What's the difference...

[Chuckster]

Between tailored and slim fit shirts?

 

I have a wedding to attend very soon and have been requested by the bride not to dare turn up in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I've had a look around but I can't seem to find shirts that are just normal.

 

What do I choose as I haven't purchased a smart/formal shirt for some years!

 

Next seem to stock only the above and independant suit jobs have shirts that look like you'd only wear for work. Also, I don't own a suit(!)

 

I'm not skinny and I do enjoymy food, if you get my drift.

[witch]

If you won't wear a suit then you need a smart shirt and something like chinos , I would have thought. What's wrong with a fitted shirt? You don't want slimfit, but tailored shirts have some element of shaping around the body, they arent just straight up and down and so look tidier tucked into trousers.Burtons have some nice shirts on their website, under 'Casual' which could be smart enough for a wedding

[Chuckster]

Hey witch, what's chinos? The only reason I don't like fitted shirts is because a) I'm not slim, and b) when dancing gets underway you don't want your shirt sticking to your body like glue because you're perspiring.

 

Also, I don't think I could hold/suck in my belly for long periods without looking constipated. I've had a look at Burtons and I'm not that keen on their formal/smart shirts. I think I'd have to lose 3 stones before I look nice in one of them.

[36Degrees]

Is there a TKMaxx near you? They normally have shirts in a variety of collar sizes / fits that are suitable. Failing that try Debenhams - that's where I got a good "wedding shirt" from last year and I'm not slim either!

[witch]

Chinos are smartish cotton blend trousers - look on the web. OR you could get a pair of trousers that look like suit trousers but without the jacket - most places sell generic black or grey trousers. I understand why you dont like very fitted shirts but all you need is a shirt that isnt SO baggy that it looks like a sail

NB: I said Burtons had some nice shirts under CASUAL not formal

[LosOjos]

M&S shirts are usually my first choice. As long as you don't buy a slim-fit you'll be fine, fitted shirts just taper in a little rather than being one large piece of material. If anything, fitted/tailored are slimming

[Chuckster]

The TKMaxx in town is a right old mess. There's no structure or organisation and everything is sort of dumped in one great big pile, so to speak. The last time I brought something from there was a pair of trousers for work and it didn't last me 6 months. It's like the saying goes: you buy cheap you get cheap. I've learnt my lesson by steering well clear of that store now.

 

Looking at the Debenhams shirts they don't exactly have the wow factor like Next does, but they DO have regular shirts for regular people like me. I'm well chuffed.

[LosOjos]

Personally I can't stand Next shirts, they're expensive for poly-cotton.

 

If (like me) you have a tendency to perspire, I'd avoid poly-cotton all together and get a pure cotton shirt - they're much more breathable and you will be more comfortable.

 

(in case you don't know, poly-cotton are a varying mixture of polyester and cotton - the more cotton the better)

[36Degrees]

I tend to sift through the packaged shirts at TKMAxx as they are normally good quality ones at a fraction of the (ridiculously extortionate) price. Annoyingly for me though they seemed to just throw them in one section now whereas before they were arranged by collar size so much easier to look through.

 

If you can, go and have a look in Debenhams as the shirt I bought looked a hell of a lot better IRL than online and I think there were a couple that were the opposite i.e. awful IRL but looked great online.

[Flakes]

really? go to Matalan, if you dont have a suit now you probably dont want to spend a fortune, i got a full suit from matalan for about 25pound fits nice, looks smart, i have another suit that cost me nearer the 200pound mark which i use for weddings, but i use the matalan suit for really smart nights out and work, and its done me nicely.

 

also matalan shirts. why spend a fortune for the one occasion?

 

P.S

 

if not matalan, M&S do a range of smart trousers for £9.99 and BHS have some really nice shirts however there a bit pricier.

[sonofsanta]

If you don't like suits, it's worth considering a waistcoat still - much more comfortable than a jacket and you look right dead posh, everyone will comment on how smart you look. Love wearing mine whenever I have an excuse, pocket watch and all, I'm on a bit of a mission to bring them back into fashion (not that I've ever set a great example there, still...)

[witch]

If you don't like suits, it's worth considering a waistcoat still - much more comfortable than a jacket and you look right dead posh, everyone will comment on how smart you look. Love wearing mine whenever I have an excuse, pocket watch and all, I'm on a bit of a mission to bring them back into fashion (not that I've ever set a great example there, still...)

Our Headteacher wears a waistcoat mainly because he can go around the school without his jacket and still look very smart. No pocket watch though

 

As for Tkmaxx being cheap - that must have been a bit of bad luck because the point about the shop is that it is only selling expensive and higher quality brands, at discount prices