Tuxedo Shirts
Tuxedo shirts are available in a variety of collars and colors. At a glance, many of them look very similar because of the unique styling on the front portion of the garment, however there are considerable difference to consider when you are buying new tuxedo shirts for your wardrobe. I will address each option in an our easy to understand guide to tuxedo shirts. If you still have questions after you've read through this article, feel free to contact us and we'll do our best to answer any questions that you have regarding
any men's formal shirts.
Tuxedo Shirts Guide
Cuts | Bibs | Collars | Colors | Fabrics | Cuffs
Cut
Styles of Tuxedo Shirts
The cut of a tuxedo shirt refers to the basic shape of the
shirt. The cut can be tapered, full and long depending on the tuxedo
shirt. Actually all shirts use similar processes. With a tapered cut,
you'll find that the mid section or waist of the garment is tighter than
the rest of the shirt. This is good for people with chest that are
considerably larger than their waists.
A
full cut tuxedo shirt refers to the the cut being the exact opposite of
tapered. The material at the waist is ample and allows for people with
larger waists than chests. A long cut only refers to the length of
material that is at the bottom of the shirt and is good for people that
have long torsos (pelvic area to chest area).
Bibs
on Tuxedo Shirts
The bib on a tuxedo shirt is the piece of fabric on the front of
the garment that is visually different than the rest of the material on
the shirt. It's typically the exact same material as the rest of the
tuxedo shirt with a custom look and feel. Other than plain front (no
bib) the options are usually pleated and pique. A pleated tuxedo shirt
has vertical pleats of material. These are the folded fabric lines that
make a shirt look like a tuxedo shirt. The other is pique which is looks
similar to the patterns found on paper towels. Ironically paper towels
came after pique tuxedo shirts so take note as to which way the
inspiration traveled because pique certainly makes paper towels look
more formal than standard dull absorbent paper which you find at public
restrooms. Finally, pique is the most formal tuxedo shirt and is usually
worn with white tails, trousers and pique accessories at white-tie
events.
Collars
on Tuxedo Shirts
There are four basic tuxedo shirt collars and they are winged,
lay-down, mandarin and banded. The winged collar is the most
recognizable because it is only used on tuxedo shirts. The wings are
small tabs of fabric on the front of the collar band that rest between
the bow tie's bow and strap. A lay-down collar looks the same as a
traditional suit shirt's collar. Picture a business shirt, it's the same
collar. The mandarin collar is small continuance of fabric from the neck
of the shirt that doesn't allow the use of a tie. You wear a button
cover instead. Banded collars are made with a band of material usually
1" in height or higher that continue from the neck of the tuxedo
shirt. They are similar to mandarin collar but there's much higher of
band of material.
Colors
of Tuxedo Shirts
Tuxedo shirts are available in white, ivory, candlelight, black,
red, teal, blue and many more colors. To look formal, stick to the
white, ivory and candlelight.
Tuxedo
Shirt Fabrics
Fabrics include all cotton, 100% polyester and blends cotton and
polyester called poly-cotten blend.
Tuxedo
Shirt Cuffs
A cuff is the material at the bottom of the sleeve on the tuxedo
shirt. There are two kinds. The first is the French Cuff. This is
basically cuff of the shirt doubled in length so that you can fold it in
half backwards and close each with a cufflink. French Cuffs add elegance
to any shirt, formal or not. The other is the barrel cuff. It's the same
cuff found on any standard business shirt with one exception. There are
holes next to the buttons so that you can use cufflinks to complete the
formal look.
I hope
that this guide to tuxedo shirts has been informative. If you have any
questions, contact us and we'll be happy to answer them for you.
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