PLAIN FORMAL SHIRTS

In short: plain formal shirts are solid-coloured shirts made for work and occasions, and most men get more wear out of them than anything else they own. Selected cuts them in slim and regular fits, nearly all with spread collars, in cotton, organic cotton and a handful of non-iron and stretch styles. Buy white first, then light blue.

Think back to the last big meeting you had. You remember the room, maybe the coffee. Not your shirt, and that’s how it should be. A good plain formal shirt stays out of the way. Your blazer sits properly, your tie lies flat, and you’re not tugging at your collar in the lift on the way up. Prints have their moment and fade from rotation. Plain formal shirts stay, because they get along with everything.

What Makes a Plain Formal Shirt Different

Colour has very little to do with it. A formal shirt earns the name through how it’s made: a collar stiff enough to hold its shape under a jacket, cuffs that won’t fray after a month of rubbing against a watch strap, and fabric with a smooth, clean face.

Selected keeps things simple here. Clean fronts. Solid colours, from bright white to deep green and dark brown. A few shirts use a dobby or slub weave, so you get a bit of texture when someone’s standing close, while the shirt still reads as plain from across the room.

Slim or Regular: Choosing Your Fit

Right now the collection has 46 plain formal shirts. Twenty-five are slim fit, twenty-one regular, and honestly, neither is the “right” answer.

Slim fit sits closer to the chest and waist, so you don’t get that parachute of fabric above your belt. Lean guys love it. Regular fit is more forgiving. More room in the shoulders, more room after a big lunch. Got a broad back, or carrying a few extra kilos? Go regular and don’t overthink it.

Here’s a trick worth trying before you commit. Button the shirt all the way, then reach forward as if you’re grabbing a file from the other side of the desk. Buttons straining? Fabric pulling tight across your back? Size up, or switch fits. Sizes go from XS to XXL, and the size guide saves returns.

Collars, Cuffs and the Small Details

Almost every shirt in this collection has a spread collar. The points sit wide enough to frame a tie knot properly, yet the collar still looks neat when you take the tie off at seven and undo the top button.

Sleeve length is where most men go wrong. Arms hanging loose, the cuff should stop near the base of your thumb. Under a jacket, you want maybe half an inch of cuff peeking out. Cuffs creeping over your knuckles? The sleeves are too long, and no fabric in the world will rescue that.

Fabrics: What You’re Actually Wearing

Cotton runs this collection, split almost exactly down the middle between regular and organic. You’ll know which is which because the organic ones say so in the product name. Good cotton breathes, takes a sharp press and softens a bit with every wash, which matters in a Mumbai June.

Then come the practical ones. Non-iron shirts are for anyone who has stood at an ironing board at quarter to eight, already late, and thought: never again. Stretch and performance styles move with you, which you’ll notice on days full of commuting, presenting and dashing between floors. There are also a couple of lyocell shirts, including Tencel slub styles, and they hang a little softer than cotton does. Check the composition before you buy; two white shirts can look identical online and feel nothing alike.

How to Style Plain Formal Shirts

Get white and light blue sorted first. It’s no accident that blue is the biggest colour group in the collection and white the next. Together they’ll handle most of your working week, any interview, and plenty of dinners too.

The classic office look is still hard to beat: white shirt, charcoal or navy tailored trousers, brown leather shoes. Throw a blazer on for client meetings. Once you’ve got those basics, the more interesting colours open up. Beige, brown, dark green, even lilac. A dark green shirt with beige chinos looks easy and still put together. Brown with navy trousers? Underrated.

For weddings and festive evenings, a crisp white or a deep, rich plain colour under a dark suit will always look better in photos than something busy. Prints tend to argue with the jacket. Plain shirts don’t.

Caring for Your Shirts

A few habits go a long way. Turn darker shirts inside out before washing so the colour stays put. Undo every button first. Skip the dryer and hang them up instead. Iron while the fabric’s still a little damp and the creases fall out in half the time. If your collar’s started going yellow, scrub the inside gently with a soft brush and a dab of mild detergent before the wash.

Built to Last

Very little in a man’s wardrobe stays relevant for a decade. A well-made plain shirt is one of the exceptions. Own fewer, wear them often, look after them, and they’ll keep earning their place. That idea of versatile staples sits at the heart of how Selected approaches formal shirts, with tailored precision and nothing that’ll look dated by next season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which colour plain formal shirt should I buy first?

Start with a white formal shirt, then add light blue. White is the most formal option and works with every suit and trouser colour you own. Light blue is a little more relaxed, suits a wide range of skin tones and hides a long day’s wear better. Together, they cover nearly any workday or formal occasion.

Is a slim fit or regular fit formal shirt better?

It depends on your build rather than on either fit. Slim fit formal shirts suit leaner men and look tidy under a fitted blazer. Regular fit formal shirts leave more room through the chest and waist, so they’re more comfortable for broad shoulders, a fuller frame, or long days spent sitting at a desk.

Are non-iron formal shirts worth it?

If you travel a lot, start work early or simply hate ironing, non-iron formal shirts are worth it. They come out of the wash and out of a suitcase much smoother than regular cotton. For a really important day a quick press still helps, but most mornings you can just hang one up and go.

Can plain formal shirts be worn casually?

Absolutely. Roll the sleeves to the elbow, leave the top button open and swap tailored trousers for chinos or dark jeans. Softer shades like beige, brown or green look especially relaxed this way, and a spread collar sits neatly when it’s worn open. The same shirt can easily do the office and the weekend.

Find Your Everyday Shirt

Start with white, add light blue, and let the rest follow. Explore plain formal shirts at Selected and build a wardrobe rooted in quality.