Five Tips for Buying Dress Shirts

As a follow up to my Geek fashion post, I thought I would share what I learned recently about buying new dress shirts:

• Pay for Quality – A more expensive shirt will in the long run cost you less. If you properly maintain it, it will last longer than cheap shirts.
• Get your Measurements Done – When you look at shirts, you will typically see numbers like 16 1/2 32-33.
• The first number is your neck size. If you go too tight and need to button that top button – say if you’re wearing a tie – you’ll have a hard time breathing.
• The second number is your arm length. It’s taken from the apex of your shoulder down to your wrist.
• Dry Cleaning – Pay the $2 to have shirts dry cleaned. They will last longer and you’ll have the added benefit of having them pressed – no ironing!
• Choose your Location – Shirts at Macys cost $40 – $50 and are frequently on sale. Shirts at Banana Republic are $60 – $90. Macys caters to a larger audience of consumer. Their shirts are more plain and less radical. Banana Republic caters to a younger hip crowd. Their shirts are more lively. If you are uncomfortable deciding what is fashionable, start at Macys. Be a little conservative at first. The important thing is that you wear the shirts you buy. Once you feel like exploring, upgrade to a hipper store.
• Try the On – I know for me, having little experience in this area, I was very intimidated to take the shirt apart to try it on. Usually they are pinned together with 6 – 8 pins and you know there is no way you’ll ever be able to get it back together. Don’t worry about that! It’s fully expected that these shirts will be tried on. You won’t get any funny looks or scolded for taking the time to make sure it fits.

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