Shopping for a quality dress shirt can be a bewildering experience because the choices seem so endless. There are standard-fit and slim-fit dress shirts in just about every color imaginable, and there are also checked, striped and patterned shirts to choose from. Once you have chosen the fit, collar style and color of your dress shirt, you will have to decide what material you want it to be made out of. This article will try to make your job easier by going over the pros and cons of the various dress shirt fabrics.

What Are High Quality Dress Shirts Made Of?

There was a time when just about every quality dress shirt was made out of cotton, but a lot has changed since then. The first major shift in dress shirt materials came when polyester blends hit the market. These shirts were cheaper to buy and did not wrinkle as easily, but the fabric blends did not breathe as well as cotton and could be stifling to wear. The latest dress shirt trend is performance fabrics that use the same technology as the gear worn by professional athletes.

Are 100% Cotton Dress Shirts Good?

Cotton is still a very popular men’s dress shirt material, and for good reason. Cotton shirts are comfortable to wear and can last a long time if they are taken care of. However, the fabric does have its disadvantages. The pros and cons of an all-cotton dress shirt include:

• Pro: Cotton is a breathable fabric, which means it can help you stay cool and collected on a hot day.
• Con: Cotton is a porous fabric that absorbs moisture like sweat. This could be a problem if you will be spending time outside in the summer or work in an environment that is not air-conditioned.
• Pro: Cotton is hypoallergenic. This means you can put on a cotton shirt without worrying, even if you have sensitive skin.
• Con: Cotton wrinkles very easily. If you choose a cotton shirt, either pay to have it professionally pressed or be prepared to spend up to half an hour ironing it before you put it on.
• Pro: Cotton shirts don’t pill when you wash them and resist static electricity.
• Con: If you are not careful, your expensive new cotton dress shirt could shrink in the wash. Cotton also takes longer to dry.

Are Poly-Cotton Dress Shirts the Answer?

Blends of polyester and cotton were once pretty much the only option out there for men who wanted to look good while avoiding the drawbacks of a cotton dress shirt. Poly-cotton dress shirts are affordable and easy to care for, but there are downsides to this fabric blend. Here are some pros and cons of choosing poly-cotton for your next dress shirt:

• Pro: Low prices. Poly-cotton blend shirts are usually less expensive than dress shirts made out of cotton or performance fabrics.
• Con: You will be hot because polyester does not breathe. While blending the fabric with cotton can make it more bearable, you will never be as comfortable in a poly-cotton shirt as you would be in a more breathable garment.
• Pro: Easy maintenance. Polyester blends do not shrink as much as cotton and require little or no ironing.
• Con: Polyester is a naturally clingy fabric, which can be an issue if you pick a slim-fit dress shirt.
• Pro: A poly-cotton dress shirt is a durable garment that could serve you well for many years.
• Con: Polyester may not be the best dress shirt material if you have sensitive skin because it is not hypoallergenic.

Do Performance Fabrics Offer the Best Dress Shirt Material?

Athletic apparel manufacturers have spent millions of dollars developing space-age fabrics that are light, comfortable and keep the body cool during an intense workout. Because of these advances, you can now buy dress shirts made out of these ultramodern materials. This men’s dress shirt material is best suited for slimmer fits because one of its biggest advantages is its ability to wick sweat from the skin. Think of how comfortable your workout clothes are and then imagine feeling like that all day. Here are some of the pros and cons you should bear in mind if you are considering a dress shirt made out of performance fabrics.

• Pro: Moisture-wicking. When you wear performance fabrics, moisture is drawn from your body, passes through the fabric and then evaporates into the air.
• Con: Premium prices. These men’s dress shirt fabrics cost a little more than poly-cotton blends and about the same amount as quality cotton garments.
• Pro: Extreme durability: Performance fabrics allow you to wear a dress shirt that looks great and is as tough as your gym clothes. Look for blends that include spandex for extreme stretch resistance.
• Con: Pilling may be an issue. Some performance fabrics tend to pill over time, but leading shirt makers have managed to solve this problem.
• Pro: Year-round comfort. Performance fabrics were initially developed to keep athletes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They are also easy to maintain and do not need ironing.
• Con: More flammable than cotton. While this is not something most people need to worry about, it may be something to bear in mind if you work in an environment that has open flames.

Spoiled for Choice

Cotton dress shirts have classic style, but poly-cotton blends also have their merits. Performance fabrics are a great choice if you like a slim fit and want to feel as good as you look, but the final choice is up to you.

If you are looking for quality and want the last word in style, you should check out the range of performance dress shirts from WRK. Our shirts are made from an activewear fabric that wicks moisture from the skin, resists bacteria and does not need ironing. Our wide range of colors and designs has something for everyone.