There is the four-legged stool for men that refers to the four tailored garments every man should have in his closet. The charcoal suit, the blue suit, the gray suit, and the blazer. These allow you to be ready for everything, from the big meeting in the boardroom to the after-hours event, without spending a ton of money on a dozen suits. Versatility is key. The same concept exists for shirts. You need a handful of shirts that can be worn when pitching the big proposal in the office or grabbing drinks with friends. While the white shirt is the baseline shirt every man should have, there is one shirt that is even more important; the blue dress shirt for men is the secret weapon. It is versatile, attractive, and easy to wear. Here’s what you need to know about the most vital shirt in your wardrobe.
The secret weapon for your tailored wardrobe
At the end of the day, we’re simple people. Men like something easy, that doesn’t require a lot of thought, and makes us look fantastic. The crisp white dress shirt is the most classic option for men to wear under their suits. It is the blank slate that goes with any suit and any tie. But it is also the most boring of the bunch. It doesn’t give a lot of personality. The light blue shirt adds depth to your wardrobe. It is more playful and more eye-catching than the white shirt. But the best part is that it goes with virtually every suit and tie, and the white shirt pairs well with them.
It is the perfect transition shirt
I did some image consulting for law firms and finance firms a few years ago, and there were challenges around every corner. But one of the more unexpected challenges I faced was an attorney who refused to wear anything but a black suit and white shirt. He considered it his uniform, a holdover from his time as an intern with a judge in the late 80s. While getting him into a blue or a gray suit was entirely out of the question, the one compromise we were able to make was to get him into a light blue shirt. Here is how I sold him on the idea.
You see, he was the kind of man who wanted all of his focus on his clients. He wanted every ounce of brain power to be used on getting his clients the best possible outcome. Therefore, he wanted things he didn’t have to think about. What he didn’t realize was that every suit and tie he wore worked for the blue shirt. Everything he wore, including his white shirt, was an appropriate replacement. It was a simple change, but it made a world of difference for his look. Eventually, he even adopted a blue suit. The blue shirt was the stepping stone.
It looks great with every pattern out there
Once you pick up the four-legged stool of dress shirts — white, blue, off-white, and black — you can start expanding to patterns. Patterns are a great way to add depth to your suit wardrobe and pair well with ties. And, of course, it breaks up the monotony of the solid shirts. Wearing nothing but solid shirts reflects a lack of imagination, an inability to take risks, and an aura of stuffiness that no man should be ok with.
Blue shirts tend to look best with all patterns. Whether you’re a lover of the striped look, a good microcheck, or something a bit more wild like paisley, the pattern is exceedingly attractive with a light blue base. So when you start looking for the patterns to add to your shirt wardrobe, blue is going to be the first one you expand.
Light blue is the color of the season every spring
Finally, springtime is the perfect time to add a light blue shirt to your wardrobe. Not only is it lighter, like a white shirt, and will look great with your summer-weight suits, but it will also be the go-to for your outfits, whether for Easter or Kentucky Derby looks. Easter is always big on pastels, pinks, yellows, and greens, which are all well-suited for the guys who are a little more outlandish with their Easter outfits, but blue is for the guy who wants to celebrate but doesn’t want to be the center of attention. And for the Kentucky Derby outfits, most of them involve the color blue for some reason, so therefore the blue shirt is the perfect base.
Spring is in full swing, and your wardrobe is ready for a refresh. If you have never worn a light blue shirt, there are more of you than you think, so this is the time. If you have, you’ve likely begun to take it for granted, and now is the time to revisit it and give it the attention it deserves.
