Please read the Wikipedia article on shirts here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirt. (I intend not to repeat something which is already available somewhere else.)
However, you should know that a dress shirt without a breast pocket is more formal than a shirt with a breast pocket. However, I always like a breast pocket in my shirt. Therefore, all my tailored shirts have breast pocket. Only some of my readymade branded shirts don’t have a breast pocket.
The main element of the dress shirt will be:
- The material / texture
- Color
- Single color or pattern
- Collar
- Cuff
- Buttons
- Length
- Pleats
- Yoke
1. Material
There are various materials available for shirts. Most good dress shirts are made of natural fiber or a mixture of natural and man-made fibers. Natural fibers are cotton, linen, silk, wool, etc. There are various types of man-made fiber these days.
2. Color
Shirts are available in all sorts of colors. However, for formal wear white, various shades of blue, and other pastel colors are preferable. My favorite shirt colors are blue and pink. However, what color of shirt you wear also depends on the suit you are wearing (if you are wearing a suit).
3. Plain or patterned
Shirts can be plain or patterned. Patterns are a bit difficult to get it right and therefore needs a bit of skill to use it.
4. Collar
Check this Wikipedia article about collar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collar_(clothing).
The picture below shows some popular types of shirt collars.
- Shirt Collars
5. The shirt collar
If you wear a suit, only two things of your shirt will be visible under the suit: the collar and the sleeve. Therefore, the collar is the most important element of a shirt. There are different collar styles and the style suitable for you depends on the shape of your face. For example, if you have a round face, a long thin collar is more suitable for you because it helps to elongate your round face. Similarly, if you have an elongated face, a spread collar is more suitable as it will not elongate your face.
Remember that the purpose of the shirt collar and a tie is to frame your face and make it more presentable.
The following information is from this web page: http://jang.searchwarp.com/swa347489.htm
Most men wear a standard traditional point or button down collar dress shirt, either out of habit or because stores do not offer other choices. The problem is that these collars may not flatter the shape of your face. Here is a simple guide to help you decide which collar style looks best on you
a. Round Face
You have full cheeks with a rounded jaw line. Narrow point collars help to thin and elongate a round face. The best collar styles for you have straight points with a traditional or narrow spread. Stick to a traditional point for versatility, button down and hidden button down for a sportier look, narrow point for a fashion look and tab collar for a formal, dressy look.
Best Collars: Standard Point, Button Down, Narrow Point, Hidden Button Down, and Tab Collar
Avoid spread collars; they make your face appear wider and fuller.
Worst Collars: Medium Spread, Wide Spread, and Varsity Spread
b. Square Face
You have a square jaw line, which gives your face a broad, square, angular appearance. Square faces look best wearing traditional point collar shirts for versatility, narrow point collars for a fashion look, button down and hidden button down for a sporty look and tab collar shirts for a formal look.
Best Collars: Standard Point, Button Down, Narrow Point, Hidden Button Down, and Tab Collar
Avoid spread collars; they make your face appear wider and fuller.
Worst Collars: Medium Spread, Wide Spread, and Varsity Spread
c. Triangular or Diamond Face
You have pronounced cheekbones and a narrow, pointed chin, which gives your face a “diamond shape.” To make your jaw line appear wider, choose shirts with a medium spread to wide spread collar.
Best Collars: Medium Spread, Wide Spread, and Varsity Spread
Avoid narrow spread collars, including button down collars; they make your jaw line appear weak.
Worst Collars: Button Down, Narrow Point, Hidden Button Down, and Tab Collar
d. Oblong or Rectangular Face
Oblong faces tend to appear long with a u-shaped jaw line. You need collars with a wider spread to give your face the appearance of fullness. Choose medium spread collars for everyday and wide spread collars for a formal look.
Best Collars: Medium Spread, Wide Spread, and Varsity Spread
Avoid narrow spread collars, including button down, hidden button down and tab collars; they make your face appear long and narrow.
Worst Collars: Button Down, Narrow Point, Hidden Button Down, and Tab Collar
e. Oval Face
You are fortunate because you can wear any collar style. Enjoy wearing traditional collars for an everyday look, button down collar shirts for a sportier casual look, tab collars for a neat, dapper appearance, or wide spread collars for a formal look.
Best Collars: Standard Point, Button Down, Narrow Point, Hidden Button Down, Tab Collar, Medium Spread, Wide Spread, and Varsity Spread
- Cuff
For dress shirts, two choices are available. Buttoned cuff or French cuff (also known as double cuff). The image below shows some popular types of shirt cuffs:
- Buttons
The button of choice for most high-end shirts is buttons made of mother of pearls (MOP). Unfortunately, I have not been able to buy any good quality MOP shirt buttons in Dhaka. However, they may be purchased on-line if you have an international debit or credit card.
- Shirt Length
A dress-shirt must be long enough so that it can be tugged securely under the trousers. Too short a length will result in the shirt being unraveled. If the wearer’s preference is to wear trousers is just above the hip, then the shirt should be lengthened even more to compensate for the difference.
- Pleats
Pleats are folds at the back of the shirt. To pleat or not is a personal choice. If you decide to pleat, then you have three choices: normal pleat; reverse pleat; or box pleat. For tailor made fitted shirts, I do not like pleats. Most readymade shirts seem to have pleats.
- Yoke
The yoke of a shirt is what sits on the shoulders, just below the shirt’s collar. The yoke is a very important part of the shirt because the fit of the shirt will depend on how comfortably the yoke sits on your shoulders. Many good quality shirts will have a split yoke. I would not only insist on split yokes for all my tailor made shirts, but also the two yokes must be measured individually from the vertebrate to the ends of left and right shoulders. If will be surprised to know that length of you two arms are not identical!
