Unfortunately, none of this matters if it doesn’t fit right. The first step, and probably the most overlooked, is finding a dress shirt that fits you properly. Your actions reflect how you feel, so getting a dress shirt that’s comfortable and fits properly is of the utmost importance. Also, since you’re spending good money, expecting it to last awhile, you definitely want to get the right size.

If you’re browsing at a department store and not sure of your measurements, have one of the store clerks size you up. That’s what they’re there for. They’ll let you know your neck and sleeve measurements. The neck is measured around the neck just below the Adam’s apple but add a 1/2 inch for comfort. Your sleeve length is given from the center back of your neck, over the top of your shoulder and down to your wrist, arm hanging at your side. For the sake of convenience regarding neck size, 14.5″ is a small, 15″ and 15.5″ is a medium and 16″ and 16.5″ considered a large.

Make sure to try on your dress shirt as all designers have different sizing quirks. The neck and the shoulders should be checked first. The seam that connects the shoulder to the sleeve should come close or barely over to the end of your shoulder, allowing it to drape well. The shirt shouldn’t stretch across the chest. Also, the sleeves should end slightly past the break of the wrist so it can be seen beneath a suit coat.

I’d recommend finding a slim fitted shirt because it’s much easier to tuck in and stay tucked, along with giving a slimmer appearance. You don’t want it to billow like a ship’s sail out to sea. This gives a sloppy appearance, losing any dignity the dress shirt can easily provide. One thing to keep in mind, is if the collar and shoulder is fine but the sleeves long, you can get it tailored, along with tapering in the shirt if it puffs out too much.

We talked about dress shirt fabrics already, so I won’t get into that. To spare you the headache, however, of department store browsing and spending extra on tailoring, I’d recommend you try out our online custom dress shirt process. You can use the general measurements suggested above or input exact measurements from a well fitted dress shirt you already own. Your best bet is to start from scratch with a measuring tape. Here’s how you can measure yourself.

Regardless, if you choose online or at the store, make sure you get the fit that makes you look your best. If you don’t wear a dress shirt to work, it will still come in handy on the weekend or any surprise appearances requiring an impression. Make that impression the right one with the right fit.

What I find striking about the show, however, is the cinematic look and feel of it. Everything looks clean, shiny and new, which it was at that time. The actors and actresses look terrific, reflecting the period’s economic boom. Their style and fashion adds to their glamour of casual smoking, sex and booze, specifically for Don and Betty Draper. It’s not that they are wearing anything trendsetting or fashion forward for that era, but wearing something that is iconic and timeless for everyday use. The men are usually wearing dark colored, slim fitting, two button suits with skinny ties, complimented with a white dress shirt. It’s a sleek, simple look that defines that era and attitude, which looks fresh and modern today.

There’s been a growing interest with the Mad Men 1960’s style with the show’s audience, but also on the runways with fashion designers such as Michael Kors. Banana Republic had a splashy campaign tied in with this season’s premiere, hoping to cash in on the Mad Men frenzy and their own classic look. Personally, I like the custom tailored, slim fitting suits and skinny ties with a clean white shirt and French cuffs. There’s a simple elegance I find refreshing. It’s a look that can be a foundation for any man’s wardrobe, never going out of style like a fad, but proven to be a long term, quality investment.

So for those of you out there familiar with the Mad Men series and style, what are your thoughts? Do you feel like getting a skinny tie or a fedora and think “What would Don Draper do?” Do you like that classic look or go for something else?

I’ve learned the hard way that no two designers measure the same, each with their own sizing quirks. The Calvin Klein felt baggy but it was supposed to be fitted and the Hugo Boss was long on the sleeves, reaching my thumbs. I tried on a shorter sleeved Boss and it still was a little long but the only size they had left. After spending almost two hours looking for one shirt, I was pressed for time and compromised, going with the Boss.

I think the ordeal I’ve just described has probably happened to you as well. We’ve all spent time at a store looking for dress shirts and took the time to make sure it’s the right one, which can become a lengthy process. You may even skip trying it on and just find the size, only to find out later at home it needs to be returned or your stuck with an ill fitted shirt. It’s common for ready made shirts not to fit correctly, each with a unique flaw. Getting shirts tailored is great but that extra cost and time cause a lot of us to think twice.

I want my dress shirt to be unique, expressing my personality. Most importantly, I want it to fit right. A well fitted shirt makes anyone look better, complimenting their features, making a strong impression but also making you feel comfortable and confident as well. There’s nothing wrong with an edge in the office or the nightclub.

Well, I think it’s time we stopped compromising. It’s time to get the dress shirt we want, from the exact fit and finish, to the fabric, the cuff design and whatever else we can think of. Why? Because now we can.

We at Deo Veritas have come up with the ultimate solution. You can now design your own dress shirt online. The fabric we use is high end without the high end prices: Italian spun cotton from Tessitura Monti. We also offer a wide array of colors and patterns. The key to all of this is while you design your shirt, from the collar to the cuff, you will be able to see the changes during the shirt creation. Our rendering software shows you the exact image of your future shirt. What you see, is what you get. Another great feature is the sizing. You can go with the standard sizing offered by ready made shirts or you can take the extra step and use a tape measure. We offer direction on how to measure yourself, which takes about 10 minutes. We also recommend you include your height and weight, so we can get it sized perfectly. You can then save this feature into your profile so it’s a one step exercise.  Patrick Tuttle, a men’s style and fashion writer at Gearpatrol, posted this  review on our process and shirts.

What we want to provide you is an online, custom tailored experience in our dress shirts, providing the old world tradition of a tailor’s cut, but from your own home at your own leisure. We are empowering our customers to get what they want, when they want it, without any compromise on quality. It’s a place where technology meets tradition and we want you to be a part of it.