Shirts are essential wardrobe pieces for suiting and certain occasions. But, it’s important to consider fit and fabric when buying shirts. Your shirt is the first piece you put on and your last line of defense. As you button up your shirt in the morning, you must feel in-control, confident, and invincible. You must consider it as a bulletproof vest. When buying shirts for men, you do not need to spend a fortune to get the perfect fitting pieces.

Below are things to look for when you shop for these pieces:

Your Measurement and Body Type

Men’s bodies differ in shapes and sizes, so standard sizes usually do not fit well. That is why before walking into a store, make sure to have a general sense of your body type and know your measurements including arm length, neck size, waist size, and chest size. In general, the best shirt nice fits to your body with little excess material.

Subtle Features

Although you can find standard dress shirts, you will also come across those with subtle features you must consider to find the best fit. For instance, a number of shirts come with pleats which are extra folds of fabric often placed at the back of the shirt to offer the wearer some extra room. But, the excess fabric is likely to billow out in the upper portion of your back when you move the wrong way. Also, pay attention to shirts that say “fitted,” “slim,” and “tailored.”

Collar

There are a lot of collar styles you can come across on the market such as spread collars, English spread, and cutaways. In fact, you can have even more choices when you opt to buy shirts online. But, don’t get yourself overwhelmed by the options. Your safest bet is to go with semi-spread. This collar is not too conservative or trendy and will certainly go well with any type of suit and tie. Moreover, make sure to pay attention to how the collar fits on your neck. The best collar must not fit so tight that it seems to cut off your air supply.

Fabrics

Your style and the time of the year can affect the kind of fabric to choose for your shirts. For instance, in summer, you want to pick a lighter and smoother fabric shirt for your comfort. Although there are many kinds of fabrics available, avoid getting too caught up in yarn numbers, which is the thickness of the fabric threads. The majority of the highest-quality and most expensive shirts have a higher thread count and have smoother, softer fabric.