BUILD YOUR DRESS SHIRT COLLECTION

Begin with about 6-8 dress shirts. Solid white, light blue or basic white and blue stripes are appropriate in almost any work environment. Traditional straight (point), spread or button-down collars are always appropriate.

Dress shirts do not last as long as business suits, so you can be less concerned about fashion obsolescence. Choose patterns and colors in which you feel comfortable.

Although selecting a dress shirt can be a relatively simple task, there are still a number of options to consider when making your choice.

Fit

Dress shirts are made in three basic fits. Regular fit is cut generously for maximum comfort. Big & Tall shirts are tailored with 1 ¾" of additional length. Trim Fit are tapered in the chest and waist to accommodate a slimmer build. Razor carries regular and trim (slim/athletic) fit shirts.

Most dress shirts are sized using a collar and sleeve measurement. For example, size "16/34" indicates a 16-inch collar and a 34-inch sleeve length. To determine your proper collar size, measure around your neck, keeping two fingers between the measuring tape and your neck. To measure sleeve length, measure the distance from where your spine meets the base of your neck to your shoulder seam. Then, with your elbow slightly bent, measure from shoulder seam to wrist. The sum of these two numbers is your sleeve length.

Brandolini and Barberini shirts come in one sleeve length. The sleeves are a little longer than "normal" for the neck size. Should you find the length a little long a tailor can adjust the length. This is a cost saving method that is of great importance to the American consumer. The dollar - euro exchange makes European shirts far more expensive today than a few years ago.

For your convenience Razor has an arrangement with a local tailor. Leave the shirt at Razor and pick up the shirt in a couple of days when the tailor has finished his work.

The two most commonly asked questions are:

How Much Shirt Sleeve Should We See Under the Coat?

Shirt sleeves should extend one quarter to one half inch beyond the jacket's sleeves.

What is a Properly Fitted Collar?

A formal shirt collar should wrap smoothly around the neck. If you can slip more than one finger between the collar and your neck, your shirt is too big. If no fingers fit, your shirt is too small.

See more on Collars, Cuffs and Fabrics