Since Mad Men is still on everyone’s mind, I want to point out that the one article of clothing that will always be associated with Don Draper is the pressed white dress shirt. From the early days of the show, he always had a neat, fresh, fully stocked pile stashed away in his desk as if to say, “I can wear the same suit even after a night of carousing but this shirt makes it all ok.” The white shirt may have been a sign of professionalism in the early 60’s but today wearing colors, stripes and even patterns can be just as respectable.
When I’m designing uniforms, especially for certain industries, I want something that is going to set it apart and often, especially with men’s attire, a finely tailored shirt with flair can make a very positive difference.
Many designers have beautiful dress shirts that look great under suits and could easily be worn with a variety of uniforms. For instance, this floral Ted Baker print is dashing underneath a blue suit. It is classy, professional and certainly would stand out from the same old pinstripe with a white or blue dress shirt underneath. I could easily see it on hotel concierges, doormen and even servers in very high-end restaurants with eclectic menus.
Several shirt manufacturers have well-designed yet relatively inexpensive shirts that can tastefully spruce up uniforms, too. For under $100, I can find striped and checked shirts in a variety of colors that look terrific under suits, with or without a tie. These shirts are also very durable and easy to launder, a plus for anyone who needs a quick turn around, as is often the case with uniforms.
Of course there is still a place for the solid white or blue shirt, but often it tends to be a standard “go to” without much thought behind it. I find with my clients, I often have to show them how striking a patterned or striped shirt can be, and more times than not, they are wowed by the look of something just slightly different. Most companies want to have a recognizable brand. Be it a hotel brand or a commercial real estate developer, adding a less generic shirt to the suit, can be just the right touch.
