Do you know the differences between a dress
There are plenty of differences, as you’ll soon see. Let’s go over the the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences below, so you’re wearing the right
Dress Shirt vs Sport Shirt Style
What’s the easiest way to tell the difference between a dress and a sport
The lines are a bit blurred and there are exceptions on both sides of the fence, but in general, dress shirts tend to be more conservatively styled and colored since they’re meant for, well, being dressed formally. They tend to have stiffer collars (to withstand things like neckties underneath them and suit jacket lapels on top of them).
Sport shirts get away with more patterns, bigger and bolder patterns, pockets, epaulets, decorative stitching and buttons,
Summary of Style Differences
Dress | Sport |
More conservative colors | Can have bolder, brighter colors |
Plain, simple styling | May have more decorative features and styling |
Stiffer collar and placket | Softer collar and placket (lighter interfacing) |
Dress Shirt Sizing vs Sport Shirt Sizing
Most off-the-rack dress shirts give you two measurements on the tag: neck and sleeve length.
For example, if I’m buying a
Sizing differs between brands, and even models under the same brand name, so it’s important to try on a bunch of different shirts.
In general, if you typically wear a 15 x 32/33 (that’s 15″ neck, 32/33″ sleeve), you’d most likely be a 38 or 40 in European sizing. Again, you have to try on a bunch of different sizes to nail the right fit for you, since everyone has different shapes and proportions.
By contrast, sport shirts’ sizing is even more general, and are usually sized S, M, L, like regular T-shirts and jackets.
Summary of Sizing Differences
Dress | Sport |
Neck x sleeve length (15 x 32/33) | S, M, L, etc. |
European sizing (38, 40, 42, etc.) | S, M, L (same thing) |
Dress Shirt vs Sport Shirt Fabrics
Here are some
- Cotton: a type of fiber
- Yarn: Cotton fibers are spun into yarn
- Fabric: Cotton yarn is woven together to create cotton fabric
- Weave: The style and pattern in which cotton yarn is woven
So when you see terms like broadcloth, twill, pinpoint, oxford, these are different weave styles. A broadcloth dress
Dress shirts are typically made with cottons of finer weaves. When I say finer, I mean tighter weave, and smaller thread.
Dress shirts, because of the fabric’s tight weave and fine yarn, will have a slight sheen to them. This sheen adds to the dressiness of the
By contrast, sport shirts are less formal. (Traditionally, they were designed for “sport”). If you consider the popular Oxford cloth
Summary of Fabric Differences
Dress | Sport |
Finer, smaller, and / or plain weaves (smooth) | More texture (can be seen and felt) |
Slight sheen to the fabric | No sheen |
Silhouette and Fit of Dress Shirts vs Sport Shirts
There are many different silhouettes, or fits, your dress shirts and sport shirts can have.
In general, a “slim” fit, relative to your proportions, is best. What does this look like?
- You want enough room in the chest, shoulders, back, and sleeves to comfortably move around, while minimizing extra fabric
- A slight taper in the body of the
shirt , again, to minimize extra fabric, while making sure none of the buttons are pulling
OK, this is tough to describe. Your body is different from mine, so there is no exact measurement I can tell you to follow. But in general, you want your
Keep this in mind:
- One man’s perfect fit may be labeled as “slim fit”, while a “traditional fit” could be slim enough on a bigger guy.
- What one brand considers Slim, another brand may label as Traditional
Find brands where you can dial in your fit, and stick with those brands, for the easiest shopping experience.
For example, I know that with Uniqlo’s OCBDs, I wear a slim medium, or a regular small. Both work, though I actually prefer a regular small, because it gives me more room in the body.
In J.Crew shirting, I’m also a slim medium or a regular small. The more you try shirts from different brands, you’ll start to hone in on the best sizes and fits for you.
If it’s too tight, but it technically is your size, try sizing up or experimenting with a different model or brand.
Summary of Silhouette / Fit Differences
Both your dress shirts and sport
You’ll have to try on a bunch of different brands and shirts, and once you find the stores and fits that work best for you, stick with those.
Dress Shirt Length vs Sport Shirt Length
This is one of the biggest differentiators between sport and dress shirts, in my opinion. My friend Andrew at Primer put together this great article that easily illustrates the differences in length between sport shirts and dress shirts.
Here’s the thing. Dress shirts are meant to be tucked in, so traditionally, they’re made longer. This is so when you’re moving throughout the day, your
Sport shirts have lower side seams and shorter shirttails, so you can wear them untucked.
In general, when you’re wearing a sport
Summary of Differences In Length
Dress | Sport |
longer in the body | shorter in the body |
hem often covers butt and crotch area | hem ends above the bottom of zipper or mid-back pocket |
must be worn tucked in only | can be worn tucked or untucked |
A Summary, And The Bottom line
When trying to figure out if a
- Is the fabric smooth with a slight sheen (dress
shirt ), or slightly more textured with a visible weave (sportshirt )? - Does the
shirt have decorative stitching, epaulets, or button pockets? (It’s a casual sportshirt ) - Does the
shirt hem go past your butt, and look like it’s meant to be tucked in? (Dressshirt )
Of course there are exceptions to everything. For example, plaid-patterned dress shirts exist, oxford cloth dress shirts exist. But the more you study your shirting, the quicker you’ll be able to pick up the slight differences.
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