Dress shirts come in many different materials and blends; so many, in fact, that it\u2019s easy to get lost in the options when comparing one against another. If that\u2019s your challenge rest assured that, while dress shirts seem to have an abundance of unique names and looks, they really only fit into one of the three major material categories below. The one you select determines how the shirt will feel against your skin and which type of care you will need to provide.<\/p>\n
When it comes to dress shirt materials, cotton is popular because it\u2019s the most breathable, durable and comfortable of the three. Also, the strength of cotton fibers makes the fabric amenable to a variety of weave styles and thread counts. Common cotton weaves include oxford, twill, poplin, pinpoint, and broadcloth, while higher thread counts (usually beginning around 150) are usually softer and more durable than lower thread counts. As a general rule, lighter weight weaves (poplin, broadcloth, and linen) are better for warmer weather, while their heavier counterparts (oxford and cloth) serve as better insulators during the winter months. Despite its advantages, one major downside to wearing cotton is that it wrinkles easily, which is why many people turn to cotton\/polyester blends.<\/p>\n
Some clothiers sell dress shirts made of a cotton\/polyester blend, with a certain percentage of the fabric being cotton and the rest being polyester. The reasons people buy shirts of this variety are usually cost-related; since polyester is synthetic and can be mass-produced it tends to be cheaper than cotton and silk. As previously mentioned, some wrinkle-free dress shirts are made with polyester due to its natural resistance to wrinkling. All of that said, if you\u2019re thinking of buying a shirt with some blend of polyester, it\u2019s important to understand that polyester (a plastic-based material) is far less breathable than other materials and less comfortable against your skin, and some people think its slight shine takes on a low-quality appearance. As a general rule, if you can afford it, steer clear of shirts with high polyester content and look for blends with 80% or more cotton.<\/p>\n
If you need a good reason for why you should purchase a silk dress shirt, remember that the word \u2018silky\u2019 came from silk. Simply put, silk dress shirts tend to feel more light and smooth against your skin than cotton or polyester and they have a distinctively smooth look as well. On the other hand, silk shirts tend to cost more, wrinkle easily, and they must be hand-washed (even dry cleaning can damage them) to maintain the material\u2019s integrity. That means if you\u2019re going with silk, you need to commit to following proper care methods for keeping it looking sharp. Also, you\u2019ll need to take special care with an iron, and be certain to turn down the heat (usually, irons have a setting specifically for silk) as silk fibers are much more delicate than the fibers in most of your other clothes.<\/p>\n
In matters of fit, cut, and style, you have plenty of decisions to make, but when it comes to dress shirt material, your options are fairly simple and straightforward. That\u2019s why it\u2019s helpful to choose a material first: once you\u2019ve picked the right one for your needs and budget, you\u2019ll have laid a solid foundation for the fashion decisions that come next.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dress shirts come in many different materials and blends; so many, in fact, that it\u2019s easy to get lost in the options when comparing one against another….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1093,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,56],"tags":[88,83,87],"style_topic":[],"occasion":[],"class_list":["post-1009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-style-and-craft","category-shirts-ties-accessories","tag-cotton-shirts","tag-dress-shirts","tag-shirt-fabrics"],"yoast_head":"\n