Men's Style Guide: Short Sleeves
Casual style is as much a part of men's fashion as the daily suit-and-tie office fare
. Just check any other guy's closet and you'll see at least a fair number of casual short sleeve tees. Even these laid back pieces, however, are subject to rules like their longer sleeved brothers. Here are a few things to remember so that you'll look effortlessly cool even when you're wearing casual.Do Sizes Right
The most common problem with short sleeve shirts - and any kind of shirt, for that matter - involves the size. A lot of men get the wrong one, and that just ends up spelling disaster for the whole outfit. Whether it was to emphasize six-pack abs or consumption of a whole keg the previous night, nothing ever justifies a bad fitting shirt.
Good fit starts at the shoulders, and short sleeve shirts work just like a long-sleeved one. The seam should ideally hit right at your shoulder. If your shoulders seem like they're drooping or sloped too much, the shirt is too big. Fabric bunching at the armpits, on the other hand, is a pretty good sign that the size is too small for your frame.
Keep that just-right ideal as you consider the rest of the shirt's size. A good shirt should give the impression of a slim and fit you, so a trim cut is crucial. Most makers design styles for slim to athletic built men; if you fit in those categories, look for ones that have a slight contour around the chest area to give your curves some definition. It need not be as contoured if you're not as thin, but the curve is a good idea all the same because most men are built with those kinds of lines.
Don't forget to check out the sleeves, which is an area that guys tend to overlook. Too long or too short a pair of sleeves can distort the proportions of the shirt, making your whole outfit seem off. A good rule of thumb is to have the sleeve cover about half of your bicep, or that space between the shoulder and the elbow.
Functionality Through Form
Unless you'll do any actual hunting or fishing, wearing any of those 'functional' shirts with pockets and various items dangling off them is a bad idea. Base your decision entirely on the fashion aspect of the shirt, and everything else will follow.
The art of understatement is crucial when choosing a short sleeve shirt, mostly because the style is so incompatible with excessive decor. Contrast stitching or maybe a bit of embroidery is the limit for embellishments with short sleeves. Anything beyond that - big embroidery or prints, say - will not look good, no matter how much you try.
Aim for a plain shirt in some light solid color; get white if you can manage it, since the color (or lack thereof) pairs well with the greatest number of other items. Do you want something beyond a plain shirt? Military-inspired details like epaulets or double breast pockets (nonfunctional ones, of course) give a touch of extra attitude.
For even more style and personality, you could also try wearing a necktie with your shirt. Yes, a tie with a short sleeve shirt is generally seen as a faux pas in menswear. A bright or a patterned tie - anything with character and personality, in fact - should help the viewer overlook that rule. The quirkier and more interesting the necktie is, the less people will remember that ties don't go well with short sleeves.
Last but not least, your personality should match your outfit. Remember, short sleeves are signs of casual, as in "I'm off work right now." Drop the officious attitude, and then replace it with laid-back jeans while you're at it. If you're going to wear a tie, make sure it's a slim, casual necktie that doesn't scream 'office'. Otherwise, the car salesman might just ask you to return his look.
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