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A slim-fit designer shirt is a must for most men’s wardrobes - here’s how to make them shine.
If you prefer the cut of your cloth more form- and figure-hugging than big and baggy, a slim-fit shirt is a great option. Tucking in to the waist with a graceful taper, and sporting arm fabric that closely caresses the musculature, slim fits are well-suited to triangular, trapezoid, and rectangular body shapes.
All these aesthetic adjustments make slim-fit designer shirts sleek, contemporary, and poised to work with a vast range of bottoms and accessories, and as such their shape complements all manner of looks.
Such flexibility can be a double-edged sword though, so if you’re scrolling through page after page of shirts and don’t know which to choose or how to rock one, here are some of our stylists’ top tips.
Slim-fit designer shirts come with several collar types to pick and choose from.
Classic pointed collars are a go-to for work or formal occasions, or you could invest in a cutaway collar for a super-modern look. Grandad shirts are a more laid-back, everyday style, alongside button-down designs from the likes of Reiss which offer the ultimate in flexibility.
It might sound like one of those questions destined to be eternally debated, but the answer to the tuck-untuck slim-fit style conundrum is simple: tuck it in.
If you have the right physique for a slim-fit shirt - muscular, non-dad-boddish, gym-honed, slight or slender - then the typical tucking bugaboos of above-trouser belly rolls or a top-heavy silhouette won’t factor.
If they do, you are probably best off going for a tailored, classic, or ample-fit shirt that gives you a bit more breathing room and doesn’t risk shooting a button from your navel!
Slim fit shirts work because they’re fitting to the wearer’s form. Alas, though, every man is different, so with something so figureful, it pays to measure yourself before you go shopping.
For online purchases, make sure to check the circumference of your neck and the length of your arms from shoulder to wrist - the two measurements that matter most - against the product details.
If you’re trying on in person, take note of how much the sleeves ride up when you flex your arms. Too tight, or if the collar rises too high up the wrist, and you might want to try a larger size.
The most important in-person sizing tip though is the one-finger rule. Try on the shirt, do up the top button, then pop your forefinger between your neck and the collar. If it can’t fit, it’s too tight. If you can fit more than a single finger, it’s too loose.
While some baggier and less structured shirt styles are more befitting of casual looks, slim-fit designer numbers really do suit your suit.
Smart shirts by nature, thanks to their tuck-friendly styling, a slim-fit can be a powerful pick for more formal attire. Consider styling yours with slim or skinny-fit suit trousers that taper slenderly down to the shoe and follow the shin’s slight curve rearwards.
That way, when you take off your suit jacket for dinner your top and bottoms will work in a suave concert, without any excess fabric getting in the way of your silhouette.
No, we’re not recommending you gird your quads with shirt stays (Peaky Blinders was so 2019). Instead, a slim-fit designer shirt can be taken up to the next degree with a few well-placed accessories.
First up is the classic collar bar. Tucking in the top of your shirt and providing an even-more figure-hugging look, they add an extra ounce of sophistication. Worn with a tie, they’re ace for adding an extra pop to smaller knots. And for a smooth, contemporary look, consider wearing the collar bar on its own, letting the metal do the talking.
Cufflinks are a must for more sophisticated designer shirts, and offer an extra avenue of personalisation for your outfits. Consider a plain silver or gold pair (depending on your preference when it comes to men’s jewellery), plus a set featuring a plain, classy, in-set stone like jet.
There are all sorts of slim fit designer shirts to peruse in Fenwick’s extensive selection. View the range online, or even better, come see us in store to try on in person and find the most comfortable fit for your form.
