Different Types of Shirts for Men
While the clothing manufacturers claim there are 20–30 types of men’s shirts or styles, every man needs to know at least the basic types or the ones that may be of regular use.
Types of Men’s Shirts Based on the Sartorial Elements
1. Sleeve
- Long-sleeved
These shirts are considered a staple workwear for professionals and white-collar executives.
- Short-sleeved
Blue-collar or unorganized sector employees prefer these shirts, which require maximum free-hand movement. These are considered casual shirts for men.
2. Type of weave
- Plain
Plain weave is nothing but ordinary woven shirts without any special pattern.
- Oxford
These are dress shirts for men’s formal and informal suits with a closed or tight basket weave.
- Twill
It is one of the oldest weaving types in which diagonals are formed.
- Herringbone
This weaving type takes inspiration from Herring fish’s backbone forming V-shaped diagonals.
3. Fabric
- Cotton
The most sought-after fabric in men’s shirts for its natural fibers, breathability, softness, and skin-friendliness. Also, it is considered one of the best shirts for men.
- Wool
A thick fabric perfect for temperature regulation and insulation against cold weather—made of animal fleece.
- Flannel
A specific type of fabric made of cotton, synthetic, or wool fiber blends.
4. Collar
- Classic
A traditional collar type with pointed ends. Most branded shirts for men have this collar type.
- Spread
A modern collar type similar to the classic but with a wide or spread distance between the collar points.
- Buttoned-down
As the name implies, this shirt has a button fastening for the collar and the shirt’s front panel.
- Banded
Also referred to as a Mandarin collar, this type has a band-like neck enclosure.
- Curved
Instead of pointed collars, these shirts have rounded or curved collars.
5. Print or color
- Solid: A single-color shirt without any design or print. Plain shirts for men are suitable for formal occasions, like conferences, business meetups, etc.
- Printed
-
- Checkered: A shirt with checks, plaid, or tartans with two or more colors.
- Stripes: Vertical or horizontal stripes with different lengths and widths.
- Butta: These are all-over-printed shirts with trending designs, patterns, or shapes—geometric, abstract, or anything small and adorable. These are celebrated as the trendy shirts for men this decade.
6. Occasion
- Formal
A suit dress shirt or tuxedo shirt is considered formal and professional.
- Casual
Unlike structured and rigid formal shirts, these shirts are relaxed and creative.
- Semi-formal
These are smart formal shirts that balance formal and casual occasions.
Frequently asked questions
1. What type of shirt is trending?
At present, minimalist shirts with minimal designs or prints are popular. With all-over-prints, men like abstract, geometric, or catchy shapes, like anchors, rockets, cars, keys, leaves, etc. While adult men have these preferences, the Gen Z group prefers oversized shirts with wild and bold graphics.
Needless to say—solid or plain shirts with a single color are a timeless choice for most men.
Buy 100% cotton Oxford solid wholesale branded shirts in bulk for your clothing store from the leading wholesaler in India!
2. Where can I bulk buy the latest men’s shirts for my clothing store?
As a clothing shop owner, you can buy the latest and trending men’s shirts from offline textile markets or online wholesale clothing suppliers. Lately, clothing shop owners and resellers tend to show increased interest in buying men’s shirts through online sampling and ordering, which results in time-saving, reduced effort, and cost savings.
3. How many types of men's shirts are there?
There are more than thirty types of men's shirts, considering factors like style, fabric, collar, sleeve, fit, occasion, print, and color. The most common and widely accepted types include formal, smart formal (or semi-formal), casual, full-sleeved, and half-sleeved.