Shirts – What Type Should I Buy for a Smart or Workwear Look vs Casual Wear?

Shirts are one of the most versatile, foundational pieces in any wardrobe. Whether you're dressing for a corporate setting, a smart-casual event, or simply building out your everyday style, the shirt you choose speaks volumes—about your shape, your taste, and your attention to fit.

But not all shirts are created equal. Fit, fabric, cut, and brand sizing vary significantly, and navigating these differences without trying them on can be incredibly frustrating.

In this guide, we’ll help you:

Choose the right shirt style for smart vs casual wear
Identify what to avoid based on body type and use case
Compare brand-specific fit insights
Understand fabric performance and silhouette impacts
Use Tellar.co.uk to eliminate sizing guesswork once and for all

Smart & Workwear Shirts: Precision, Structure, Professionalism

A smart shirt needs to convey competence and polish. Whether it’s for meetings, presentations, or client-facing work, structure and sharp tailoring are key.

1. Classic Button-Up Shirts

Best for: Office wear, formal business settings, interviews

Top brands:

Charles Tyrwhitt – generous fits, excellent for broader builds
Hawes & Curtis – true-to-size, good range of fits (slim, tailored, classic)
Reiss – modern, fitted, ideal for leaner frames
COS – clean lines, often oversized; verify size carefully

Fit Fundamentals:

Shoulders should align with the natural shoulder edge
Cuffs should peek about ½ inch under your blazer or coat
No pulling or gaping across the bust or chest

Avoid:

Oversized fits in professional environments unless explicitly styled that way
Poor collar structure—especially in formal settings, opt for medium or spread collars with reinforced seams

Tellar Tip: Use Tellar.co.uk to check how structured shirt fits vary between brands, especially around shoulders and bust/chest.

2. Silk or Satin Blouses (for Women)

Best for: Business-casual workplaces, smart dinners, layered looks

Recommended brands:

& Other Stories – fashion-forward with good drape
Whistles – flattering on curves, especially pear shapes
Massimo Dutti – sophisticated, but often runs slim
ME+EM – high quality, tailored, smart enough for boardrooms

Fabric Insight: Silk and satin require correct drape. Use French seams and quality finishes for professional polish.

Avoid:

Thin satin that clings; look for midweight silk with opacity
Poorly placed bust darts—they distort fit

Use Tellar.co.uk to assess bust-to-waist proportions before investing in premium workwear shirts.

3. Poplin or Oxford Shirts

Best for: Daily office wear, uniforms, under blazers

Best-sellers include:

Uniqlo – affordable, true to size but slightly boxy
Ralph Lauren – runs small in slim fit lines
Marks & Spencer – excellent for predictable UK sizing
GANT – sporty, tailored with longer torsos

Fit Notes:

Poplin is ideal for warmer offices—lightweight and smooth
Oxford cotton is thicker, more textured, ideal for layering

Avoid:

Heavily tapered styles if you carry weight around the middle
Shirts with no stretch if you’re full-shouldered or busty

Casual Shirts: Flexibility, Comfort, and Style Expression

Casual shirts allow more room to play with colour, cut, and texture. But they still need to align with your body proportions for a flattering fit.

1. Overshirts & Utility Shirts

Best for: Layering, casual daywear, transitional outfits

Notable brands:

Arket – high-quality cotton twill, boxy shapes
Weekday – gender-neutral sizing, relaxed fits
AllSaints – more structured, tapered to the waist
H&M – affordable basics with variable sizing

Fit Tips:

Designed to be worn open or as a mid-layer
Great on tall and athletic builds
Avoid if you're petite unless cropped—can overwhelm your frame

Tellar Tip: Get your ideal fit on utility styles at Tellar—especially around chest and shoulder width.

2. Flannel & Brushed Cotton Shirts

Best for: Autumn/winter casualwear, layering with denim

Best brands:

Levi’s – runs slightly small, great for narrow torsos
Carhartt WIP – durable, oversized fits
Mango – fashion-forward cuts, often boxy
ASOS Design – broad range but inconsistent fits

Fit Facts:

Thicker fabrics like flannel can add bulk—watch your silhouette
Perfect for layering over a tee
Choose plaid or solid tones depending on your wardrobe

Avoid:

Slim flannel shirts over layers—they bunch at the elbows
Shirts with poor side seam stitching—they distort after washing

3. Linen Shirts

Best for: Summer casualwear, holidays, weekend looks

Strong options:

Zara – lightweight but often sheer
Uniqlo – affordable, runs relaxed
J.Crew – great drape, classic cuts
COS – boxy cuts, runs large

Fit Guidance:

Linen should skim the body, not cling
Choose looser fits to prevent pulling at the chest

Avoid:

Tight linen—natural fabrics shrink slightly after washing
Shirts without room in the back or shoulder blades

Check Tellar for exact linen shirt sizing to avoid shrinkage surprises or shoulder restriction.

Shirt Fit Advice by Body Type

Hourglass: Fitted shirts with darting or stretch; avoid oversized unless tucked or belted

Rectangle: Add volume with puff sleeves, layering, or structured collars

Apple: Flowy, hip-length shirts with vertical seams; avoid clingy poplin

Pear: Emphasise top half with bright prints or bold collars

Petite: Cropped or high-hip styles, avoid longline shirting

Tall: Longer torsos benefit from curved hems or longline cuts

Tellar.co.uk uses your personal measurements to make style and brand-specific fit recommendations that account for these proportions.

Why Sizing Varies So Much Between Shirt Brands

Shirts are one of the most inconsistent categories when it comes to size labelling. This is due to:

Style differences (fitted vs relaxed vs oversized)
Fabric stretch vs non-stretch (poly blends can size differently than pure cotton)
International grading (US size 6 ≠ UK 10 ≠ EU 38)
Unisex fits or vanity sizing in casual brands

Examples:

Zara shirts often run narrow across the bust
COS and Arket default to oversized unless stated otherwise
Hobbs and Whistles cater well to UK sizing but vary by cut
Reiss and Massimo Dutti lean slim through shoulders and upper arms

That’s why a UK 12 in one shirt might feel like an 8 or a 14 in another.

Why Tellar.co.uk Is the Smart Choice for Shirt Shopping

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s most accurate free size matching tool, designed to help you shop smarter and more confidently—especially with tops and shirts, where chest, shoulder, and waist fit must work in tandem.

Benefits of using Tellar:

Matches your exact body measurements to real brand data
Accounts for brand-specific quirks (e.g., oversized fits or narrow busts)
Works across smartwear and casualwear
Prevents costly returns and awkward sizing surprises
Recommends fits and styles aligned to your body shape

It’s fast, free, and secure—and takes less than a minute to create your sizing profile.

👉 Create your free profile

👉 Check your shirt size across 1,500+ brands

Follow Tellar.co.uk for Fit Advice & Brand Guidance

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Stay informed with real data, helpful fit guides, and industry tips that make shopping easier.

Final Takeaway

Smart or casual, shirts are essential to every wardrobe—but a great shirt depends on fit, cut, and purpose. Skip the guesswork, avoid misfits, and finally get it right by using Tellar.co.uk.

Whether you need a tailored work shirt or a relaxed weekend overshirt, Tellar.co.uk helps you find your exact size in real time—across more than 1,500 brands.

“Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy”

Get started now at https://www.tellar.co.uk