Frugal Male Fashion: Work Shirt Styles for Gentlemen on a Budget
While we should not “judge a book by its cover”, the way you dress is among the first things that people notice about you. Especially when it comes to workwear, you have to carefully navigate between looking professional and stylish while being comfortable at the same time. If you do not have a few thousand bucks to spare for Egyptian cotton shirts and custom tailoring, not to worry. We got you covered! Dressing well but frugally is all about knowing what styles flatter you, which fabrics work in all seasons, and investing in a few key pieces that can effortlessly elevate any outfit.
Let us take you through some classic and universally flattering work shirt styles that you can wear without having to break the bank!
Oxford Button-down Shirt
An OCBD—Oxford Cloth Button Down—is just as essential to a man’s wardrobe as an LBD a woman’s. The word “essential” gets thrown around a lot, but this is one piece of clothing that truly lives up to that term. Oxford shirts are simple, versatile, and comfortable. It is a clean-cut shirt that gives you the “preppy” look of an Ivy League alum. Oxford Shirts are different from dress shirts due to their button-down collar. When you put together your frugal work wardrobe, get a few Oxford shirts in neutral solid colors that you can mix and match with your jackets and pants.
Linen Shirt
Linen is a natural fabric that is breathable and highly durable. It is also one of the rare fabrics that you can wear all throughout the year, across all seasons. The lightweight and moisture-wicking fabric will keep you comfortable during the summer months, and it will help retain the heat from your body and keep you cozy during the winter months as well. Linen shirts come in universally flattering colors such as grey, taupe, navy blue, and more. A few linen shirts in your wardrobe will keep you looking stylish and snug always.
Cotton Shirt
Cotton is lightweight, breathable, hypoallergenic, versatile, and affordable—what’s not to love? Cotton fabrics also have a vivid color pay off, so if you plan to add some pops of color to your shirt collection, cotton shirts are the way to go. Cotton is also quite easy to maintain, which means you do not have to spend money on expensive dry cleaning every time you wear it. You can start out with affordable cotton blends, and make your way towards higher thread counts and fancier cotton fabrics later on.
Tunic Shirt
This is a classic shirt silhouette that has quite a long history, especially in Asian countries. It has long sleeves, a loose fit, and a slit neckline. Ideal for casual Fridays, you can wear a tunic shirt as it is without tucking in. Keeping things simple and stylish at the same time. The Chinese collar keeps and the long length will easily keep the look professional and put together without. You can get tunic shirts in a variety of patterns and fabrics. Simply accessorize with a watch and a pair of Oxford shoes and you are ready to go!
Dress Shirts
This is where you may have to splurge a little bit, but trust us, it is worth it. All you need is a couple of really nice dress shirts in neutral colors to look dapper at all your fancy office functions. A dress shirt is a fashion staple. Go for a nice natural fabric blend with a thicker weave for your dress shirt. Make sure you get the right fit and tailor it to your measurements if possible. Even if you go for a fabric that is not fancy, a little bit of tailoring can make all the difference!