Punch Up Your Shirts.

Posted on July 31, 2009 in Casual, Dress, How to Wear a Sport Coat with Jeans., Shirts.

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You know how a shirt should fit. Now, PG will gradually be about adding a bit more modern style into your wardrobe. So, here are a few shirt ideas based on what is stylish now.

The easiest way is to stray from solids. That doesn’t mean that solids aren’t modern or that you shouldn’t wear solids, but picking a single shade that looks good on you should be something you’re able to do decently well.

Just when you want to mix it up a little, opt for a pattern.

Checks
Checks (a variety of them) are definitely in. Go for some color, with dark jeans, to help keep it modern and allow you to step out from the crowd. Colorful checked shirts also go great with a suit, and gives you a break from the normal solid color dress shirt and patterned tie mold. There are a variety of check sizes, so go with the one that looks best on you. Generally, the larger the check the more the statement. Below are examples of a medium-small check (top) and micro-check (bottom). Both look great.

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Stripes
Striped button-downs also are in. Just don’t revert to the dark shirt, dark stripes, untucked shirts that were popular a few years ago. That look, while never attractive, is definitely more played out now. instead, go for something simple, to add just a little bit more for the eye to look at.

To execute this look well, you want to typically opt for a thinner stripe, with just a couple of alternating colors for the stripes. I’d say just 2, but 3 colors will work if one is of the same hue as another. You typically don’t want large, thick stripes, with large gaps in between the stripes. Compare the width of the stripes (or sections made by the stripes) in #3, to #s 4 & 5. Shirt #3 has way to large of stripes, whereas #4 & #5 keep it nice and minimal.

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For polos and tshirts, try horizontal stripes. This gives a boyishly cool look for just about all guys. If you somehow find a button-down with horizontal stripes (like finding white mud), avoid it.

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Plaids
Plaid looks great, as long as you go with a more modern cut and style. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking like a gay lumberjack. Mixing up the colors, and pairing the outfit with darker, modern jeans/pants, will help to complete the look.

I really like pairing plaid shirts with a solid tie. It’s professorial at its heart, but the combination of fit and execution definitely make it modern.

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Other
Go with pockets. The safari/military shirt looks great untucked for casual occasions. Keep these in solid colors, as the pockets and epaulets give enough to the shirt to make it interesting.

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Tagged: american apparel , banana republic , button-down , check , club monaco , express men , gap , gingham , jcrew , m+o , martin+osa , plaids , polos , stripes , tshirts , urban outfitters