5 Must have Shirts for Men & Women

Mon, 12 Jul 10

Is your wardrobe overflowing but still can’t find anything to wear? It’s probably full of the latest trends and impulsive purchases accumulated over the years. Having the right staples in your wardrobe is essential to a hassle free morning.  Read on to find out the top five must have shirts for men and women.

5 Must Have Shirts for Men

The seriously striped shirt

Stripes will always be in so don’t be afraid to buy lots of different striped styles.  Whether it’s fine blue stripes, pinstripes, black and white, or wide bold stipes, they all work for someone.  If you’re going to own just one striped shirt I would suggest a blue or navy fine stripe.

The classic white shirt

Nothing beats the understated elegance of a crisp white freshly ironed shirt. It has lasting appeal so it might pay to have a couple of these. Perhaps go for two different whites, one with a button cuff and one with a French cuff. The most important features are luxurious fabric and beautiful design.  As the most versatile shirt to wear in and out of the office it won’t hurt to have a few.

A solid blue shirt

The blue shirt will never phase out if style. Go for a blue shade that suits your complexion. Whether you get a herringbone, diagonal weave or plain poplin it’s probably the second most important piece to the white shirt.

French cuff shirt without a pocket

In case you’re a fan of pockets and/or the button cuff, it’s essential to have a formal style of shirt you can dress up. There’s something special about a man wearing cufflinks. For an evening venue a shirt without a pocket always looks more polished.  If this were to be your general dress shirt for special occasions I would picture it in a dark hue, ivory or an elegant white self stripe. A hint of pattern with a subtle contrast in the collar and cuff could also work well.

A check style for summer

The check style shirt is loved by all but you need to choose one that’s right for you and right for the occasion. The check is commonly worn from work to play so keep that in mind when choosing your styles. The popularity of the bold large check in a bold hue seems to be the growing trend, but if your work has a strict dress code or this doesn’t fit your personality, then a simple classic check, plaid or micro check pattern in a blue, black or navy will be more than suitable.

5 Must Have Shirts for Women

The pretty pink (or purple) shirt

The pink shirt is a feminine essential for the office. A soft plain pink in a herringbone or diagonal weave will always remain popular with the ladies. You just need to wear a tone that suits you and avoid the hot pink hues. If pink’s too much for you, then go for a style with hints of pink. If pink really isn’t your colour then choose purple. Although this seems to be the new trend to taking over, pink will always come back with a vengeance.

The white shirt = Classic beauty

The white shirt is the foundation on which to build an outfit. For women this is widely used in and out of the office. Wear it with a suit, a pencil skirt, a shift dress, a waist coat in the office and wear it with your favourite jeans on the weekend. There are many styles of white for women, from a classic button cuff, to the more flamboyant large collar with French cuffs, a silky self stripe or a contrasting button placket. 

The striped shirt

Similar to the men, the stripe comes in so many forms and colours it makes it difficult to choose what’s best. Pink, blue and purple stripes are most popular with women, but black and white or navy and white are an all time classic that make a statement. Choose what suits you best and what matches with most of your other pieces.

The cool contrast shirt

There are some great contrast styles for women around. Some feature strong bold colours in a contrasting button placket or collar and cuff contrasts on a crisp white shirt. Others will have a subtle floral contrast hidden inside the collar and cuff.  These can be worn to at work or in a formal setting with dress pants or a skirt. They’re fun and fashionable.

The graphic shirt

It’s always been true that women can get away with more than men, which is why there is so much more variety for women. Women’s shirts come in all different colours and patterns. Make sure you take advantage of these and wear them proudly at work. Grab a cool micro check or elegant houndstooth weave. Or wear a paisley print or floral number. Whatever’s your flavour, make sure you own it.