Men's shirt outfits: 8 looks for every day

A well-cut white shirt, raw denim jeans and a pair of derbies: three pieces, a whole wardrobe. The men's shirt remains the most versatile item in a man's wardrobe. It moves from a Paris office to dinner on a terrace without changing register. You just need to know what to wear it with, when to tuck it in, when to leave it out, and which collar suits your build.

At Jérèm, we have been dressing the modern man for more than twenty years. Every day we see what works — and what does not. Here are eight outfit ideas with a men's shirt, tested in store, with the precise pairing codes for each setting.

Shirt and jeans: the casual duo that never fails

The shirt-and-jeans pairing is the first men's shirt outfit to master. A light blue oxford shirt, straight-cut raw jeans, white leather sneakers: the look holds up from Monday to Saturday. The rule: the shirt should fall just below the belt, no lower. Tucked at the front, out at the back (the famous french tuck) also works if the fabric is not too thick.

For a more composed result, swap the jeans for a beige or navy chino. No tie, two buttons open at the collar, sleeves rolled twice above the elbow. Our slim fit shirts sit particularly well in this register because they avoid excess fabric around the stomach.

Three mistakes to avoid with jeans

• Faded jeans + a dressy shirt in shiny poplin: a failed contrast, the orphaned-suit effect.
• A shirt so long it hangs below a crew-neck jumper.
• Buttons done up to the top with no tie: the school-uniform effect.

Shirt and suit: the foundation of the professional wardrobe

With a suit, the white poplin shirt remains the base. An Italian collar for a wide tie knot, a French collar for a slim tie. The cuff should show a centimetre beyond the jacket sleeve, no more. A navy suit, a white shirt, a burgundy tie: a combination that carries every client meeting and never dates.

When a tie has no place, a light blue or finely striped shirt bridges the gap. It holds the balance between dressy and breathable under a mid-grey suit. Discover our classic suits, designed for this office-to-meeting versatility. A smooth leather belt, polished shoes matching the belt, plain socks in the tone of the trousers.

A men's shirt outfit for a wedding or a ceremony

A wedding is not a business meeting. A white shirt with an Italian collar remains the safe choice. A pale pink, sky blue or lavender shirt brings a charcoal or midnight blue suit to life. For a summer wedding, a white or light beige linen shirt works better than a heavy three-piece suit, worn under an unstructured jacket.

The detail that changes everything: cufflinks on a shirt with double cuffs. Add a pocket square that echoes the tie without copying it. Our article dedicated to men's wedding outfits sets out the codes according to the venue and the time of day.

Shirt open over a t-shirt: relaxed style, done properly

A shirt worn open over a plain t-shirt is the quickest smart-casual outfit to put together. White crew-neck t-shirt, checked or denim shirt unbuttoned over the top, chino or jeans, sneakers or boots. Californian menswear adapted to the Paris climate.

The denim shirt lends itself particularly well to this. Our article on how to wear a men's denim shirt breaks down the colour combinations that avoid the failed "head-to-toe denim" effect. The key point: never two identical denim shades on shirt and trousers. Raw jeans call for a light or faded denim shirt.

Checked shirts: the return of structured comfort

Checks are no longer the preserve of the lumberjack. A tartan checked shirt worn over a white t-shirt, slim black jeans and leather boots gives a modern, confident silhouette. For autumn, a heavy checked flannel shirt works as an overshirt over a long-sleeved t-shirt.

The rule on patterns: only one visible pattern per outfit. If the shirt is checked, the rest stays plain. Shoes: brown derbies for a dressier result, minimalist sneakers for a casual one, boots for winter.

Men's shirts by body type: the markers that matter

Body type	Recommended cut	To avoid
Slim, long-limbed frame	Slim or fitted cut, horizontal patterns, Italian collars	Loose cuts that float around the waist
Muscular, broad shoulders	Regular cut, supple fabrics, classic French collar	Slim fit that is too tight at the armholes
Fuller stomach	Straight cut, shirt worn out over the trousers, vertical patterns	Slim fit, a shirt so short it rides up
Tall, lean frame	Regular cut in XL length, high collars, bold patterns	Shirts that are too short and unbalance the silhouette

The oversized shirt: the cut that breaks the codes

The oversized shirt has changed the way we wear shirts since 2020. Worn over a long t-shirt, with wide trousers or baggy jeans, it gives a streetwear silhouette that appeals to the under-35s. The right balance: oversize on top, straight or tapered on the bottom — never oversize everywhere, or the pyjama effect is guaranteed.

To avoid a bad purchase, read our article on how to wear an oversized shirt. A good oversized shirt has shoulders falling about 3 to 5 centimetres below the natural shoulder, no more.

Men's shirts by season: linen, oxford, poplin, flannel

Each season has its fabric. Linen dominates summer (May to September) for its breathability, despite its creases. Fine cotton poplin carries spring and the Indian summer.

Oxford, more textured and slightly thicker, holds all year round with a preference for autumn. Flannel and the overshirt take over from November to February.

• Summer : white or beige linen shirt, short sleeves or long sleeves rolled up, bermudas or a lightweight chino.
• Spring / autumn : blue or white oxford, raw jeans or chino, a jacket or blouson depending on the weather.
• Winter : checked flannel or an overshirt worn as a jacket over a fine jumper.

Shoes and accessories: the details that finish the outfit

A men's shirt outfit is also decided at the feet and the wrists. Leather derbies or oxfords for the suit, loafers for the Italian look. Minimalist white sneakers for smart casual, brown leather boots for winter. Jérèm men's shoes carry the line of the trousers down to the floor without a visual break.

As for men's accessories, the belt should always match the shoes (brown with brown, black with black). A watch on a leather strap reinforces the dressy register, a steel or fabric strap lightens it. A discreet pocket square on the jacket, never an exact match to the tie.

Our Jerem selection for building your outfit

The Jérèm wardrobe is built for exactly this versatility: a shirt that goes from the office to dinner without a pause. Our slim fit shirts cover the dressier registers. Our regular cuts suit broader builds. Our checked and denim shirts widen the casual wardrobe. Pair them with our suit trousers, leather belts and shoes for a coherent silhouette.

Choosing a shirt comes down to three simple criteria: the fabric for the season, the cut for your build, the colour for how often you will wear it. White and light blue for the base, one checked or denim shirt for variety, one patterned shirt for going out. Three to five well-chosen shirts cover 90% of an active man's occasions. Quality over quantity — that has always been the Jérèm wager.