As we reach the end of February, stores are rolling out their Spring 2013 clothing lines. Here is one shirt every man should own – sky blue gingham spread collar slim/extra-slim fit.
This shirt works on so many levels. The color is very versatile for the Spring. Pair it with a dark charcoal grey or navy suit during the cooler Spring days and for more formal settings. It can stand up to a strong bold tie (keep the tie solid or with a pattern – avoid a stripped tie unless you are certain you can pull it off). However, don’t be afraid of ties with texture or a stripped pattern, as opposed to traditional stripes. Always wear it with a brown belt and brown shoes. Works well with a white crisp pocket square.
When it gets warmer, wear it with a light grey suit or tan suit, lose the tie after hours, ditch the socks, and throw on some brown loafers and a whimsical pocket square for after hours, and avoid matching your cufflinks with your tie color. Cufflinks should match the belt buckle – aka they should be silver base, or something playful.
The spread collar can hold a Windsor or half, as well as a four-in-hand knot. Opt for a slim, not skinny tie, to match your tailored suit (which obviously does not have pleats or cuffs).
I’ve been a fan of Charles Tyrwhitt shirts for years. Their British-made shirts offer great quality along with slim/extra-slim styles. Even if you’re not H&M skinny, pending you aren’t sporting a large stomach, you should not have much extra fabric around the waist, so either option should work.
Where to buy in DC: Charles Tyrwhitt, 1000 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036. Online.
Ctshirts are hands down the best shirts to own, from the outstanding quality, to the fit (slim-fits are my favorite because they aren’t skinny/too trendy, they just get rid of the unnecessary extra material) and collars you just can’t go wrong; who said you needed to spend over $150 for overpriced dress shirts? Try these, you’ll thank yourself