Level Up Date Night: The Sport Shirt vs. The Dress Shirt
February 14th—a day of the year filled with cards, crushes and a chocolate covered something, if you’re lucky.
For the extra lucky, perhaps extra thoughtful amongst us, it can be the perfect excuse for a romantic outing worthy of, dare we say it, dressing up. A little something to inspire romance between you and yours.
So, you handle the reservation; we’ll help inspire your fit.
Jacket? Tie?
Denim, chinos, solids or fancies (slacks)?
Start with a quality shirt and you’ll set the tone for the whole outfit.
THE SPORT SHIRT
The sport shirt goes back to the early 20th century when it emerged as an alternative to more formal attire. It was generally associated with outdoor activities like golf and tennis and was more comfortable than its dressier counterpart. To this day, it remains the more casual shirt in our game of two—a charmer and a chameleon.
Good for its open-collar look, the sport shirt can be dressed up with a suit or down with jeans and a sport coat, making it a great Valentine’s Day option if you’re going for put-together, not formal. Compared to the dress shirt, the sport shirt might come in more adventurous patterns, bolder colors, and be made from a wider range of materials. It can also include more detail, or trims - unexpected buttons and pops of color. These are all features of the sport shirt that can make it distinctive.
Overall, the sport shirt is your handy, versatile option that can handle both the heated outdoor terrace and the private, dim-lit room.
THE DRESS SHIRT
The dress shirt as we know it was first recognized in 18th century Europe, created to protect waistcoats (aka vests) and other quality wears from the natural sweat of the body. Today, it provides the same benefit, while also giving you that clean, je ne sais quoi vibe.
The dress shirt can be worn with a tie, bow tie or other neckwear, and with or without cufflinks (barrel or French—your choice). While there’s some room to dress it up or down, it’s known for a stiffer collar, varied collar spreads and tidy finish. It pairs best with a suit and is more often than not found in a classic palette—white or sky blue, navy, black, pink, tone on tone prints and vertical stripes. The dress shirt is a staple and a classic.
Overall, this is your option if you want to take your look to the next level. A departure from your every day—- something out of the ordinary for a memorable night.
THE DECISION
So, we’ve covered the differences between the sport shirt and the dress shirt:
The sport shirt is the more casual option, sure to deliver a clean and expressive look. Wear it to the bar or dinner, ax-throwing or game night - it’s never out of place.
The dress shirt goes the more formal route, offering an opportunity to look polished and refined, dressing to make memories or leave an impression.
We want to know where you land. Sport your Onore fit tonight and go wild - ask someone else to take your photo.
Tag @onoreclothing so we can see what magic you work.
