The Ultimate Shirt Guide: How to Choose the Right Fit and Style for Work and Weekend Wear

Not all shirts are created equal—and with over 1,500 brands using inconsistent sizing, navigating your perfect fit has never been more complicated. From boardroom-ready blouses to off-duty overshirts, getting the right cut, fabric, and structure is crucial—not just for style, but also for functionality, movement, and layering.

In this post, we’ll break down:

What shirts work best for smart vs casual wear
How to match shirt types to your body shape
The technical differences between poplin, oxford, satin, and flannel
Which brands run small or large and why
How to use tellar.co.uk to get your exact size—accurately and in real-time
Backlinks to expert sizing guides, fit tips, and smart shopping strategies from the Tellar blog

📌 Start Here:

Which Shirt Styles Suit Your Body Shape?
How to Measure Your Chest, Waist & Shoulders Properly
UK vs US vs EU Shirt Sizes – A Full Conversion Chart
Shirt Sizing: Which Brands Run Large and Which Run Small?

Smart / Workwear Shirts: Structure, Performance & Professionalism

1. Poplin Shirts (Structured Cotton)

Best for: Corporate environments, meetings, interviews

Fabric specs:

Poplin uses a fine horizontal rib in the weave for a flat, smooth finish
Naturally wrinkle-resistant, especially when blended with elastane
Offers a crisp, structured look with minimal drape—ideal for tailoring

Brands to try:

Reiss – sharp tailoring; slim fit with high armholes
T.M. Lewin – formal, good for those with broader shoulders
Uniqlo U – affordable Japanese-engineered poplin
Joseph – luxury finish, cut for a European frame
Sezane – more feminine tailoring; runs slim across the bust
Boss – great for tall men, strong collar structure

📌 Related: How Smart Shirts Should Really Fit

👉 Find your perfect poplin fit with Tellar

2. Silk & Satin Shirts

Best for: Business-casual, elevated smart dressing, evening work events

Technical facts:

Silk is breathable, hypoallergenic, and strong for its weight
Satin is a weave, not a fibre—look for silk satin blends over polyester to avoid static
Best for hourglass or rectangular shapes; suits those who prefer drape over structure

Brand favourites:

ME+EM – luxury tailoring, hidden buttons, subtle darts
Rails – US brand known for silky finish and prints
Boden – well-cut for UK proportions
Zara Premium Collection – stylish but runs very small
Everlane – minimalist silk shirts; slightly boxy

3. Oxford Shirts

Best for: Business-casual workplaces, transitional wardrobes

Fabric specs:

Oxford cloth uses a basketweave construction for durability
Offers more breathability than poplin and softens over time
Slightly heavier; suits layering and everyday wear

Reliable brands:

GANT – classic Oxford pioneer; long in body
Brooks Brothers – preppy, multiple fits
Arket – modern fit, great for tall frames
Frank & Eileen – premium, flattering curved hems
Mango – smart styles with darts for shape

👉 tellar.co.uk

Casual Shirts: Texture, Movement, and Shape Expression

4. Oversized Cotton & Shackets

Best for: Weekend wear, street style, smart-casual layering

Key details:

Shackets typically feature twill or brushed cotton and may be unlined
Oversized fits offer more coverage and styling flexibility—but must balance your frame

Top picks:

Arket – structured shapes in muted palettes
Weekday – Scandinavian cuts, generous sizing
COS – architectural, clean lines; runs large
H&M Conscious – affordable, oversized streetwear
Massimo Dutti – belted versions suit petite frames

📌 Related: How to Wear Oversized Shirts Without Losing Shape

5. Flannel, Brushed Cotton & Checked Shirts

Best for: Autumn layering, off-duty looks, transitional seasons

Fabric insights:

Brushed cotton is softer but warmer—great for UK climates
Flannel uses a plain or twill weave with brushing on both sides for softness
Thicker weaves can restrict mobility if cut slim—watch for stretch blends

Go-to brands:

Levi’s – narrow shoulders; best for straight shapes
Carhartt WIP – heavyweight and boxy
Dickies – utility flannel; built to last
Barbour – classic outdoors cuts
Toast – natural fibres, ethical focus
FatFace – UK brand, generous across chest

📌 Related: Are Flannel Shirts Worth It? Durability, Warmth & Fit

6. Linen Shirts

Best for: Summer dressing, beachwear, casual city layering

Fabric performance:

Linen is thermoregulating and moisture-wicking
Prone to creasing; look for blends with viscose or cotton for easier care
Best worn loose and lightly tailored—tight linen will pull and lose shape

Recommended brands:

J.Crew – excellent linen blend for men and women
Sézane – soft linen shirts with curved hems
Zara – linen blends that require size-up in many styles
Everlane – oversized linen for warm climates
M&S Linen Rich Collection – true to UK sizing

📌 Related: The Best Linen Brands for UK Weather

Body Shape Recommendations for Shirts

Hourglass:

Best with waist darting, wrap silhouettes, stretch blends
Brands: ME+EM, Reiss, Whistles

Rectangle / Athletic:

Look for voluminous sleeves, layering potential, bold collars
Brands: COS, Mango, Zara Studio

Apple:

Flowy fits, v-necks, pleated backs, and side slits
Brands: Marks & Spencer, H&M+, Everlane

Pear:

Add shoulder detail—epaulettes, prints, structure up top
Brands: Massimo Dutti, Hobbs, & Other Stories

Petite:

Avoid longline; opt for cropped or boxy
Brands: Topshop Petite, Boden Petite, Sézane

Tall:

Embrace tunic lengths, long sleeves, and oversized cuts
Brands: Arket, COS, Whistles Tall

👉 Tellar’s Body Fit Engine recommends shirt styles and sizes by your exact proportions.

Why Shirts Vary So Drastically Between Brands

Sizing inconsistency comes from:

Different fit models (e.g. tall European frames vs petite US cuts)
Variation in pattern grading from size 8–16
Intentional style design (boxy, cropped, fitted)
Fabric behaviour (shrinkage, stretch, drape)

📌 Example Variations:

Reiss is narrow at the waist and bust
Zara changes fit with each season
Mango often adds length to shirt hems
H&M runs oversized for trend cuts
Uniqlo is cut shorter through the torso

👉 Avoid brand-to-brand confusion with the Tellar Sizing Tool

Why Tellar.co.uk Is the Only Tool You Need for Shirts

Tellar.co.uk uses actual measurement data—not just label sizes—to give you:

✅ Shirt recommendations by brand, cut, and body shape

✅ Instant size results across 1,500+ UK and EU brands

✅ Conversion for UK, US, and EU shirt sizes

✅ Fit tips for casual, smart, and oversized silhouettes

✅ Profile saving for future logins

Final CTA – Shirts Done Right with Tellar.co.uk

Whether you're shopping for a tailored white shirt or a bold weekend flannel, your choice should reflect how it fits your body—not the number on the label.

With tellar.co.uk, you get a real-world size recommendation that works across 1,500+ brands, takes less than a minute, and helps reduce returns dramatically.

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

Start now: tellar.co.uk