A man’s shirt can be worn with style in 4 main combinations. With a sport jacket, for business casual. With a waistcoat, for smart casual. With simple trousers, in warm weather. And adapted to the formality of the setting, from the office to a party. Natural fabric, the right cut and a few simple colour rules make the difference between a shirt that completes an outfit and one that spoils it.
1. Shirt and sport jacket: how is business casual achieved?
The sport jacket and shirt are the basic combination of business casual. It belongs in the wardrobe of the businessman, the corporate employee and any well-groomed man. It is ideal for men who want to look elegant but would rather not wear a suit. The most versatile sport jackets come in grey, brown, maroon and navy. They also leave room to play with accessories: ties, pocket squares and lapel pins. Colour, however, deserves attention. Mixed on a painter’s palette, the colours of the shirt and the tie should produce the colour of the jacket.
2. Shirt and waistcoat: how does a man look elegant without a jacket?
The waistcoat and shirt are the urban rebel’s combination, for the man who aims to shine even without a jacket. Every gentleman’s wardrobe should hold at least one custom-made waistcoat. Versatile colours for shirts are grey, brown, maroon, navy and even green check. The shirt and waistcoat stand far ahead in smart casual. They pair with jeans or tailored trousers, but a belt is best avoided. The buckle shows beneath the waistcoat, and not flatteringly. And unless one happens to be a waiter, a white shirt with a black waistcoat is best left alone. A tip: the smartest waistcoats have lapels and a breast pocket, just right for a pocket square. Colour matters here too. Dark shirts do not take ties and pocket squares in lighter colours.
3. Shirt and trousers: what works in warm weather?
This is the ideal combination in warm weather. A white, pale blue or pale pink shirt exudes style and masculinity without ostentation. It is usually worn untucked, with chinos or slightly worn jeans. On the feet, cognac loafers or white sneakers are safe choices. In the colder months, the shirt simply goes tucked in, an overcoat goes on top, and the outfit is ready.
4. At the office or at a party: how should a shirt be adapted?
Depending on the level of formality at work, the shirt fits into every type of dress code. One thing to remember: worn without a tie, a shirt is left open by one button during the day and by two in the evening. A shirt’s style comes from its collar. Mandarin-collar shirts are worn well open at the neck and, more often than not, untucked. Shirts that come down over the hips can also be worn untucked, but only in relaxed settings.
5. Which shirts should leave the wardrobe immediately?
Shiny ones in loud colours. Pieces with oversized logos. Anything made of synthetic fabric. Shirts that are too sheer. Short-sleeved shirts or shirts with a breast pocket (acceptable only on the beach).
The verdict? The shirt remains the most versatile piece in a man’s wardrobe, because it adapts to any context: from the office to an event, from casual to business. The secret lies not in quantity but in tactical choices: the right cut, natural fabric and the correct combinations. For a shirt cut to measure, the ZAVATE made-to-measure shirt service makes the difference felt from the first wear.
