It’s not a wardrobe without a premium business shirt, quality suit, boots and jeans
photo by gingerpig2000
When you want a cupboard full of clothes that can be used for a very long time, you got to know that it’s a long-term investment and one part of that investment means to keep the clothing budget reined in and still look your best. Of course, you’ll need to understand the basics… these that you must build from. You’ll need to rely on several stock items that may be used for any kind of situation. Here are four “must have” basic items you should have at your fingertips.
Dark grey suit – Every single man needs to have one suit in their closet; it’s an unspoken rule. The suit colour should be grey although a close second would be a navy suit. Grey suits work for the office, a job interview or emergency “need to look my best” occasions. If you only have enough money for one suit, be sure it’s a conservative, well-quality made suit.
Keep in mind that single breasted, two or three button suits look great on almost every body type. Don’t use pleats and go with flat front pants. Before you make a purchase on your suit, be sure you know your exact measurements, as you want everything to fit comfortably. After all, it’s something you’ll have for quite some time.
White business shirt – You should know by now how important a white business shirt is. It does, after all, match with just about anything and gives you that dressed “I am important” look, regardless of what you forgot to do with your hair or face. Your shirt should last for a long time so make sure you get a quality made shirt such as 100 percent Egyptian cotton, two ply with an 80 percent thread count finish. Don’t use buttoned collars as it could limit the versatility and impact you’re trying to make.
Dark jeans – A decade ago, dark jeans would have been a bit of a no-no. However, times have changed and now they are a must in men’s wardrobe. Dark jeans can be worn to the majority of workplaces, nice restaurants and clubs. Make sure you purchase comfortable, quality jeans that have no rips and don’t bag or sag. Don’t go with designer labels that say what they are on your buttocks.
Dark coloured boots – Whenever you need shoes, go for a pair of dark boots as they go with most suits. You’ll be using these shoes for any occasion such as work, clubs, dating, etc. Go for quality like fine leather and stitching from a well-respected shoe company. Women do take an interest to what kind of shoes you are wearing. Don’t go with square toed shoes; rather… choose shoes that are rounded.
Taking care of your business shirt
photo by PinkMoose
When you need a new premium business shirt, you would like to think that when you fork out your hard earned ash that it’s going to last a decent amount of time. After all, you don’t want to always be buying your shirts every month. Here are some pointers that can help you make those shirts last for quite some time.
What you need to always do
Washing – Whenever you need to clean your business shirts, you need to proceed with caution. Yes, cotton is durable; 30 percent more so when it’s soaked in water. Make sure that you wash the shirts in warm water but keep in mind that cold water can help the shirt retain its colour. Always bleaching your shirt can cause the fibres to weaken and should only be done for stains. One of the best ways to clean your business shirt is to dry clean it.
Storing – Your business shirts need to be stored properly but only once they are fully dry. You need to keep the shirt away from a lot of moisture, as mildew loves cellulose fibres… causing it to fade in colour and destroy the fabric over time. Various bugs can be attracted to your clothing but it’s rare that they’ll eat the fibres. Thus, do not use toxic insect deterrents like moth balls. Consider using lavender and cedar for the natural protection of your shirts.
Things to consider
Washing/drying at home – When you’re always dry cleaning or do heavy starching on your business shirts, the cotton fibres can become worn down. Be sure you gently wash and dry your shirts to keep them lasting longer.
Invest in an iron/steamer – When you want to make your shirts last, consider getting an iron and steamer, two tools that can help limit how often you need to go to the dry cleaners. Steamers are great to use when you need to reduce wrinkles fast; plus, they’re safer than irons. If you want a crisp, clean shirt finish then you’ll want to use an iron. Make sure it’s set at the right temperature, as not to burn it. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to pull the shirts from the dryer while they are still damp and iron them, as cotton fabrics tend to iron better when they are still slightly wet.
Things you should never do
You should never overestimate the cotton strength. While cotton is thermoplastic and you can iron shirts at high temperature settings, it can burn the shirt if it’s left in place too long. Excessive amounts of bleach can also destroy the fabric of business shirts.
How to match a tie with a business shirt
photo by Lew57
There are many rules that must be applied when you’re trying to coordinate your wardrobe. Without these rules, you could end up looking, how do we say ‘a little bit wrong’…and not at all respectable, professional or Sauvé; something you wouldn’t want at work or on a date.
White business shirts
If you’ve got a tie you desire to show off and make other people envious of you, then your white business shirt will be your “canvas”. White business shirts and ties of any colour go together likes powerade and a hangover! If you don’t think so, consider taking the above advice and see what kind of reaction you get. You may be surprised.
Shirts with solid colors
When you have shirts with solid colours like blue or pink, it’s going to take some thinking to come up with a tie that will work with the shirt. One of the things you can do is to match to a neutral coloured tie- think black and try a skinny tie cut. If you’re not the type of person who wants to match, then remember the word coordinate.
Coordinating your clothes isn’t all that hard; all you need to do is match two colours that actually compliment one another. Consider the following colour coordination:
- Pale blue shirt – black, navy, red, yellow or pink tie
- Pale pink shirt – black or navy blue tie
Shirts with stripes
Solid coloured shirts are classic however you can easily add a bit of colour and still keep an acceptable level of style and class, consider striped shirts. Here are some examples you can go by:
You’ll need to first look at the shirt but not close up. What colour sticks out the most? This primary colour is what you’ll use to find your tie. Make sure that you get the coordination in both the pattern and colour.
Shirts that are checkered
Be sure to reverse the rules of striped shirts and ties with checkered business shirts. You’ll need to look at the shirt and figure out what colour is pronounced; from that… you’ll need to get a tie that matches with the colour. Ensure the tie has diagonal stripes to make the shirt stand out.
How to coordinate your tie and suit
When you want to coordinate your tie and suit, you need to look at two things. First, you need coordinate a colour for the suit. Second, you need to consider the suit’s pattern.
The best accessory for your business shirt
photo by S. Diddy
When men go looking for dress accessories especially for French (double) cuffs, cufflinks are always a great option. After all, they’re classy, which can do wonders for men’s business shirts. With the French cuff design comes a pair of glittering cufflinks that are pinned the man’s wrist for an added touch.
Why go with French Cuff business shirts?
The majority of men are passing by on the old style of basic collar and tie business shirts and going with a more stylish and professional corporate image that includes cufflinks. When they do this, it shows that men do pay attention to style.
Australian men are following step with the Englishmen and making cuffed shirts and cufflinks a common attire, much like what people see with socks and underwear. French cuffs and cufflinks are an easy way to make an ordinary suit work its butt off. It also shows that you don’t need to try novelty socks or ties to get your suit noticed. Obviously, the French cuff shirt has a larger presence than the ordinary white shirt, so long as it’s worn right.
Now, when a man chooses to wear cufflinks on his business outfit, he’s given it an additional personal touch. When the cuffs are worn, they can make a business statement. What man doesn’t want to look good; dressing better can help in this regard.
No matter what your cuffed shirt is like (banker stripes, plain white, white collar and cuffs), the French cuff design permeates class and can dominate the man’s entire outfit, unlike any other men’s business shirt. This look is often associated with lawyers and stockbrokers; yet, you may be surprised to learn something… any man, whatever their profession, is embracing this style. What is your preference of choice when it comes to business shirts? Do you go with plain and simple along with elegant cuffs? Maybe you have no desire to stand out from the cuffs and cufflinks can do this to you. Go with cufflinks that are pure silver, as they go with any shirt and can compliment your attire.
Remember that the idea behind cufflinks is to compliment the attire you’re wearing; you certainly don’t want the cufflinks to make your clothing look odd. French cuffs already speak volumes about a man, as they are generally seen as a piece of jewelry and are classier than a tie. Just remember that there are a lot of fashion labels that have done well with the French cuff attire design.