Modern Dress Shirts for Men: What's Trending in 2019?
Keyword(s): dress shirts for men
As of 2019, there are 168.83 million men in America. That's an enormous number, which means that if you're one of these men, you're going to want to do all you can to stand out.
This means that you're going to need the best dress shirts for men for any work or formal occasion. Whether you're attending a job interview, going on a date, or want to look your best on a night out, it's important to pay attention to what you're wearing.
You're in luck because here, we're going to tell you the top trends for men's dress shirts in 2019 so you can look- and feel- like your best self.
Styles
In a sea of styles to choose from, it can be difficult to pick the best suit style to wear to any event. After all, there are so many factors to consider, from overwear to collar to suit cut.
It can all be overwhelming. That's why we're going to talk about a lot of these factors here. In the end, you're sure to understand how to style your clothes and learn what's best for you.
Blazer or No Blazer?
The first question to ask yourself when choosing a shirt is whether or not you're going to be wearing a blazer with it. There are two ways you can go about this. You can choose the shirt first and decide that you want to wear a blazer because it could go well with that shirt, or you could go in knowing you want to wear a blazer and then choose a shirt to match.
If you do wind up wearing a blazer, you, of course, are going to have to pick a blazer then. Think about the shirt that you're planning to wear or about the look that you want to have.
Choose a black or dark blue blazer to look as sophisticated as you can, and look into a lot of possible blazer fits. Chances are you'll find something that makes your wardrobe look even classier and spruce up whatever else you happen to wear.
Low Cut Collars
A huge trend in men's fashion right now is the low-cut collar. They look great no matter whether you wear them with a blazer or not. If you do choose to go with outerwear, low-cut collared shirts are an excellent choice to put underneath since they won't go up so high that you look like you're living in the 1800s- in other words, too formal.
Low collars also look great without a blazer for a couple of reasons. First, they look formal without looking ridiculous on any occasion- you won't end up looking overdressed at an event that you thought was more formal than it actually was. These low collars also show off your collarbone and chest which make them ideal for dates.
Slim Fit Formal Wear
Recently, slim cut formal wear has become a huge trend in men's clothing. Despite the fact that they're a little tight and not the most comfortable fit, these snug styles are making a comeback because they look fantastic. These shirts are tight-fitting and show off your form without being too tight and the waist tapers in a way that will make you look like a gentleman.
Keep in mind, though, that despite their popularity slim-cut styles are mainly intended for... well, slimmer men. If you're not really skinny, you might want to stick with a more classic fit for a more flattering look.
To Button or Not to Button?
To paraphrase Hamlet, ask yourself the age-old question: to button or not to button? We are in no way saying that you should leave your shirt unbuttoned to show off your chest hair at a business meeting (in fact, we are staunchly against you doing that. Do NOT do that).
What we are saying is that there are a different number of buttons for every situation. Blazers look great in every context with two or three buttons done up. You don't want to go any further than that.
But for shirts, the question is how far up you want to button. That depends on context. If you're going to a business gathering, you probably want to leave one button at the collar open, max. If you're out with friends or on a date, though, you can leave two or three buttons undone for either comfort or sexiness.
Cracking the Cuffs
Ah, cufflinks! A tried and true men's formal accessory that has persisted throughout centuries. It's important to make sure that you're getting the right cufflinks for the outfit you're wearing and the occasion you're wearing them for.
Small gold, silver, or bronze cufflinks are always a safe bet at weddings or other extremely formal events. If you're dressing up for something a bit more casual, though, like an average workday or a night out, there are a ton of funky and individualistic cufflinks you can check out!
Colors
What colors a person wears shows a lot about their personality. In fact, psychologists say that people can tell what you're like based on the colors you choose to wear on a daily basis. So, no pressure or anything, but choosing the colors you wear to a formal occasion is, quite literally, how people will assess everything about you.
Embody Professionalism
If you're at a work meeting, conference, or in any professional setting, you're going to want to wear colors that embody professionalism. If you wear a professional color, people are going to view you as a professional and intelligent person. This will make them take you a lot more seriously than they would otherwise.
The best colors to give yourself an air of authority are black and dark blue as well as, on some occasions, white. Use common sense and make sure that you don't look too much like you're either going to a luau or to your senior prom, and you'll be fine.
A good rule of thumb: if Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother would wear it, your suit is both professional and legendary.
Fun and Funky
In more personal settings, though, you aren't going to want to wear black or navy blue. If you go on a date looking like a business professional, for example, the gal or guy you're trying to woo is going to think you're uptight, if not downright unfriendly and arrogant.
In these situations, you might want to break out a yellow, red, aqua, or even pink collared shirt, with a fun pattern to show that you have an exciting side. Remember: your clothes need to match the side of yourself you want to show off!
Patterns
Solid color shirts are great, and you should definitely have some in your wardrobe. Still, variety is important, as is the ability to make yourself look fun and interesting on personal occasions.
Patterns are a great way to do this. They give you a lot of ways to express who you are through clothing and there are a lot of different options. Read on to learn some of the hottest ones!
Checks? Check!
If the English say something is fashionable, then you know it is. And the English are saying that right now, checked shirts are what's en vogue.
There are a lot of different options when it comes to checked shirts. They come with checks in all different sizes, and you can choose what you like. Consider what size checks are going to go best with your stature- if you're smaller or shorter, big checks can bring that out, so you might want to wear small checks.
Checks also allow you to incorporate multiple colors into your dress scheme. Most of the time the best-looking plaid features multiple shades of the same color, but there are also a lot of distinct colors that match well together. For example, try a shirt checked in yellow and red or in blue and green.
Hawaiian
Hawaiian shirts have been popular for decades. They're often worn in casual situations, like when you and your friends are kicking it at a bar after-hours. But they can also be worn on formal occasions.
If you're headed out to work, you can wear a Hawaiian shirt with a jacket over it. Since most Hawaiian shirts have collars, this will match well. If you're headed on a date, unbutton it a little and show off a bit of your chest. Your future self will thank you!
Mosaics
One of our personal favorite formal shirt patterns is mosaic. Mosaic patterns are a fresh type of shirt that a lot of men don't even think of wearing, but if you're looking for something stylish and individualistic, this might be the pattern for you.
Look into different colors and styles of mosaic shirts. There are so many options that you could fill an entire wardrobe if you wanted to!
Fabrics
Of course, the pattern of the shirt doesn't matter at all if the fabric is low-end. You can have a patterned shirt and still look cheap if you don't invest in a fabric that exudes class. Here are some of the best fabric trends to look out for.
Italian Fabrics
When you're wearing a suit, it's, of course, important to make sure you're getting the finest fabrics that your hard-earned dough can buy. One of the most classy and high-class fabrics that can keep you looking good is fine Italian fabric.
Italian fabrics not only look great, but they also are very comfortable. They fit snugly around your body to make sure that your finest features are in focus. If you want to turn heads, this is definitely the fabric to wear at your next formal occasion.
Flannel
Flannel is one of those fabrics that can pass as either formal or business casual depending on the way you wear it. Put a suit jacket over it and you can wear it to a formal gathering, or roll up the sleeves and head to the putting green. This fabric is so versatile that you're sure to get your money's worth.
Kept Up
No matter what fabric you go with, the most important fashion trend for men and women alike has been, since the beginning of time, to make sure you're taking care of yourself. You can have the most in-season dress shirts for men made of the finest fabrics and still look like a slob if you don't take care of them.
It's important to know how to take care of your clothes. They can be tough to keep in top shape, but you've come all this way to look great. So get out your ironing board and learn how to hang and store your clothes properly- it's crucial!
Buy the Best Dress Shirts for Men
Trying to stand out using fashion can be difficult as a man. You might think that you don't get as many opportunities to express yourself through clothing as women do, but this isn't the case. Look into the most fashionable styles, patterns, colors, and fabrics this season and you're sure to look fabulous.
Now that you know how to pick the best dress shirts for men, you might want to check out this article. It will teach you how to pair blazers with shirts, and shirts with pants to make sure you use your new outfits as well as possible.
Finally, in the immortal words of How I Met Your Mother's Barney Stinson: SUIT UP!