You can't ignore the size when shopping for a new dress shirt. Dress shirts, of course, are often worn in formal outfits. If you're planning to wear a suit -- or any other formal outfit -- you should typically wear a dress shirt. Dress shirts, however, are available in many different sizes. Some of them are longer and wider than others. How do you know if a dress shirt fits exactly?
Why the Size Matters
Before revealing how to tell if a dress shirt fits, you might be wondering why the size matters. Choosing a dress shirt in the right size is important for many reasons. For starters, the size will affect how a dress shirt feels when worn. If a dress shirt is too small for your body, it may constrict your upper body while giving you little or no room in which to breathe. If it's too big, on the other hand, it may have excess and baggy fabric that irritates your skin. You can avoid problems by choosing a dress shirt in the right size.
The aesthetics of a dress shirt are directly influenced by its size. Properly sized dress shirts are more attractive than oversized and undersized dress shirts. They'll contour to the shape of your body while offering a more uniform and stylish appearance.
Another reason why choosing a dress shirt in the right size is important is because it protects against premature wear and tear. If your dress shirt is too big or too small, it will degrade more quickly. You may only be able to wear it for a few months, at which point it may show signs of visible damage. Your dress shirt will last longer, though, if it's the right size.
Perform the Collar Test
When shopping for a dress shirt, you can perform the collar test to determine whether or not it's the right size. The collar test involves placing a a single finger -- most men use their index finger when performing this test -- between your neck and the collar.
If the dress shirt is too small in the collar, you won't be able to fit your finger in this area. If it's too big in the collar, conversely, it will have enough space in this area to accommodate multiple fingers. You can perform the collar test to determine whether or not a dress shirt has a properly sized collar.
Many men prefer to wear a necktie with their dress shirt. If you're going to accessorize your dress shirt with a necktie, you'll need to ensure that it has enough space in the collar. Neckties are designed to wrap around the collar. After wrapping the necktie around your shirt's collar, you can fasten the uppermost button on the collar. Of course, there needs to be enough space in the collar to support a necktie. Otherwise, you won't be able to accessorize your dress shirt with a necktie.
Inspect the Sleeves
Of course, the collar test only reveals whether a dress shirt is the right size in the collar. Dress shirts have other parts that you'll need to inspect to determine if they are the right size, one of which is the sleeves. You don't want to choose a dress shirt with excessively long or short sleeves. Rather, you should choose a dress shirt with sleeves in an appropriate length.
You can inspect the sleeves of a dress shirt to determine if they are the right size. Ideally, the sleeves should extend all the way to your wrists. If they extend past your wrists -- meaning they overlap your hands -- they are too long. Alternatively, if they don't reach your wrists, the sleeves are too short. Always inspect the sleeves when shopping for a new dress shirt to ensure they extend to your wrists.
Inspect the Torso
You can't choose a dress shirt in the right size without inspecting the torso. The torso is the main part of a dress shirt. When wearing a dress shirt, you'll need to fasten the buttons on the front. If it's too small in the torso, however, you may not be able to fasten the buttons. Even if you're able to fasten the buttons, the dress shirt probably won't be very comfortable if the torso is too small.
To inspect the torso, go ahead and place the dress shirt on your body. Next, try to fasten all of the buttons on the front. Once fastened, raise your arms to ensure that they aren't restricted. Dress shirts with a small torso may prevent you from raising your arms.
Inspect the Shoulders
In addition to the torso, you should inspect the shoulders when shopping for a dress shirt. Just because a dress shirt fits in the collar, torso and sleeves, it may or may not fit in the shoulders. How do you know if the shoulders are the right size?
When inspecting the shoulders, look for the seam. The shoulder seam should be positioned where the shoulders of the dress should slope down to your arms. If the seam is higher or lower, you should choose a dress shirt in a different shoulder size.
Go With Custom Sizing
With so many different things to consider when choosing a dress shirt, finding the perfect size isn't always easy. You'll have to check the collar, sleeves, torso and shoulders. The good news is that there's an easier way to find a dress shirt in the perfect size. Instead of buying a dress shirt in a fixed size, you can buy a custom-sized dress shirt.
Custom-sized dress shirts are defined by their customized construction. They are available in many of the same fabrics, colors and styles as other dress shirts. The only difference is that custom-sized dress shirts are customized using your body measurements.
With a custom-sized dress shirt, you'll get the perfect size. All custom-sized dress shirts are designed using your body measurements. When ordering them, you can upload your body measurements. These measurements will then be used to design your dress shirt in the perfect size for your body.
