Originally Posted by
wj4
RFX-since you mentioned sport shirts...how would you define it as oppose to a dress shirt. I'm asking because I'm having a hard time differentiating myself.
I read this article and the reason behind it is horrible. (About how sport shirt should fit more loosely) Because, IMO, fit is everything.
http://mensfashion.about.com/od/wardrobebasics/a/DressSportShirt.htm
While true, it is a changing tradition. Sport shirts are meant to be more loose and casual for a more relaxed look but the same with how suits are trading inthe fuller look for a more slim and modern cut, the shirts fit are changing as well. Even sport shirts are crossing that line of being formal or moreacceptible in less than casual occassions.
To me, it is in the look and pattern first. I would consider plaid as dress shirt. More colorful striped patterns that are less subdued like Paul Smiths andEtro shirts are more of a sport shirt than dress shirt, again someone with balls could wear it with a suit and pull it off but it isn't exactlytraditional. For stripes shirts, I think the solid background color has to be lighted and than the stripes instead of vice versa. Like white shirt with blackor blue stripe instead of a black shirt with white stripes.
It is also in how it looks, if you browse around Polo.com and their shirts, you can kind of see how the collars differ, the shape and such and you can justtell one is more formal than the other. Like some of Rugby's shirts has a rounded collar, pretty hard for me to consider that a dress shirt. Another thingI look at is the material, dress shirts has to be pretty thin yet smooth. Most sport shirts, are heavy like oxfords, not that sport shirt can't be thin,they are just more usual with heavier cloths. Another example are those lumber shirts, they are heavy and thick, i'd say those are sport shirts. Anotherpart of the material I look for is how it feels (and look as well). I can't quite put it into words or classification but some sport shirts are meant to bewrinkled or worn look while dress shirts are meant to be crisp and ironed all the time.
Button downs, or collars with buttons, are difficult to distinguish as they are part of the class that has crossed the line into a more dressy situation. It ismore acceptible now to have those buttons in dress shirts.
Edit: Added= Length could be considered as well, like Band of Outsiders. Their shirts are really short and I honestly doesn't think it is meant to betucked in so I say it is a sport shirt than a dress shirt.
Well, that is all I could think of right now and this is just my opinions and should be taken with a grain of salt. No need to set this as a rule of somesorts, just my opinions and anyone are free to disagree. Thats my disclaimer.
I'll add more if I think of any.
