A dress shirt is a staple in any gentleman’s wardrobe. It is suitable for both work and a night out. You aim to look your best in a dress shirt regardless of the occasion.
With numerous choices, selecting the right one can seem daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. Use our dress shirt guide to ensure you look sharp in meetings and sophisticated at special occasions. As with any clothing, a timelessly stylish dress shirt begins with finding the perfect fit.
Dress Shirt with a Suit and Tie for Formal Occasions
A sharp suit with a tie is the classic choice for business or important events, signaling readiness for any occasion. With their adaptable collars, dress shirts serve as an ideal backdrop for a tie, enhancing its look. A white shirt is often favored for such outfits. Pay attention to details: the collar buttoned, neatly tucked in, and sleeves reaching the wrists.
While ties are less popular today, they still hold value for special occasions like weddings where you want to show extra effort. Every man should have a selection of ties in his wardrobe for those times that require a formal touch.
Remember, the tie can always be removed later in the evening as things become more casual. Learn the ironing techniques to keep your shirt crisp and wrinkle-free, giving you a clean and polished look.
Semi-Formal Look with a Jacket and Various Pant Choices
Moving slightly away from the previous formal style, this look combines a dress shirt with a stylish jacket but skips the tie. The top button of the shirt is left open for a relaxed vibe. Despite the casual touch, the dress shirt should still maintain a formal appearance with tucked in pants and extended sleeves.
This style allows for experimenting with different pant options. While a classic dress pant that complements the shirt is a safe and elegant choice, opting for high-quality jeans in black, gray, or dark blue can add a modern flair. It’s important to avoid jeans with holes, as they can undermine the polished appearance you’re going for.
Dress Shirt Worn Untucked with Jeans
Your shirt’s color or patterns can influence the formality of your outfit, your choice of shoes (more broguing or details means a more casual look), or whether you cuff your jeans. Cuffing your jeans to highlight reduces formality. Experiment with your pieces to craft varied outfits using the same essentials, your favorite dress shirt and jeans.
Some men might find that a tucked shirt pulls when they move or stretch. In such cases, consider wearing your shirt untucked over your jeans, considering that this gives a more informal appearance. You’ll need one key element, a well-fitting shirt.
While a tucked shirt can conceal length or width issues, an untucked shirt reveals everything. Ensure your shirt is the right length, reaching just below your belt, and isn’t too tight or too loose, unless you’re aiming for an oversized style.
Unbutton the Top for a Relaxed Look
If you’re rushing from work or a meeting and need to relax your outfit without a full wardrobe change, don’t worry. You can easily make a suit more casual by unbuttoning the top buttons and swapping your shoes. Many men achieve a more laid-back look with a tailored suit by putting on stylish sneakers, ditching the tie, and opening the top two or three buttons of their shirt.
While this style isn’t as casual as pairing a dress shirt with jeans, it does tone down a suit’s formality. If you’re in a pinch and need to quickly make your attire casual, give this a try, all you need is an extra pair of sneakers in your car or bag.
Combine With Jeans and a Sport Coat
Begin with a stylish linen dress shirt, then match it with custom denim jeans and a tailored sport coat. Complete the outfit with your favorite quality sneakers, and voilà, you have a sharp look that will turn heads wherever you go.
To perfect this ensemble, leave a couple of buttons undone at the top and keep the dress shirt untucked. This is the preferred method for wearing a dress shirt casually when executed well. You’ll look remarkably fashionable and professional without being overdressed.
Dress Shirt With Rolled-Up Sleeves
To wear dress shirts casually, leave them untucked and roll the sleeves up to your elbows. This achieves a relaxed vibe without needing a sweater or coat, ideal for warmer days when you still want to sport a dress shirt.
For an even more casual feel, unbutton an extra button to create a “v-neck” appearance. Complement this style with bracelets or a watch on your exposed wrists to complete the look. Pair this outfit with nice khaki pants or custom chino trousers, opting for a dark shirt on top.
Endnote
When it comes to wearing dress shirts casually, just unbutton a few buttons, ditch the tie, and leave the shirt untucked. Or, you can create your casual dress shirt looks using the above inspiration.
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