Secrets of the Well Dressed Man

A few words about Custom Shirts

Combining stripes, patterns and plaids

Custom tailors know that some men are hesitant to combine solids, stripes, patterns and plaids. The general rule is one of scale, meaning that you can place a patterned tie on a patterned shirt, as long as the patterns are of contrasting sizes and designs. In a similar way, striped ties look great with striped suits or striped shirts. Again, it's a matter of the size of the stripes. A fine stripe in a shirt will be an excellent backdrop for a bolder striped tie, and vice versa.

In general, fine stripes and patterns are more formal than wider ones.

Wearing dark dress shirts.

There was a time when dark colors were simply not found among custom made shirts. In fact, they had no place in the business world-except perhaps in a closet where they never saw the light of day. These days, dark custom shirts can add spice to a wardrobe. A deep brown or purple shirt shows that you are flexible, imaginative and willing to take the initiative. Use care when combining with mens' suits, however. Softer colors are still the preferred direction.

Is custom tailoring for me?

You will never know just how great you can look until you try custom shirts and mens' suits. You will bid goodbye to those areas that off the rack cannot begin to address. Your custom dress shirts and suits will fit you wonderfully, without the extra space in the back, sides, shoulders and seat. Once you have had the pleasure of wearing custom made shirts, chances are you may find yourself ordering an entire custom tailored wardrobe. Is this extravagant? Only the poorly dressed would say yes. Will it help you feel more confident, comfortable and at ease? We would bet our shirt on it.

Is there any substitute for 100% cotton custom shirts?

Yes and no. Yes, there are many substitutes including stretchable synthetics and 60 - 40 cotton/poly blends. And no, you may not look nearly as good. The 100% cotton custom made shirt is a fabric that has endured for centuries and is not likely to be replaced. Fabrics range from poplins to twills to exclusive imported European cottons. Your custom tailor can show you the textures and help you decide.

What about wearing short-sleeve dress shirts?

The short sleeve shirt is really not a dress shirt, in spite of what you may see in advertising. If you want to make a good impression and have a professional appearance, save the short sleeve shirts for the weekend-and don't try to sneak into the office with one tucked inside a suit. It's kind of like eating with your mouth open. You can probably get away from it if you're sitting around the house alone. But in the real world it will label you as a geek-- even if the label inside the shirt is an Italian designer.