Types of Shirts

If you're one of those who thought there were two types of shirts, no matter the color: short-sleeved and long-sleeved, you need to read this article...

In shirts, obviously with long sleeves, and focusing on the color white, since there is no color in the world that surpasses white in elegance, balance, practicality , and style (not even black), there will always be a type of collar that goes better with a certain occasion, that makes a tie look better or even enhances your facial features.

These are the most important types of collars, what they go best with, and what occasion they are for.

Shirt with English collar

It is a traditional shirt, the quintessential dress collar characterized by having longer points and the narrowest separation of all existing types of shirts.

When wearing a tie, keep in mind that because it's narrower, the knot should be thinner and tighter. It's a very formal and serious shirt, so to speak, making it ideal for work events, diplomatic events, and even funerals.

The plus of this shirt is that it has a buttoned cuff, a touch that will give it greater elegance. And if you want to break the seriousness a bit, use cufflinks with a fun design, which will give it more style and youthfulness.

It benefits all types of features, but especially rounder heads and those of short or medium height, because it lengthens the neck and sharpens the contrast with the shoulders, making the chest appear broader. In short, that adds inches and makes you lose about three kilos in an optical illusion.

Shirt with Italian collar

Practical, comfortable, and elegant. Its semi-open collar is neither as closed as a collared collar nor as open as a cutaway collar. It allows for single or double tie knots.

For those with, let's say, more prominent heads and low necks—in other words, those who would never wear a turtleneck—this type of shirt is ideal. It has a considerable separation at the collar, and the points are slightly shorter, making it perfect for wearing with a Windsor knot or even a bow.

The separation between its tips makes large knots look perfectly highlighted.

It flatters all faces, but it benefits the aforementioned profile the most because it creates a more stylized illusion.

The perfect accompaniment for this type of collar is to use a cufflink cuff, because it makes it more elegant.

Cutaway Collar Shirt

This design can be considered an evolution of the Italian collar with a slight variation. It remains short, with split ends, but its unique feature is the slightly curved cut of the blades, making it more distinctive and flattering.

This style is primarily chosen by men who follow fashion and the latest trends. Contrary to what many people do, to make it stand out, it should be worn with a simple, very narrow tie knot.

This effect results in a more stylized yet defined face. The chin and cheekbones will be more noticeable, as the facial volume is counteracted by the small tie knot within a well-positioned neckline. It's perfect for men with more angular faces.

Shirt with American or Button Down collar

Originally, this shirt was used as an elegant uniform for athletes. Therefore, it's common to see Anglo-Saxons wearing this garment with a tie and a suit. However, according to European tradition, its use with a tie is avoided and reserved for more casual situations. Its collar, designed to be worn without a tie and the fact that the ends don't flare, makes it a sport shirt.

The collar is as tight as a British collar, making it very traditional. If you wear it with a tie, keep in mind that the narrower the tie, the knot should be thinner and tighter. This shirt will always have buttoned cuffs.

Although it is classified as sport or casual, it is a shirt that, when worn well in white, gives an extra touch of elegance.

Shirt with a dove or tuxedo collar

This shirt is reserved exclusively for ceremonies or gala events. It's a timeless classic that is always present in the most important moments the world has ever seen.

The collar design makes this shirt very eye-catching. In addition, many fashion houses have added their own special touch by adding prints, textures, and lace designs to the front. A collar with this type of "embellishment" is best worn with a jacket that doesn't have a contrasting fabric on the lapel and has buttoned cuffs.

The truly interesting thing about this style is that, although it may appear to shorten the neckline, it actually flatters it by creating a space between the bow tie and the bow tie, something that a tie that hangs directly from the neck can't achieve. This makes any gentleman of any proportion look much more handsome.