortabe. Find a collar that feels stable and strong.

The Placket - This is where the button holes are. One that is attached as a seperate panel, means higher quality and more care and consideration is taken in the construction of it compared to one that is just folded over. Both have their occasions, but if you are after a high quality shirt look out for the attached placket.  Look out for the detail in the stitching down the front of the shirt, it should be dead straight!

The cuffs - You can have a few different finishes to the cuff of a shirt, one can be just a button up and one can require cuff links. For a shirt that you want to turn heads, look out for the turned cuff that requires cuff links. For a more casual shirt look out for buttons.

4. The complete look

Buy a shirt that you know will last you a few seasons. you should always start by having some plain shirts in your wardrobe and you can't go wrong with simple colours such as black and  white. These you can dress up and dress down, wear by themselves, under tees, over tees, layer for extra detail and create depth to your look. Then once you have a base in your wardrobe look for shirts with subtle detail either in stitching or in colour. You can get adventurous with one or two brighter shirts which you can add to an outfit by just showing the collar or cuff of it, or layering over a blazer or tee.