How to Style a Dress Shirt in 9 Steps

A dress shirt is a long-sleeved, collared, button-down shirt typically made of starchy cotton. Often associated with dressy or business casual outfits, this sleek wardrobe staple has more of an innately formal feel than a flannel shirt or a denim shirt, even if they are all button-up styles. However, you can build any type of look around this neutral piece, including a sleek date-night outfit, a classic menswear-inspired ensemble, or a classic casual look.

Retailers sell dress shirts in various colors and collar styles, giving wearers an endless amount of styling options. Follow these tips to style a dress shirt in a chic and classic manner.

• Accessorize with statement pieces. Dress shirts are a fantastic blank slate for any number of statement accessories. Pair a white button-down shirt with chunky jewelry, a bold hat (like a beret), or conversation-starting shoes. Learn how to accessorize with these styling tips.
• Add some color. Light blue and white are classic dress shirt colors, but you can add bright hues to mix it up. Wear dress shirts in bright colors with neutral accessories to balance the look.
  
• Dress it up. Lean into the formality of a dress shirt by pairing it with menswear-cut dress pants, a blazer, and some cufflinks (depending on the sleeve length). Accessorize the look with a slim necktie for some menswear-inspired flair. Learn how to wear a tie.
• Experiment with layering. Add layers to your dress shirt to bring warmth and personality to your outfit. For example, cover a ribbed knit turtleneck with an open dress shirt for a relaxed yet sophisticated effect, or throw a cable-knit cardigan over the shirt for some preppy style. Wear a dress shirt under a sleeveless jumpsuit or overalls to bring some collegiate energy to a painter-inspired outfit.
• Feature the collar. Spread collars and point collars are the two most common styles you’ll find on button-down dress shirts. A spread collar is wide with angled-out points, yielding a more relaxed look. Traditional point collars are long and point sharply downward, which you’ll commonly see with a tuxedo shirt.
• Keep it casual. Despite the formality of a dress shirt, it can work perfectly outside of dressy environments. Layer a classic white dress shirt under a fashionable pullover sweater so that the collar is visible. Finish the look with a pair of jeans for a classic yet casual ensemble. Check out this guide to jean styles.
• Pick the right cut. Dress shirts come in various fits, including extra slim, slim, modern, and classic. Each cut is progressively less fitted and produces a different silhouette. For example, the classic fit has loose sleeves and the most room in the chest, while the slim fit is snug in the chest with tapered sleeves. Choose the fit that feels most comfortable to you. However, keep in mind that a baggy dress shirt with excess fabric can look sloppy.
• Play with patterns. Don a dress shirt with a cheeky print to add personality to an outfit. A floral or striped dress shirt will complement different patterns within the same color family. For example, wear a blue and green floral shirt with navy striped trousers.
• Wrinkle-free is best. Always keep your dress shirts pressed and neatly hung up on hangers to prevent sloppy wrinkles, which can ruin the look. Keep an ironing board or a steamer handy.

Get a MasterClass Annual Membership and let Tan France be your very own style maestro. Queer Eye’s fashion guru spills everything he knows about building a capsule collection, finding a signature look, understanding proportions, and more (including why it’s important to wear underwear to bed)—all in a soothing British accent, no less.