The shirt is a key part of any man’s inventory. You probably own at least two (one smart, one casual) and wear them on both a formal and casual basis. Whether heading down the pub in a casual check or an Oxford blue shirt under your blazer for work, this piece of clothing will always be a fail-safe staple. But what does this vital piece of your wardrobe say about you?

Alongside Tophat London, we’re going to take a look at what your shirt says about you and give you a few pointers as to whether your wearing your shirt in the right situation, and what your shirt could say about it. It’s something we should all think about!

You wouldn’t rock up to a corporate job interview in your Hawaiian holiday shirt would you? NO!

Here goes, here’s a generalisation of the basic shirt types, and what your choice could say about you…

The Casual Shirt

Perfect for throwing on over a t-shirt at the weekend or worn with jeans on a country walk, the casual check (sometimes known as the Lumberjack shirt) says someone who enjoys adding a bit of colour without going over the top. He wants to look good without too much hassle and wants to come across as laid back and friendly. Since the check shirt is so versatile, it allows him to show off his creativity effortlessly. Teamed with vintage wash or black jeans, a pair of plimsolls under a lightweight jacket or over a t-shirt with winter boots and regular fit blue jeans, he has made the check shirt an essential part of his wardrobe.

The Oxford Shirt

An everyday smart casual classic worn by a man who likes to look good effortlessly. Usually worn with chinos and loafers or a tie and blazer, the Oxford shirt can never be classified as scruffy. It’s dare we say it ‘refined’ – which pretty much sums up the person wearing it. The style may be formal but the choice of a thicker fabric, softer collar and less fitted style give the Oxford shirt a more relaxed feel. Even so, when worn with rolled-up sleeves and untucked, he cuts a fine figure in an Oxford shirt.

The Formal Shirt

Elegant and sharp, the formal shirt has been adopted by those who want to look professional whatever the occasion. A classic white formal shirt is a blank canvas to many a work wardrobe. Whether teamed with a tie and cufflinks or worn under a suit, he takes pride in his appearance and wants to be ready for the boardroom. The wearer could either work in an industry that requires formality or simply enjoys the art of dressing smart. And with a choice of many collars and cuffs (see the anatomy of a shirt) and ways to wear the formal shirt who can blame him?

The Button-Down Collar Shirt

Initially introduced by polo players in the late 19th century to keep the collars out of their face during competition, the button-down collar shirt is a mix between sporty and formal. It’s a less dressy shirt collar and is usually worn with a blazer or sports jacket. Whether worn out on the town with black jeans and a black bomber jacket or under a crew neck jumper, the button-down collar indicates someone who likes to look smart but not too formal.

The Short Sleeve Shirt

Short sleeve shirts may have had a bad rap in the past but now they back as an essential staple in every man’s wardrobe. They can look impeccably smart when teamed with dark denim or more casual thrown over a plain t-shirt. You may not even know that someone is wearing a short sleeve shirt if it’s teamed with a blazer. The short sleeve shirt wearer is not afraid to try new things and he’s pragmatic in his approach to style, mixing up his smart and casual wardrobe when the temperature rises.

What does your white shirt suggest?

So we’ve discussed the pinnacle styles, but what does colour say? As we’re working alongside tophatlondon.com and they have some cracking white shirts, with immaculate detailing, we thought we’d consider what  a white shirt may say about you…

For the most part, dressing appropriately is not encouraged, but compulsory. Wearing the appropriate clothes means wearing the right shirt colour, too. And by putting on the right style and shade you’re showing not only your respect for the occasion but also your mood and feelings, as well. So, accepting this to be true, what effect will a white shirt have on the mind of the wearer and the people around them?

White, just like black, is not a colour in the technical sense but rather a neutral medium. Much like the forces of good and evil, white and its natural opponent, black, have been at odds since the dawn of fashion history. While for most guys their first dress shirt is white, black currently enjoys a greater popularity according to survey results (chalk it up to the pessimistic ethos of our time, perhaps).

But, as most of us know, white is traditionally worn by good men as a badge of virtue and innocence. So, wearing one during that first meet-the-parents moment would be a good idea and surely create a wholesome impressions from your future in-laws. No matter how wicked you feel/are deep down, wearing a white dress shirt will definitely exude an aura of goodness in you.

White is one of the few colours that can be worn at any occasion, as long as you maintain its brightness and whiteness at a consistent level since this shade also shows everything in terms of stain, spots and dirt, so it’s quite difficult to wear without developing a sense of paranoia about dirty hands and dripping sandwiches. Yet, if you can keep yourself clean, white is the perfect colour for any man shooting for spotless look.

So if you’re looking for a stunning shirt that you can style in several occasions, you definitely need to pop along over to Tophat London. Take a look at their ranges of shirts here. We guarantee you’ll be buttoned up, ship shape and sharp in no time.

Remember: Think about your shirt and why your wearing it, is it right for the occasion?