A shirt looks like a safe purchase, right up until the parcel arrives and the shoulders are hanging off you.
Four types, four different jobs
Oxford is the most versatile of them. The fabric carries a little texture, it is neat enough for the office, and it still works untucked.
Stripe gives you a detail without asking you to add anything else. Because the pattern is already doing the work, keep what you wear below it plain.
Cuban has an open collar and a looser cut. It was made for heat, and it was never designed to be tucked in.
Koko is for Friday prayers, iftar gatherings and Eid. The cut runs straight and covers more.
How to choose a size
Start at the shoulder. The shoulder seam should land right at the edge of your shoulder, not droop down onto your upper arm. A shoulder that sits wrong is the one thing a tailor cannot fix without taking the whole shirt apart.
The chest is allowed to sit a little loose. Sleeve length and body length can be shortened later if you need it.
The mistake almost everyone makes
Buying one size up for comfort. What usually happens is the opposite: the shoulders slip down, the sleeves widen, and the shirt looks borrowed. If you want more room, look for a cut that was built loose in the first place, like a cuban.
