The shirt is foundational in a way that most men intellectually acknowledge but practically underinvest in and the consequences of that underinvestment are visible in a lot of outfits that would be dramatically better with one simple upgrade in this category. A well made shirt in good fabric that fits properly across the shoulders and through the body changes the quality of everything you wear over it or with it. We always look at collar construction first because the collar is what frames your face and a floppy collar that doesn’t hold its shape undermines even the best jacket or suit. Fabric matters enormously too. A proper cotton poplin or Oxford weave has a weight and a structure that polyester blends simply don’t replicate. Building a small collection of shirts that genuinely fit and genuinely work is more valuable than a wardrobe full of ones that are technically shirts but aren’t doing anything well.