We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

What are Fitted Dress Shirts?

By Janis Adams
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Designed specifically for both men and women, fitted dress shirts are those shirts that are intended to be slim fitting regardless of the physique of the person wearing them. Fitted dress shirts are made from a variety of different clothes, though most popular are those materials that stay pressed well and so add to the neat appearance desired when choosing this type of shirt. Fitted shirts tend to show off the figure or the build of the person wearing them, as they are made to be form-fitting garments.

Men's fitted dress shirts are commonly worn under suits. This type of shirt reduces the bulk that a looser fitting shirt will create. A suit jacket will fit more comfortably when a fitted shirt is worn along with it. Men's fitted shirts flatter the torso of the person wearing them, making it appear even trimmer than it naturally is. Most often this type of men's shirt will feature a point collar.

Fitted dress shirts designed for women allow a woman's shape to be accentuated, creating the appearance of a small waistline. This type of women's shirt will come with any length of sleeve, including even those that are sleeveless. Most often, the shirts that feature a full-length sleeve will have a single or double button at the cuff, creating a neat and tailored look. If there is a pleat detailing at the back of the shirt, it will be quite slight, as anything larger will defeat the purpose of the fitted appearance.

Most department stores will carry fitted dress shirts in the same section where traditional dress shirts can be found. Many designers of both men's and women's dress shirts will also feature a line of fitted dress shirts. These shirts come with and without a front pocket. Some are of a machine-washable variety, and others require that they be dry cleaned after each wearing to maintain their proper shape and pristine appearance.

Fitted shirts do not need to be custom made. The key to finding the right shirt is knowing the proper size. If the proper size of a person desiring a fitted dress shirt is not known, it is best to go to a department store and ask a fitter for help. After body measurements are taken, it is a quite simple process to determine what size would be best.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By Feryll — On Jan 17, 2015

My girlfriend bought me my first fitted dress shirt. I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't know the difference between the fitted shirts and the ones I wear. I wear what my father always wore when I was growing up. I copied him, and didn't give it a second thought.

Given the option, I would have all of my dress clothes tailored, but I can't afford this. The cost of tailoring clothing can add up rather quickly. Thanks to my girlfriend, I have discovered that fitted dress shirts are an adequate alternative to having my shirts tailored, and by buying the fitted ones I don't have to spend the extra money on alterations.

By Sporkasia — On Jan 16, 2015

@mobilian33 - Contrary to what many people seem to think, really big and loose clothing doesn't usually flatter bigger people. If you are overweight and you wear over-sized baggy clothing then this draws more attention to your weight. The important thing to remember about fitted clothing is that fitted doesn't mean tight clothing.

A fitted dress shirt makes any man look more appealing than does a shirt that is loose fitting around the middle and puffing out. The puffiness makes it appear that the man has extra layers around his sides and stomach.

By mobilian33 — On Jan 15, 2015

If you have a little more around the waist and midsection than you care to show then won't a fitted dress shirt draw attention to this area and the excess weight there? I think a loser fitting shirt or blouse would do a better job of hiding the fact that you have extra weight around your middle.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.