When constructing your business wardrobe less is definitely more. In today's post, we are going to discuss our favourite dress shirts styles, and why we recommend them to any and all discerning gentlemen.
You'll see we have carefully crafted a list of our top 10 best dress shirts and patterns that we believe are must-have style staples. Most of the shirt styles below are crafted from 100% Cotton and made in the heart of England. For business attire in particular, it's always best to consider the amount of physical activity that goes into a day in the office - you may move around more than you realise.
Unlike most synthetic fabrics, cotton allows the skin to breathe, which is essential when it comes to regulating temperature. Although more expensive than cotton blended shirts, pure cotton will stand the test of time and prove it's worth as an investment.
Let's get started...
1. BUSINESS WHITE
Eton Signature Twill Shirt is available here
The classic white shirt is on the top of our list. In our opinion, the best white dress shirts for business need to be silky smooth in lustre, to ensure you feel fantastic while wearing it.
The white shirt is one of the most versatile, as it can be worn with any tailoring and looks fantastic whatever the occasion. The shirt above is complemented by a contrast fabric within the cuffs and collar, and pearlescent buttons.
If ever there was a shirt to own multiples of, it's the business white.
2. COLOUR STAPLE SHIRTS
Pink Twill Swiss Cotton Shirt is available here
A coloured shirt will modernise any formal attire while remaining sophisticated. The most daring colour to choose is, of course, pink. Admittedly, such a bold colour is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, however here's hoping that we may be able to convince you nevertheless.
Ever so versatile, a classic pink shirt will look fantastic when paired with any tailoring. For a contemporary feel, pair your pink shirt with blue, beige or brown tailoring. However, if you feel that your complexion doesn’t work well with pink or you simply dislike the colour, do not fear. Other colours such as green, purple or red can be just as complementing. Adding colour will enable you to rejuvenate your office attire, so give it a try.
3. MICRO PRINT PATTERNED SHIRTS
Blue Micro Print Poplin Slim Fit Long Sleeve Shirt is available here
To transition between business and leisure with ease, a micro print shirt is key. From a distance this shirt’s pattern will look solid, but up close the visual depth is impressively eye-catching. The shirt above offers a refined micro-print pattern, however if you prefer something even more subtle, you may like our own brand white floral micro-print shirts.
With endless micro-patterned shirt styles available, this is definitely a style that will suit anyone and bring a subtle but versatile finishing touch to any ensemble.
4. BENGAL STRIPE
Green & White Bengal Stripe Shirt is available here
A Bengal stripe is a striped shirt fabric, with an evenly sized alternating stripe pattern. However, other Bengal shirts will look fantastic with a contrasting tie for smart business wear.
Bengal striped shirts go best with solid colour suits. For a refined edge we suggest pairing this shirt with dark tailoring and a favoured pair of brogues.
5. GINGHAM PRINT & CHECKS
Beige and Blue Check Shirt is available here
Here at Robert Old we are proud to offer an array of some of the best checked dress shirts. As well as looking great in the office, a check pattern can be a versatile way to refine your casual wear.
Gingham is usually a checked pattern of white and coloured even shapes and can be seen in the fine oxford cotton shirt above.
The check options available are endless and other popular checked shirt styles include, but are not limited to:
Tattersal - Thin, regularly spaced check stripes in alternating colours. The tattersal pattern usually features two colours on a white background.
Windowpane - This style is easily recognised due to it resembling the panes on a window.
Graph Check - Featuring small check patterns that resemble graph paper and notably smaller than the window pane checks.
6. STRIPES
Pink & White Stripe Shirt is available here
Next, we have all other stripes. Where the Bengal stripe is notorious for giving off a 'wall street' vibe, it is important to note that other stripes can be just as effective, when compiling your wardrobe with the best dress shirt staples.
The shirt shown above is perfect for both casual and business attire and is a real head turner.
7. OXFORD WEAVE
Blue Button Down Shirt is available here
Oxford Fabric is created using rougher, more substantial yarns and is perfect for both casual and business wear. The oxford fabric commonly used in unison with button-down collars, such as the cobalt blue oxford shirt pictured above. This Swiss made cotton cloth shirt is a very light variation of the Oxford.
Simple yet effective, there are many variations of the oxford weave, which ensure they are up there with the best dress shirts.
8. HERRINGBONE WEAVE
Pink Herringbone Shirt is available here
Also known as 'broken twill', the herringbone weave describes a distinctive V shaped weave. Usually found in twill shirts, the herringbone weave is a popular choice for any gentleman searching for an understated, yet sophisticated dress shirt.
Both refined and stylish, the elegant texture and weave the herringbone is a sure choice for any connoisseur looking for the best dress shirts.
9. LINEN
Green Linen Shirt is available here
Although not made from cotton, a classic linen shirt is perfect for more casual occasions, especially in the warmer months. Normally linen will be more loosely woven and sheer than most cotton shirts.
Linen is sure to keep you cool and dry when the temperature rises, which in turn will keep you looking your best all day. This choice is a green linen from Italian designer Paul & Shark, which is perfectly suited to those days when a jacket would be too hot to bear.
10. SHORT SLEEVED
Blue & White Check Short Sleeve Shirt is available here
Last but certainly not least, no distinguished gentlemen's wardrobe would be complete without a short sleeved shirt. More for casual wear, however can also be used for business for professions such as doctors.
A short sleeved shirt will add a polished finish to smart-casual attire. View all short sleeved shirts here
STYLE IS GREAT BUT HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOU HAVE PICKED THE BEST DRESS SHIRTS?
Since we have listed our top 10 must have dress shirt styles, we thought it would be beneficial to go through a few of the finer points to look for when building your shirt collection. Below you will find a list of other aspects to consider when purchasing your shirts:
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING DRESS SHIRTS
- Stitching – the more stitches a seam has, the more durable it will be.
- Mother of Pearl Buttons – Traditional buttons are made of mother of pearl and are compulsory for a good shirt. This is due to mother of pearl being so hard that they could break the needle of a sewing machine.
- Gusset – A gusset is a triangular piece of material that is added for reinforcement in the corner between the breast and the back of the shirt.
- Sleeve Cloth – On a good shirt, the cloth of the sleeve is pleated several times where it meets the cuff.
FIT
We carry a vast collection of the best dress shirts in regards to quality. As well as Robert Old's brand of British made gentleman's shirts, which are cut in a classic/regular fit for ultimate comfort, there are also offerings from an array of top designers. These designers offer alternative fits, such as slim, which is designed to accentuate the body of its wearer.
It is important that you feel comfortable in the dress shirts you choose, and the fit will ultimately be a deciding factor for this.
CARING FOR YOUR SHIRTS
It should come as no surprise that a well cared for shirt will be a longer lasting shirt. The best dress shirts can be washed many times for around 5-6 years without any special treatment. Below however, are some tips on keeping your best dress shirts in a pristine condition.
- Always follow washing instructions found in the label.
- Do not overfill washing machine
- Ironing may be necessary depending on shirts fabric.
- Iron shirts when they are damp.
- Avoid ironing the cuffs and collar on a high setting.
- Always wash with similar colours.
- Turn your shirts inside out before washing.
We hope that you have enjoyed finding out about our beautiful shirts.
