Casual dress shirts

Many men choose informal or casual shirts for their everyday outfits. However, it is often difficult to distinguish a dress shirt from a casual one and, therefore, difficult to create a coherent casual look. That is why we show you how to tell the different types of shirts apart and explain where and how to wear them.

WHAT MAKES A DRESS SHIRT DIFFERENT FROM A CASUAL ONE?

The main difference between a dress shirt and a casual or sport shirt lies in the collar.

What does this mean?

If the collar of the shirt is wide, open and spread to the sides, it is a formal or dress shirt. Most of the time, this means you will be able to wear it with a tie, which is why it has no buttons. If, on the contrary, the collar is more closed and has buttons, you can wear it slightly more unbuttoned and therefore it will give you the option of creating a more informal look.

The second difference is also obvious at first glance: the pattern. In general, more formal or dress shirts feature more understated patterns and colours such as white, light blue or subtle designs such as fine vertical stripes. Casual shirts, on the other hand, usually feature larger patterns and more pigmented colours, which make the outfit less formal.

You can also look at the type of fabric the shirt is made from: generally, the more formal shirts are made of cotton or linen. Other features that may help you tell the different shirt styles apart are the cuffs: if they are fitted or allow cufflinks to be worn, then they are formal shirts.

IN WHAT SITUATIONS SHOULD YOU WEAR IT?

Many men wonder in which situations it is more advisable to wear a formal shirt or a sport shirt. There are style rules to determine when you should wear each type of shirt , but it is best that you decide based on the type of event you are going to attend, or the etiquette required of you at all times.

• Does your company require a formal dress code? Use shirts in neutral tones and wide collars, which you can combine with a jacket and tie, if necessary. A classic example is this white herringbone double cuff dress shirt.
• Are you going to a casual dinner? Use shirts with prints, which will give you a relaxed and jovial look, like the Silbon wide light blue stripe sport shirt.

SHIRT TUCKED IN OR LEFT OUT?

This seems to be the million-dollar question, but it is simpler than it looks. The more formal shirts are worn tucked into the trousers. That is why it is easier to distinguish them from an informal or sport shirt. Although the latter are shorter, on some occasions you can also wear them tucked in to tone down their youthful feel and achieve a more serious appearance without losing comfort.

HOW TO STYLE A CASUAL SHIRT

Styling a casual shirt may seem complicated, mainly because of the patterns. However, you have multiple options depending on your personal style and the occasion.

You can pair them, for example, with jeans or with sport trousers and loafers.