Tshirts and shirts are two different terms often used interchangeably, but what is the difference between a shirt and a T-shirt?
A shirt can be a short-sleeved or long-sleeved garment for the upper body. T-shirts for men are usually made of cotton and have shorter sleeves than a shirt. Shirts come in many different styles, colours, patterns, and fabrics, while T-shirts typically only come in one style with no pattern options.
With shirts for men, you can choose the type of fabric (cotton vs polyester), style (long-sleeved shirt or short-sleeve shirts), colour, and pattern. You also have a lot more options with shirts than t-shirts in terms of how they fit on your body because shirts typically come with two parts that are sewn together.
A T-shirt is a short-sleeved shirt, typically made of cotton or polyester and sometimes fleece, with no pockets on the front that usually has a design printed onto it using various types of ink methods such as screen printing or sublimation.
T-shirts are often worn by professionals for work as nurses because they are seamless and can easily be washed.
How Can You Style Your Shirts and T-shirts?
This is a question for both shirts and t-shirts. When you are looking to style your shirts and/or t-shirts, there are two key elements that should be considered: fabric weight and color palette.
If you want something more on the lightweight side, consider cotton or linen as they can breathe well enough in the warmer months.
If you are looking for a more rugged feel and want to make your shirts or t-shirts last longer, then consider wool shirts or T-shirts that have been treated with special finishes like “water repellent” treatments. These fabrics can also breathe well in the warmer months when used on shirts and could be worn as outerwear.
Conclusion
The difference between shirts and T-shirts is that shirts are typically dressier than casual t-shirts. A shirt can be worn for any occasion, while a t-shirt generally only works well in informal settings. When deciding what to wear in the morning, it’s usually best to go with a shirt versus an undershirt or tank top.
Stripes in Menswear: Different Types and How to Wear Them
when it comes to the classic patterns of menswear, those based on the simple line–that is to say, stripes–remain just as popular today as they have been for centuries. In this primer, we’ll discuss the different kinds of striped patterns in tailored clothes and show you how to “fall in line” with wearing them well.
Because men typically want to project a serious, businesslike demeanor when wearing tailored clothes, the two most popular pattern styles are not overly ornate, but are based on the simple geometry of the line: one of these styles being checks (which was the topic of a previous article) and the other stripes. These two basic patterns can create greater interest than simply wearing solids while still looking subdued and formal, though there is always the opportunity (or risk!) of making them quite bold.
What are Stripes?
Stripes are a series of parallel lines that do not cross each other. They are found in a variety of orientations in menswear; typically, suits and shirts feature vertical stripes, though horizontally striped garments do exist, as well. Additionally, neckwear and accessories (such as pocket squares or hat bands) may feature stripes in various orientations. Because of the lack of interaction between lines, striped patterns are simpler than checks, which also means they tend to be more reserved, and therefore more formal. Combinations of colors are often used to create differently named patterns, which we will discuss below.
Unbalanced Stripes
Asymmetrically patterned, indicating that the width of the stripe is either narrower or wider than that of the background and/or that the stripes are not spaced evenly. Pinstripes are an example.
Fancy Stripes
Industry jargon for a weave or pattern that does not match any other specific definition; it may still generally be a balanced stripe, in some cases.
Jermyn Stripes (and other “street stripes”)
Rather than a specific type of stripe, this is a broad reference to the style of bright, boldly striped shirt fabrics favored by custom shirtmakers located on or around Jermyn Street in London. Therefore, Jermyn Stripes may describe Bengal stripes, candy stripes, or any other traditional stripe style. Some patterns may also make reference to other well known retail streets in London, such as Bond Street.
There are so many types of strips, this is only a brief introduction.
How To Style A Check Shirt
Checked shirts are popular with everyone, from hipsters to lumberjacks, we all own a check shirt or five. Ranging from casual to slightly smarter, plaid shirts can fit any style and occasion.
A designer check shirt should be a staple in every man's wardrobe. Unlike Hawaiian shirts and jean shorts, your checked shirts will never go out of style, so buying one now is an investment for the indefinite future. Here we'll explain how to pull off all the plaid shirt outfit ideas you'll need for this fashion staple.
THE MATERIAL
Every man needs a plaid shirt that can be comfy to wear around the house, but also a nice shirt that you can run errands in. One factor to consider is the weather. You don't want to be wearing a thin shirt in the middle of winter. If it's cold, go for a flannel shirt with long sleeves. 100% cotton will keep you warm and comfortable for hot weather. Like this check shirt in navy from Gant.
checked shirt by Gant
In the summer you can opt for thinner material and brighter colours to reflect the nice weather.
LAYER UP
A check shirt is also good for layering when it's not too cold. Adding an opened button flannel shirt over your t-shirt is a great look for added warmth. Remember, check shirts can be worn both done up and undone – as long as you're wearing something underneath, don't be that guy.
A plaid shirt can look great worn as a middle layer between your favourite tee and a denim jacket.
WEAR IT CASUALLY
A plaid top can look great worn with dark skinny jeans for an everyday look or even chinos if you want to get slightly smarter. Add a trusty pair of desert boots and you're all set for your day out in the city. A check shirt is also great for that rugged look – wear an oversized shirt over your favourite skinny jeans. If you're wearing a shirt with several patterns, make sure the other pieces are neutral, otherwise, you risk looking like a walking jumble sale.
SMARTEN IT UP
A check shirt can also be seen on many men dressed up on more formal occasions. A well-fitting shirt with a smart tie can make you look like the GQ style man you always wanted to be. Just be careful not to overdo it – a check shirt is a statement piece, not the focal point of your outfit.
A checked shirt is a versatile and stylish item that's definitely a wardrobe staple. There are so many ways to wear a plaid shirt that it's never going to go out of fashion any time soon.
Man In Green Checked Shirt
SMART CASUAL
When you're going to a more formal event, a checked shirt is perfectly acceptable to wear. But it is key to make sure you don't overwhelm yourself with the clash of patterns and colours. Small checks are considered neater and a more formal style compared to larger widespread checks. The sleeve length should be long to match a suit jacket. Also, if your event includes you having to wear a tie, then the thinner the tie the better as a thick tie can look uneasy against a checked shirt.
It is also important to remember the suit and tie should be in a neutral colour such as black. Otherwise, your outfit could look too “busy”. Slim jeans and leather shoes (or even a nice pair of ankle boots) can round off this look perfectly.
Smart casual is a difficult style to master when trying to wear a checked shirt. Try to go for neutral hues, quality material and long sleeves. Also, is your shirt is showing off a lot of colour in the plaid pattern? Then the rest of your outfit should be more subtle in order to match. Black jeans and smart sneakers are the easiest option and will go with any other clothes.
What Makes a Great Shirt
We talked to a few individuals and asked “What makes a good shirt?” to find out what people really want in the perfect custom printed t-shirt. Here's a summary of what we heard back:
An abstract message. A creative way to express the message of the company without using a logo. Using logos are cool if they're a part of the overall design that include other elements, but they shouldn't be the main focus. Simple designs resonate with me more, but a cool graphic is fun if it's done well or by a really awesome designer.
How it fits and feels. A shirt that is light and has breathable fabric is the best. It's nice if they are super soft but have good structure - the cut of it, the neck line and the sleeves are important. Long is good. Something that is fashion friendly and up with the trends, but not clingy and not too loose. Most blends are great because you don't have to iron them!
It goes with everything. Neutral colors are my go to. Black, white, and grey are the best colors. They go with everything. Other colors are cool too especially if it's for a good cause or representing my favorite sports team. I don't mind wearing bright colors for something like that.
Get rid of the tags. No tags, please! They are super itchy and irritating if they are constantly scratching the back of my neck. If a tag is super super soft, then that's fine and I don't notice it.
What Is A Classic Fit T-Shirt?
A regular fit T-shirt usually hugs snuggly around the body while leaving adequate room for comfort in the sleeves and waist. The right size regular fit T-shirt is loose, but not too much to the point of being sloppy or over-the-top.
Generally speaking, these T-shirts lean more into comfort than style, and are acceptable for any casual situation but you might not want to wear one to the office. Semi-fitted Classic T-Shirts are the go-to if you’d like to be smart casual at the office.
Regular fit T-shirts are not always ideal undergarments, as the loose tapering at the bottom of the shirt can be difficult to tuck in. Layering clothes with a regular fit T-shirt will feel heavier and not control temperature or moisture as well as a tighter fitting T-shirt.
The slim fit T-shirt has a narrow cut that focuses on minimal fabric, therefore, leading to a tighter fit that looks more modernized and hugs tightly to the body.
The goal of the shirt is to flatter the wearer's body by accentuating their muscles and structure to enhance confidence and masculinity. If you are in shape and an enthusiastic gym rat, then this is definitely the style for you.
This type of T-shirt works very well for a lean and built body frame, but it’s still important to tailor the outfit to your proper size.
The slim fit tends to have a high arm for slimmer trousers. Slim fit shirts tend to slim down through the chest and shoulder, giving you a more toned and sharp appearance.
