Sartorial advice: party shirts

Oh my. I’m reduced to asking strangers who ride bikes about my dress sense…

…but normally I’m mr_m&s and next basically. Chinos or 5-pocket smart jeans, Oxford shirt in blue, white, some other plain colours. Heck, I’ve got two grey shirts…Similar simple jumpers in modest colours.

But I fancy something a bit more fun for the Christmas parties (the staff one is end of November). I’ve also another business but informal fun/celebration event before Christmas too…

So, where to get a nice partyish shirt that’s more fun than I usually wear but doesn’t scream ‘me me me’…

I’m looking at White Stuff at the moment. What else/where else?

Joe Browns do some fancy shirts…

https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/mens-clothing/mens-shirts

I’d be either keeping my eyes out at TK Maxx for a bargain (if in no rush), or look at Paul Smith (or PS by Paul Smith for the lower price point).

Vinted. Hubby has bought quite a few garments from there. He also loves TKmax.

I browsed TK Maxx yesterday. It was so plain and boring, and all slim fit. I am not slim fit…

^

nice partyish shirt that’s more fun than I usually wear but doesn’t scream ‘me me me’…

Nothing says Christmas like some lights

I’ve found some decent casual shirts at Charles Thyritt(?) and TM Lewin before, stuff that has been obviously casual, cotton, decently priced and useable outside of a work event.

I have well, several, shirts that fall into this category from them and the Swedish equivalent. My go-to for _serious_ partying is my genuine Hawaiian though. Nothing says “I came here to party, and party HARD” like a Hawaiian shirt with dolphins on.

Guide London do some lovely shirts.

Men's Long Sleeve Shirts

I’ve got a couple of Guides, bit more interesting than normal. Ted Baker used to be my usual place, not sure how much they are trading at the moment and may not come under the “not slim fit” category.

Dragon shirt!

I bought a White Stuff bike shirt.

^ that’s one I’m looking at.

Dixxon bamboo, great fit and lots of different designs. They even have a section called “party shirts” free delivery this weekend too

Men's Party Shirts

Nothing says “I came here to party, and party HARD” like a Hawaiian shirt with dolphins on.

To quote John Cooper-Clark “You could go to the wedding of two of your most fun loving friends, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, and other guests would quietly take you to one side and ask ‘what have these people done to you to make you hate them so much’ ”

🙂

I have a great party shirt bought from a Nepalese guy in Chapel Style Village Hall. (Langdale valley the lake district)

The last time i wore it, at a very well attended 60th birthday, a woman said i was the man with best shirt in the room

It has think red orange and yellow vertical stripes

Something like this

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1656279769/nepalese-cotton-handmade-striped-grandad?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_c-clothing&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjwvpy5BhDTARIsAHSilykWnIu7nqpsvdruYJ8IIDRrULv95c901wdDlCUNPfAwnd-L4At-Wm0aAp13EALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_21626258585_167456376938_710839154773_pla-360912201277_m__1656279769engb_102858184&utm_custom2=21626258585&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADutTMfuI6qOCi5WUdtujFJszQHzK&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvpy5BhDTARIsAHSilykWnIu7nqpsvdruYJ8IIDRrULv95c901wdDlCUNPfAwnd-L4At-Wm0aAp13EALw_wcB

I struggled with this. Reckon must have worn the same 2 or 3 are company shirts on rotation for the last 5 years. Don’t go out that much! Wanted new ones and struggled to find anything, did eventually find a couple in Next this time round and a nice pink one in Superdry. I must have gone shirt shopping at least 3 times before and not found anything I liked before I eventually found some ok ones. That’s me sorted for the next 5 years and the old ones are still good enough to wear too!

Based on my wife’s experience of dress shopping it’s a waste of time actually going to the shops. Browse online, pick a selection (Karen Millen delivered next morning on 4 dresses ordered at 10pm the night before!) and then send back the ones you don’t like. Having browsed Next online I’d just do that next time too. So easy to send stuff back too!

Superdry, you say? 

I’m a BIG fan of a cheeky floral shirt. As above i buy at tk maxx but then i wear a slim fit, and i do frequent charity shops

Brand recommendations i can make are:

Remus Uomo

French Connection

Jasper J Conran

Jeff Banks

R2 Amsterdam

Brook Taverner

And consider also Next and M&S Autograph

binners
Superdry, you say?

I know, 1st thing I’ve actually bought from there. sadly only a small fabric logo though

Go random….. https://www.shiteshirts.com/products/shiteshirts

There’s a shop on the high street in Peebles that took so much of our money. My first born son’s wedding was a very colourful event thanks to them. Red and blue lobster shirt and clockworko’saurus socks. And oh-my-word, thieir brogues are to die for!

https://grahammcgraths.co.uk/

There is a very similar emporium in Carmarthen, likewise Brecon

https://evansandwilkins.co.uk/

I’d never have thought of ever, ever stepping foot inside a shop like this and I really wish that I hadn’t- the clothes are so gorgeous. I bet that there is a similar ‘gentleman’s outfitter’ near you. It really is worth going in.

You can thank me later.

I immediately thought of this. You’re mad you are!

But. If there’s any dancing scheduled, make sure you get the full outfit. Mikki Disco never goes out of fashion!

If you’re in Carmarthen, Jackie James has a good range, too.

Guide shirts – go one size up.

If you really want to get the Christmas party started, try https://www.opposuits.co.uk/collections/men-christmas-suits – I have 2, and if you have the cojones to wear them, you’ll get a stopped by strangers to tell you how cool/fun/amazing your suit is 😉

Ted Baker used to be my usual place, not sure how much they are trading at the moment and may not come under the “not slim fit” category.

They’re not. You’re gonna have to go elsewhere. My go-to shirt for an event that need’s something a bit smarter than a tee shirt is a chambray Taylor Stitch western-style shirt, in a light blue-grey. But then, I don’t go to many events that require smart.

The last time i wore it, at a very well attended 60th birthday, a woman said i was the man with best shirt in the room

Never ever listen to your own mum’s compliments is my advice.

This is my grandson, his mum said he “looked lovely,” I sense a heavy dose of scepticism.

But. If there’s any dancing scheduled, make sure you get the full outfit. Mikki Disco never goes out of fashion!

It’s a ceilidh. And no I’m not kilting up, I’m not Scottish enough.

Honestly, best to just go to a big shopping centre and wander round trying on anything you vaguely like the look of.

Where’s @tjagain when we need him?

Go to your nearest Slaters, get measured and try on what they recommend.

I can almost feel the scorn already for recommending Slaters.

https://www.slaters.co.uk/christmas/partywear

Where’s @tjagain when we need him?

Hiding 🙂   But if you insist:

No short sleeved shirts.  You are not Dilbert.  Edit:  You can roll sleeves up

No loud patterns.  A subtle pattern might be OK but plain colours are better

Go bold with colours and match it to a jumper in a different but complementary colour.  I have a plum shirt worn with a lavender jumper that gets scorn from men and is loved by the ladies 🙂

Well you did ask

Came here hoping for top advice on riding attire for the various bike park jams next year.

Left disappointed.

( also, look at https://partyshirtinternational.com/collections/long-sleeves for a number of entirely inappropriate ideas )

Can’t go wrong with White stuff (apart from the price), my go to for nice clothes full stop.

Wow!!!

I have a great party shirt bought from a Nepalese guy in Chapel Style Village Hall. (Langdale valley the lake district)

The last time i wore it, at a very well attended 60th birthday, a woman said i was the man with best shirt in the room

It has think red orange and yellow vertical stripes

Nice shirt and she was probably right.  Next time you are out just look around the room and see what a dull palette of colours most men wear.   Anyone with a splash of colour stands out a mile. ( In a good way)

I checked the slaters link – some lovely velvet blazers in nice colours 🙂