Gentlemen, the moment of reckoning approaches. The day your soon-to-be-missus has been long dreaming of and the day you have been thinking of since she brought it up. Truth be told, most men look forward to their wedding day. Let’s face it; all we have to do is show up. Our future brides have a certain idea of what they want, and we’re more than happy to let them grab the reins.

There is one aspect of the wedding day that lies upon our shoulders – the outfit. Needless to say, this special occasion warrants looking your best. While there are endless variations and combinations of suits, tuxedos even the occasional kilt; the common denominator with every groom’s ensemble is the shirt. With our indifference towards colors and palettes, this can be a feat for many. Bear the following in mind when picking out the perfect wedding shirt.

Collar and cuff styles are definitely dealer’s choice. Nothing screams class and elegance like a crisp, white shirt – be it buttoned up for the ceremony or buttoned down for when you and your new bride hit the dance floor. The versatility of a white shirt will allow you to work with different colours and patterns while selecting the rest of your ensemble. Considering the formalities of the day, generally a solid colour shirt is recommended but venture outside your comfort zone with colours, patterns and textures (tentative to your future bride’s approval, of course). Alas, what remains a priority is ensuring that your ensemble does not clash with the bridal party and (heaven forbid), the bride.

Consult with your bride-to-be what shade of white her gown is, and do your best to complement it with your shirt color.

Another tidbit we lads overlook is the quality and fabric of our shirts. Considering, the entire day will be spent wearing it; it is important that the right fabric is selected considering the weather and your body type. A slightly thicker fabric like Twill or even Pinpoint always works well, as it would not show creases as prominently as finer fabrics would, and would drape well over most body shapes. Furthermore, if you are not particularly partial to undershirts; a thicker shirt fabric would keep unsightly sweat stains at bay, especially during those pesky summer months. Still, it would not hurt to wear one!

Gentlemen, you have selected the color, style and fabric; and now the piece de resistance, the fit. This is the culmination of time and effort spent towards the initial stages of finding your correct shirt. Without the correct fit, it would have all been for naught.

For your collar, an ideal fit would allow room for one finger space between your neck and the buttoned collar. Also, make sure the collar is fitted with collar stays to give it that sharp crisp look. Remember, collars are what frames are to portraits; it holds everything together, so take your time in selecting the collar that would best enhance your features.

Sleeves must be quarter to half an inch longer than your suit jacket sleeve for barrel cuffs and a good half-inch for French cuffs. A longer length shirt would also sit well and neat when tucked in, especially if you plan on keeping it tucked in throughout the day.

Ensure your masterpieces are completely crafted well before your big day. Do a few practice runs with your whole outfit to work out any kinks. This will give you the luxury of making any alternations/adjustments well ahead of schedule. Also, consider purchasing a spare wedding shirt for any contingencies.

In conclusion, enjoy the process of shopping for the right ensemble. Most of all, apply your creativity towards your outfit for your biggest day with your sweetheart; brownie points will be earned (at the very least).

Gentlemen, good hunting!

From Groom to Father-of-the-Bride, whatever role you play on the big day, explore our collection of exquisite Pure Cotton Formal Shirts to look and feel your very best.

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Article featured on The Wedding Script – An online guide for to-be-weds in the UAE. Discover wedding vendors and learn about real weddings in Dubai, UAE.

Caring for your shirts the right way will ensure you get the most out of them in appearance and wear. It would be pointless and heartbreaking to invest time and money into a wardrobe of fine things if one does not take as much effort in its upkeep. Here are a few basic tips on how to care for your shirts.

Washing

The Care Label on your shirt is your best guide to washing instructions. Washing your shirts at home will allow you full control of the process. From treatment of stains to temperature setting to quality of detergent – you can pay as much attention as you would like at each stage. If you prefer to send your shirts to the cleaners, be sure to choose one that is reputable with quality service. Drying cleaning is not always recommended unless stated so in the Care Label of the shirt.

Stain Treatment

Sometimes, stains are not always visible and if left untreated can build up over time from perspiration, deodorant, colognes, body products, food, etc. The longer you leave your dirty shirts in the laundry basket, the more time stains will have to set into the shirt fabric. The sooner you treat a stain, the better. One of the hardest areas on a shirt to clean are the collar and cuffs. Always pre-treat the collar, cuffs and underarms of your shirts before every wash even if you don’t see a stain. Stain sticks or pens or sprays are all popular options for pre-treating collars and cuffs. If you send your shirts to the cleaners, always alert them of any stains to remove.

Tip: Apply cologne or spray on to your body and NOT on your shirt. Wait until the cologne/spray has dried before putting on the shirt to avoid staining or discolouration.

Shrinkage

Washing your shirts at unnecessarily high temperatures will cause your shirts to shrink, especially shirts of natural fabrics – cotton, linen, bamboo, etc. Always maintain the temperature mentioned on the shirt’s care label. When in doubt, stick to cold or lukewarm water set to a delicate cycle on the washing machine.

Ironing

A proper ironing technique can make such a difference to how clean and crisp a shirt looks and more importantly, how it will make YOU look.

Tip: Never iron over buttons, always around them to avoid damage. If you give your laundry to the cleaners, let them know to be extra careful as they could damage the shirt buttons using the press.

Storage

Hangers play a large role in protecting and extending the life of a shirt. Wooden hangers or thick plastic hangers that are wider at the shoulders, at least ¼” to 2”s wide, are perfect for supporting the shirt from its own weight and will prevent unsightly shoulder bumps on your shirts. Using wire hangers for your shirts is not recommended as its sharp edges can warp the shirt fibres.

For shirts that you do not plan on wearing for a while, protect them from dust, moisture and moths by enclosing them in bags or boxes. Cedar blocks, boxes, drawer liners or hangers offer natural protection against garment damage from moisture and moths. Its pleasant aroma keeps your wardrobe smelling fresh.

Ever wondered about the Button-Down collar? How did those little buttons get there? Here’s a brief history of the button-down collar.

Let’s look to the polo fields of late 19^th century England. At the time, polo players wore traditional collared shirts while playing. As if there weren’t other distractions on the field, their shirt collars would keep flapping about and blocking their line of sight! Their solution? Players would sew buttons onto their collars and fasten them down while they galloped away during the games. Genius!

John Brooks of Brooks Brothers fame noticed this trend while attending a polo match and brought the idea to the US. In 1896, he produced the iconic button-down polo shirt and fashion history was made – very soon there wasn’t a gentleman’s wardrobe without the essential button-down collar shirt. Fast forward to now, we’re still talking about this wardrobe staple.

[Image] Kal Jacobs Tailored Fit Brown & Black Gingham Cotton Shirt

When choosing a button-down collar, go for one with good quality buttons as they are very visible however you decide to wear it. Remember, a shirt collar serves to frame the face, so any detail to it draws more attention to the face. Ensure the buttons on this collar style are smaller than those down the shirt placket and cuffs. If this is too much fuss but you still prefer the nature of a button-down collar, there’s always the option of hidden collar buttons.

[Image] Kal Jacobs Tailored Fit Red Gingham Cotton Shirt

Pair yours with chinos/jeans and loafers for an effortlessly casual look. Or try sporting it with a sharp blazer and pocket square for something dressier.

Dressed up or down, from work to the weekend, the Button-Down is the go-to shirt for most men.

[Image] Kal Jacobs Tailored Fit Classic Plaid Natural Bamboo Shirt