I'll give you the shirt off my back ... just so I can buy a new one

It started when I was young, I'd be fastidiously ironing my school shirt before school - desperate to get out every crease. I've been addicted to shirts for as long as I can remember. Not just any shirts though, I have my favorites.

Designer shirts

Characterized by their label and the aspects of their brand. The creme de la creme, perfection riding on my shoulders - designer shirts are my all time favorite. The quality is second to none; you see it when the shirt last two and three times as long as regular branded shirts and you feel it when the seams hold strong with every pull.

Apart from the workmanship, their fashionable cuts are always ideal and who doesn't like turning heads in the street.

European shirts

As mentioned above, I am a fan of tailored slim fit shirts. The Europeans were the ones who made this cut famous. So much so, it is also referred to as a 'European cut'. Not only are their cuts supreme, so to are the elegant fabrics they choose.

Dress shirts

Previously limited to formal occasions in the company of suits and ties, these have become the bread and butter of my wardrobe. I have a dress shirt for nearly every occasion.

A crisp white shirt with slacks for a classic look in the office and a patterned dress shirts partnered with chino's, embracing casual Fridays. These shirts are generally worn tucked in, but come the weekend I'm teaming them with jeans and even shorts during the summer for a very relaxed, yet chic look.

Alternative shirts

No one likes to blend into the crowd do they? Neither do I.

I'm always on the lookout for the next style trend in shirts. Whether it be contrasting sleeves or pockets, extreme tailoring, distressed fabrics, heightened collars or the now mainstream double collared shirts (see below) ... I'll try anything once.

Contrasting fabrics has been a popular trend in matching shirts and ties of late and the trend is seemingly continuing into shirt fabric choices. Whilst not infiltrating the dress shirt market just yet, casual shirts are readily available with contrasting materials being used for various parts of the shirt.

Double collar shirts

As mentioned above, I am always looking for a unique style, the double collar is my latest fetish. As the name suggests this is a shirt with two collars, or at least the appearance of two collars. The collars are typically contrasting in color and or pattern and give any shirt a unique twist on a classic dress shirt.

Long gone are the days when a shirt is just a shirt - They're an art form.

How the colors we wear can make such a difference

Did you know that what we wear can have a big influence on how we feel? For instance, research has shown that wearing the color yellow can have a really positive impact over our own emotions and also how we appear to others. Yellow suggests sunshine, springtime, sunflowers and new life. Wear red and you may appear bold, brash and perhaps a little bit threatening - red is after all a warning sign of danger. Pale blue oozes a feeling of calmness and tranquility whilst black may not be the best color to wear if you are feeling a little down or depressed.

Men's fashion today is full of color and vitality and gives you total freedom over choosing the colors to match your mood or the occasion. If you are not comfortable wearing blocks of color, how about a crisp cotton dress shirt in contrasting colors? Choose stripes, florals, plaids, spots or more subtle patterning or how about a vibrant blue double collar shirt with a white collar?

If you are looking for something a little different, have you considered European clothing? For example, those Italians really know how to carry off color and style and have really made a mark in the world of haute couture and men's fashion in general. You only have to look at big names like Armani and Dolce and Gabbana to see the influence Italian styling has made on the world. Dolce and Gabbana especially are in touch with their colorful side and frequently release men's fashion shirts that are bold, vibrant and totally unique.

But you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on designer brands. High quality t-shirts, shirts and jackets are available that will suit your personal taste and your budget. At Fashion-shirts.com, we have a large range of affordable, premium quality shirts that will keep their color and their shape well for years and our prices are totally affordable. We take the time to choose the shirts that are popular, but we also have an eye for an emerging trend. That means you get the shirts you need for work and play plus a taste of the unique all in one place!

If you are ready to add a splash of color to your wardrobe or need to make a statement, we have many very wearable and totally unforgettable shirts right here.

Reverse Collar: What’s With the Newest Trend in Men’s Designer Shirts

Reverso shirt with leather band cufflinks

There’s a new trend in European dress shirts and it’s starting to make its way across the Atlantic and is now showing up online available here in the U.S.  It’s something that you might not notice the second you look at the shirt, but when you see it, you’ll be surprised and intrigued.  I’m referring, of course, to the reverse collar.  It’s a collar with an extra fold so it ends pointed up instead of down. If you’ve never seen one you’re probably thinking, “Wait, what? How is that possible?  What does that look like? How does it stay folded up?”  Well, no matter the designer or the style, there is always a very strategically placed button on the collar, not too high, not too low, but just in the right spot to keep the collar folded perfectly back up.  This allows designers like Franck Michel to show a classy contrasting color look on the collar, playing with a different color on the underside of the collar.

For an example of a designer playing with this contrast color collar look, check out Franck Michel’s Miami Blue, available in the States for $149 at fashion-shirts.com. It sure isn’t the only Franck Michel offering on fashion-shirts.com that features a reverse collar.  While that price point puts it solidly in the luxury tier of men’s designer shirts these shirts have all the other components of a luxury shirt that you would expect.  The material is the finest Italian cotton, and fit is extra slim.  I love the extra slim fit personally, but it isn’t for everyone and you have to be careful selecting your size.  Franck Michel is a design house in the heart of Paris that is famous around Europe for this trend and is just starting to bring this look to the U.S.

So what are these shirts good for?  Well they aren’t ideal for wearing with a tie, so they might not be perfect for wearing to work for some folks.  On the other hand, they are perfect for a night out.  The thing I love about these shirts, is the attention you get when you are wearing them.  Stylish people notice the details like the reverse collar and are certain to ask you about it.  I’ve never had so many people interested in my shirt as when I wear a reverse collar like this.  For me, that’s always a good thing.  When I go out I’m always aiming to meet new people and if we can start out on the right foot because of my unique and stylish designer shirt that’s great for me. Trust me you’ll meet the right people wearing a shirt like this, if you know what I’m saying.

French Shirts: These Aren’t Your Grandfather’s Dress Shirts

Exclusive Reverse collar shirt - Spring 2013

In an industry dominated by conservative stodgy offerings that are indistinguishable from those worn by your grandfather, Americans are becoming increasingly aware of imported offerings, largely coming from Europe.  These European luxury shirts are often at a price point that may shock some consumers but appeal to those who are accustomed to paying high prices for shirts that look very similar to those you can pick up at your local department store.  However, these European offering are nothing like the plain starched white shirts your ancestors wore.

First off, these European dress shirts fit differently than a traditional American dress shirt.  While a traditional American dress shirt comes in sizes that reflect the neck size and arm length of the consumer (e.g. 16-32/33), European dress shirts for men come in general sizes (e.g. Small, Medium, Large) that are meant to fit off the rack but can also be tailored to provide a more bespoke fit.  Importantly, European dress shirts also fit vastly different.  European dress shirts are much slimmer around the torso than American dress shirts, and while this may rule out some more indulgent Americans, it provides a chic slimming effect on the wearer by eliminating the baggy bulges of fabric that are commonplace on American dress shirts.  Additionally, this slim fit makes European dress shirts much more versatile than traditional dress shirts, in that they look great either tucked in or untucked, perfect for a seamless transition from the boardroom to a night out.

Secondly, these European dress shirts, and especially French shirts offered by designers like Franck Michel, contain stylish details that would shock your grandfather.  Franck Michel, for instance, has patented design details like French cuffs that are held together by leather bands that resemble a leather watchband.  Franck Michel also has introduced details such as the reverse collar, a collar that takes an extra turn, folding over twice and adding an unmistakable flourish to many of their shirts.  Additionally, many European dress shirts employ a double collar, another unique look that you won’t see from traditional offerings at the department store.

Lastly, these European dress shirts use the highest quality raw materials.  Because of the proximity of the designers to fabric markets in places like Italy, designers have strong relations to the world of high quality European textile manufacturing.  This leads to constantly refreshing collections with cotton of unmatched quality with unique patterns that are hard to find anywhere else.

These European dress shirts are increasingly becoming available stateside.  Franck Michel, for instance, now provides their shirts through menfashion.com.  Their collection refreshes constantly and prices range from $99 to almost $200 depending on the details incorporated in the shirt, and its relative novelty.