Dress Shirts for Casual Occasions
Staying casual without descending into lazy is a fine art. The effect is supposed to be effortless but it rarely works out that way.
Every element of a dress shirt says something about who’s wearing it and what message he’s trying to send—it’s helpful to know how style choices shape that message. Casual means different things to different people. It could be one notch above a T-shirt or one notch below a shirt you’d wear to a high-powered business meeting.
So how do you capture that easygoing appearance while still showing you know what you’re doing? For the most part it comes down to what’s on your shirt, but how you wear it plays a role too.
You can instantly shed your professional persona by swapping jeans or chinos for dress pants. The question of tucking in your shirt or leaving it out is more complicated, and the answer depends on whom you ask. Most fashion insiders will tell you to tuck, without exception. However, if you do choose un-tucked, be sure the bottom of the shirt doesn’t go below mid-crotch or mid-butt. A widely accepted guideline is the edge of the cuffs—if the lowest point of your dress shirt aligns with the bottom of your cuffs when standing straight, you’re in good shape. When it comes to shirt length, it’s amazing what a single inch can do to the entire look. Always exercise caution when untucking.
Cuffs, fabric, collars, front and pockets can all impact the attitude of a shirt to different degrees. Button-down collars, for example, are considered the most casual, while semi-spread is a pretty versatile option that can also carry you through the workday. When choosing fabric, remember that sheen and high thread counts are generally associated with luxury. Broadcloth, oxford, flannel and chambray are good choices when the mood is light, though season should also factor into your decision.
Casual settings offer the perfect opportunity to sport more daring prints and patterns. Again, season can play a part, but you are going for casual, so who cares. Always wanted to try paisley? How about bright colours or bold contrasts? Everything is fair game if you can pull it off with the obligatory air of cool detachment. In other words, make it look effortless.
Looking for a more personal touch? Our style advisors can meet you at your office to display fabric samples, take body measurements and guide you through the customization process. Or you can visit us for the same great experience.
The beauty of custom is the ability to impose your personal style on any aspect of design. Using our intuitive design interface, which features 3D-rendered shirts and changes shown in real-time, you can choose to customize every last detail or simply the ones that matter to you.
Without the assurance of a perfect fit, there’s no trust. We guarantee your shirt to fit the way you intended. If it doesn't, we’ll fix it, then we’ll save your updated measurements in our system for seamless future orders.
