A Complete Guide to Formal Shirts for Men - Top FAQs Answered

Fashion is the depiction of the lifestyle and personality of the wearer. It does not come with a rulebook and thus, has no definition or clear boundaries. While women see an opportunity in these blurred limits of fashion, men find it confusing and at times go off the track. But to act as their guiding light, here are top FAQs answered about one of the most popular menswear - formal shirts for men. 

So, if you also tend to get lost in a sky-high pile of shirts, read through the end to find your way out in a dapper manner. 

1. Is a Check Shirt Considered Formal? 

Fashion observes very thin boundaries and it is common to trespass unknowingly. Checks can be worn to a formal setting given that their fabric, weave, colour and fit give an overall crisp and dressy appeal. Prefer poplin fabric, twill weave and neutral tones while selecting formal shirts for men. Also, make sure that the cut and finish of the shirt is professional enough. Prefer gingham and windowpane checks for formal settings, but avoid plaid shirts. Correctly chosen checks make a great choice for business casual as well. 

2. Is a Half-Sleeve Shirt Formal? 

Originally, half-sleeve shirts were not considered formal. Also, they do not look as impressive as full-sleeve shirts with formal suits or a tie. However, in tropical countries like India, such shirts are being accepted as formal office wear in summer. In view of the same, many popular clothing brands like Blackberrys have introduced a range of premium half-sleeve formal shirts for men. 

3. Why is Blue Shirt Consideredthe Most Common Formal Wear? 

Blue belongs to the cool colour family. It gives a sense of calm and trust, and does not distract the people. Also, blue complements all skin tones and can be easily paired with a wide variety of formal trousers, ties, and stylish belts for men. Hence, if you are looking for a sure-shot formal outfit, pick up a blue button-down shirt without second thoughts. 

4. Can You Wear Black Shirt to Formal Settings? 

Yes, you definitely can! Formal shirts for men in neutral colours like black, grey, and white are quite popular these days. Pair them with soft-hued formal trousers and you are good to go. 

Pro tip: Prefer matte finish button-down black shirts for board meetings and similar settings. For official dinners and cocktail parties, you can pick glossy dress-shirts to slay the look. 

5. Is Polo Shirt a Formal Attire? 

Polo shirts belong to the casual fraternity of clothing, but as the priority is shifting from styling to comfort, they have moved up to the semi-formal and business casual category. They can be worn to an official outing, sports day, or golf event, but should be avoided at an important client meeting. 

Takeaways 

Along with all the above-mentioned tips, make sure to wear good-quality shirts only. An ill-fitting wrinkly shirt is much worse than anything for a formal meet. Prefer renowned menswear brands like Blackberrys to shop important outfits like formal shirts for men and never take a chance while dressing up. 

The Modern Men’s Guide to Wearing a Blazer

One of the coolest item in men’s fashion, Blazers are a clothing article found in every man’s wardrobe. Usually considered to be a formal clothing option, a blazer adds a certain kind of sharpness. But with people now shifting the focus towards wearing casual wear in an office setting, blazers are the one leading this change. 

The smart look is the definitive style of the 21st century, where it has replaced the formal one and is being prefered even for the workplace. When you find yourself in a situation in which the suit is too formal, then your best bet is to opt for a classic blazer for men, paired with a different coloured trouser. By choosing a blazer of precise fitting and quality material, you can take your look to another level. So, how do you go about achieving this fine-casual look? Here are some helpful tips:

Check the Fitting 

When it comes to your clothes, fitting is the most essential aspect. With so many styles available, it can get a bit tricky to figure out what goes best with your body type. Hence, the important thing here is to ensure that your blazer is neither too big nor small, and should easily and properly enhance the contours of your body type. 

Keep it Simple

One of the classic looks that have become popular for both work and party is pairing a black sports blazer along with blue jeans and a white Henley. But even when keeping it simple, keep an eye on the finer details, such as accessories. If the event you are about to attend is a bit upscale, a good alternative to opt for is choosing party wear suits for men.

The Right Trouser

Wearing a blazer heightens the style of your outfit and adds a great deal of texture to your overall look. But an important part of the look is choosing the right trouser or jeans that would go perfectly when paired with it. The best kind of trousers that go well with the blazer for men is the khaki pants, perfect for both casual and formal affairs. For a semi-casual occasion, jeans are a great alternative too. 

Have More Than One 

Your blazer collection is a chance to try out different kinds of style to find one that suits you best. Pick out the best looking pieces from top brands such as Blackberrys and utilise it as much as possible. 

Men’s suit style is dynamic and different occasions call for different kinds of blazers. There is nothing like ‘one look fits all’ when it comes to men’s dressing. 

Hence, the modern man needs to understand what blazer is the right fit for their body as well as the occasion. After all, a dash of knowledge and personality is what makes a modern man. 

Types of Shirt Every Man Should Own

Every man’s personal flair is defined by the clothes he wears. And when it comes to dressing sense,  the shirt plays quite an important role. This versatile piece of clothing has been around for decades.  Yet with a few tweaks, it can be styled to create a new look. Whether you opt for a formal shirt to wear at the  office or a casual shirt for evening parties, a shirt  is something  that can be derivatively styled as per your requirement.

No matter what your daily routine is,  there are a few types of shirts that should be necessarily present in your wardrobe. Whether we talk about a dress shirt to go along with your suit or a plaid one for a day out in the sun, these variations of shirts ensure that you are ready for any event or season. Here’s a lowdown on some types of shirts to get your hands on:

The Classic White Shirt

One of the oldest staples amongst men, the classic white shirt is the most important piece of clothing that every guy should have. Timeless and highly versatile, its enduring appeal has made it the quintessential garment in any man’s closet. A crisp and well-tailored white shirt goes with everything, whether you pair it with formal trousers or casual jeans.

The Oxford Button-down Shirt

The oxford shirt has become the menswear staple recently, majorly due to its lightweight fabric and precisely clean cuts. It is perfect for men who wish to inject a bit of casualness to their attire, and still enjoy the luxury of comfort as well as style.

The Striped Shirt

An effortless way to add colour and details into your shirts is by opting for striped shirts. An underrated garment, striped shirts are quite stylish and can be a great addition to your classic wardrobe. These formal shirts for men are comfortable for office wear and versatile enough to be even paired with a suit.

The Polo Shirt

The ultimate weekend wear, polo shirts are an important part of your outdoor weekend attire. Unlike t-shirts for men, polo shirts are made from a woven fabric and have a pointed collar as well as a few buttons on the neck. Brands like Blackberrys offer a great collection of polo shirts that are perfect for a day at the beach or for a lunch out with your friends.

The Classic Short Sleeve Shirt

Very similar to traditional button-downs, the short sleeve shirt with an open and pointed collar is the perfect stylish option for a casual day. Whether you pair it with jeans, chinos or shorts, they are bound to look perfect in the summer. Plus, they are available in a massive range of colours and patterns so that you can experiment with different looks.

Shirts are the ultimate versatile clothing options, perfect for almost all kinds of occasions.  Adding the aforementioned types of shirts to your closet and dressing sense will help you make a style statement with utmost ease, whatever be the place or the occasion. 

Style Staples for the New-Gen Men

Most men think that they have the perfect dressing sense. Whether it is formal or casual, they usually set up one style that becomes a familiar extension of their personality. But it is not quite true. Fashion is an ever-changing art, and as much as it is important to maintain your look, it is equally essential to stock your wardrobe with the staples for the current generation. So if you are ready to become the new-gen man, here are some style staples to upgrade your wardrobe with: 

Oxford Shirt

Oxford shirts are the ones that are easily the all-rounder of shirts. These shirts are capable of enhancing your formal wear with sharp suits, as well as intensifying your look when paired with jeans. This one is a  must-have for your wardrobe. Try opting for a shirt that is slim cut and has a weighted fabric, as it looks great with both formal and casual wear. You can check out brands such as Blackberrys that offer an amazing collection of such formal shirts online.

Mid-Wash Denim

Almost every man around the globe has one pair of dark denim jeans that are worn all year round, primarily because they never go out of style. Why not give it a rest and opt for something new this summer, say, mid-wash denim. Though they are not really preferred for a professional setting, mid-wash jeans are the perfect party or weekend wear and look great when paired with pastel coloured or white shirts.

Chinos

Chinos or Khaki pants are usually considered the no-fuss professional trousers that are great for a smart-casual look at work. But in reality, the perfect pair of chinos is casual enough to be paired with T-shirts and sneakers. You can spend a whole day wearing khaki pants without losing your style of cool, pair it with a henley tee, blazer, and Chelsea boots for the office, and just remove the blazer. And there, you are all set to party at night. 

Casual Belt

When we talk about fashion, style is not the only important aspect.  Practicality plays a huge role too. That is why casual belts should be a part of your wardrobe. Whether you go for black or brown, they can be paired with polo t-shirts and chinos for the smart-casual office wear, or with shirts and jeans for the weekend. 

As menswear fashion has gone for a factory reset, there is more room to experiment where nothing is off-limits. Whether we talk about making khaki pants a part of casual wear or introducing mid-wash denim as a part of daily wear, this is a good time to break some rules. 

The must-have Trouser Collection for the Modern Man

The two most important aspects of formal wear for men, specifically the trousers, are fitting and style. However, most men usually just pick the trousers that they think suits them, instead of choosing one that is perfectly styled as per their body. A well-dressed man exudes power and confidence; a great pair of trousers only enhances it further. Hence, it is important to have a decent knowledge of the types of trousers that are available in the market before going shopping. Here is a lowdown of the basic trouser styles that every man should have in their wardrobe:

Pleated Trousers

Every professional around the world probably has this basic type of men’s formal trousers. They have been quite favoured for two office-going generations, even when they were not known for their style or comfort. But better aesthetic sense and precise tailoring have brought pleated trousers back for suits such as men’s slim-fit suits, making them once again the preferred choice for formal wear. 

Chinos

A part of fashion since the 20th century, chinos have only recently become one of the best workwear trends. Chino pants are made with cotton twill fabric, which makes them extremely durable, simple, easy to maintain as well as exceptionally comfortable. As an alternative to formal pants, a man wearing chinos is bound to look mature and experienced. What makes them perfect is that they are great for casual wear as well.  Pair them with Chelsea boots and a simple T-shirt and jacket for a great look.

Jeans

Jeans have been the wardrobe staple for decades and rightfully so. Easy to wash, quick to wear, and sensibly stylish at any time of the day and night. Denim jeans are known for their simplicity and the fact that they pair well with almost any kind of shirt or t-shirt. With the number of options currently available in denim such as ripped, slim-cut, tapered, bootcut, etc., the jeans fad refuses to die down. 

High-Waisted Trousers

There has been a gradual rise in high-waisted trousers in the current decade. It can be a bit tricky to style a high-waist trouser perfectly. But a well-done pairing will get you a number of compliments whereas getting the look wrong would make you look like a kid wearing your father’s suit. Keep the length as well as the cut in check and pair the trousers with a polo t-shirt tucked into the waist and you will nail the perfect look. 

Whether you opt for a casual or formal pair, ensure that your trousers are always fitted. A well-fitted trouser can help you create an exclusive style for self and ensure you are always at your comfortable best. In case you have decided to change your wardrobe, you can check out brands like Blackberrys that offer a huge collection of men’s formal trousers, jeans, chinos, etc. 

Nail the Right Summer Wedding Look

Summers are upon us, and that means there is going to be a change in the wedding season. With the heat turning up day-by-day, it can become quite cumbersome to choose a look that will make you look and feel cool at some time. So, if you are wondering how to go about choosing a suit for this season, this is the blog for you. 

Unlike the old days where dark suits were all the rage, the attire of this season has to look timeless and well-fitted. There has been a huge change from the colour to the fabric used in suits- with light coloured linen being the most preferred choice of men. If you have a summer wedding coming up, here are some tips to nail the perfect dapper look:

Lightweight and airy 

Summer weddings are going to be hot, which is why you need a fabric that can keep your body temperature cool. As mentioned above, linen, as well as cotton, are the most common fabrics used in this season. Suits made from these fabrics are not only lightweight, but they also give a lot of breathing room to your body. Along with this, choose lighter shades like grey or beige suits as they do not retain heat. 

Introduce colours

This is the season when the sun is going to shine and flowers are going to bloom. Hence, if you are going to a garden Indian wedding, men should opt for bright coloured blazers to stand apart from the crowd. Another good idea is to wear cotton suits with bold stripes along with pastel coloured pocket squares to display the wow factor. In case you want to push the style boundaries, add a floral pin or colourful socks to the ensemble. 

Choose the right shoe

Shoes are the most underrated element of formal wear. They may be the last noticed item, but they are the one that can elevate your suit style up by several notches. Leather shoes for men, either in black or brown,  are a must when paired with the same coloured belt. 

With the right type of suit and accessories, your summer wedding look will definitely put you in  the spotlight. For example, a great suit example for multiple wedding season is the 6X Multitude suit from Blackberrys, through which you can easily get 6 different looks. Follow the above tips and you are sure to rock the wedding season.

A Guide to Summer Fashion Trends for 2020

There used to be a time when men ignored any fashion trend and instead relied on the same regular clothes for their casual or office use. Earlier, men’s wardrobe used to be filled with a stack of shirts with a few tees thrown in between, couple of jeans, formal trousers and a pair of boots. But the last couple of decades have shown that men too are taking an initiative to improve their fashion and style sense by experimenting with colour, fabric and designs. 

With summer on its way, it’s only a matter of months when you’d pack up your sweaters and coats and replace them with cotton shirts and shorts. Though they are the perfect combo to beat the heat, they’re not appropriate for all settings. The season calls for styles to be on full display under the sun, and the below-curated outfits will make sure of that.