Eight Essential Shirts Every Man Should Own (2024)

Despite there being a prescribed shirt for every dress code and situation, most men often end up wearing the same four shirts on repeat. We don’t blame them. The abundance of options can be overwhelming and make you want to stick to tried and tested favorites. Therefore, we’ve listed the eight essential shirts every man should own, and these should cover most dress codes.

1.Oxford button-down shirt

Oxford button-downs are the ultimate casual shirt. They are versatile and can easily be worked into your smart-casual and semi-formal wardrobes. That being said, they are ideally made for casual wear, thanks to the thick Oxford fabric. They look great worn untucked with jeans or chinos, and they can even be worn as outerwear(layered over a T-shirt) in a pinch.

2. Formal shirt

Formal shirts, worn to work, fall into the dress shirt category. They are made of cotton or poplin and are usually worn under a blazer or with suits. Therefore formal shirts come in white, light blue and pastel shades (plus a selection of prints like graph checks and micro prints) and a starched crispy look are often preferred. Owing to the fact that they are made for formal wear, they are worn tucked in, and the focus is on the collar and cuffs.

3. Chambray shirt

Chambray shirts are an indispensable addition to your casual and smart casual wardrobes. They are a great alternative for denim shirts and can be worn with jeans or chinos. You can even layer them under blazers.

4. Printed shirt

Printed shirts can easily break up the monotony of solid shirts. Add printed formal shirts in micro checks, graph checks, and small repeat prints. And take it up a notch with printed casual shirts in plaids, quirky conversation prints or bold floral prints. If you want to ditch the kurta pajama look for an Indian event, wear a printed shirt with Indian motifs instead, and you’ll fit right in.

5. Mao collar shirt

The Mao collar shirt can be worn for semi-formal occasions when you want to stand apart from the crowd. This shirt should be in your wardrobe, especially if you wear Nehru jackets and bandhgalas regularly since the Mao collar will ensure that there’s no bunching under the jacket neckline.

6. Check shirt

You can’t go wrong with a check shirt, be it a graph or micro-check dress shirt, or plaid or gingham check casual shirt. Choose one in your favorite colors and watch as you reach for it often.

7. Dress shirt

Don’t make the mistake of wearing your formal work shirts to a formal event. Instead, opt for a black shirt which can be worn with a trouser or suit, or go for a white shirt with a pin-tucked bib while donning a tuxedo.

8. Linen shirt

A seasonal staple, linen shirts are always popular in summer. Choose one in a neutral shade like white or ivory, or go for pastels, and you’ll be wearing them year after year. Wear them with linen trousers when you want to channel resort vacation vibes.

And there you have it – eight essential shirts that’ll see you through any event. If you often run into sizing and fit issues, go for custom made shirts on Tailorman. Don’t forget to check out the Foundation Shirt collection either – 49 classic options for all occasions!

Let us know if this article was helpful. Do comment below! Do you have any style queries? Feel free to Whatsapp Tailorman on +91 9551112222 for a personal styling session.

This post first appeared on the Tailorman blog at https://blog.tailorman.com/eight-essential-shirts-every-man-should-own/