Must-Have Formal Shirts in Every Man's Wardrobe

Every man needs a few different types of shirts in his wardrobe. But while buying shirts,it's common to find men getting more of the shirts they need less and few of the shirtsthat are more essential. In such a scenario, it might become difficult to arrange an outfitfor a special occasion. The following guide is aimed at helping you pick out the essentialmen's formal shirts and always have them stocked in your wardrobe.

The White Shirt

Few clothing items have stood the test of time like the white dress shirt. Known for itsversatility, the white dress shirt can be worn with practically any colour imaginable andlooks great with everything from your suit trousers to the latest pair of chinos. Whilebuying a white formal shirt, make sure the colour leans towards blue and not yellow.

The Grey Shirt

Slightly less formal than the white shirt, the grey shirt can be used both for dressing upand dressing down and is essential for wearing underneath sports coat and blazers andeven works well with a navy suit. A grey is a must among formal shirts for men fortransitioning from the office to a pub.

The White Pinstripe

The stripes on this are very thin, of a single colour, and evenly spaced. These shirtslook clean and sharp, and can be smartly accessorised with thicker stripe ties. Since thebase is white, you're able to wear it with a lot of stuff.

The Bold Checked Shirt

Checks are timeless and help you break the monotony of white and blue. Whilegingham men check shirts come in a range of different colours, the choice is really up toyou. Though black and white is the most popular for contrast among men's formal shirtdesigns, the purples, greens, and reds do equally well.

The Micro Pattern

If you're going for visual depth in your shirts, then a micro pattern must have a place inyour wardrobe. These usually have two or three colours patterned together in tiny,intricate geometric shapes; such shirts look like a solid colour from a distance but areactually not. You can choose either neutrals or more colourful options depending uponyour taste.

The Solid Colour Shirt

Aside from the whites, and blues, and greys, every wardrobe must have at least oneplain shirt in a solid colour that you could reserve for the days when you want to take abreak from the same old shirts. The choice of colour can range from light hues like paleblue, pink, or soft yellow to brighter ones like purple, red, or green. For those who can'tpull off pink, lavender works as a great alternative.

Special Mention: The Chambray Shirt

While not very formal, the chambray makes it to this list because of its versatility. With achambray shirt, you can hit the middle ground by dressing up yet not looking toodressed up. It also makes for a cool semi-formal look when worn with chinos, tie, andblazer or a cardigan.

There are myriads of formal shirt styles that can make your wardrobe stand out. Playwith collar styles, colours, and patterns to assemble a Pinterestable shirt collection.