Just like pleats and darts, how many of you guys out there know what a placket is? Our suspicion is not very many. It sounds like something that should be hung on your wall, or scraped from your teeth, but actually this term refers to the area where the two flaps of your shirt are buttoned together. Often ignored, this little aspect of the dress shirt is yet another one of those places guys could – and should – consider when it comes to creating a truly unique custom shirt.
Of course experimenting with your placket can be done tastefully or… not so tastefully – case in point, short sleeve dress shirts with colored plackets meant to look like skinny ties. If you want to look like a reform school escapee, a shirt like this is fine; but for adults trying to maintain their dignity, this “style” gets a thumbs down.
For those seeking respectability, there are several schools of thought you can follow when customizing your placket, depending on the specific look you have in mind. If you want to look original without making too bold of a fashion statement, stick with more conservative colors like blue or brown and just experiment with different shades and tones – we recommend pairing a light shirt base color with a dark placket. You can also adjust your cuffs and collar to match your placket if you want to add some more color to your shirt.
For a more adventurous casual look though, test out bolder colors – like grey, silver, red and pink for example. If you wear your shirt unbuttoned at the neck, try adjusting the color of your buttons and inside collar to match your placket to add a bit of detail. Also, don’t be afraid to try out the concealed button placket for a sporty, pseudo-retro appearance. Accents like these can go a long way when it comes to getting noticed and presenting a put together image.
In general, as your tinkering with the color and design of your shirt, avoid adding a black or white placket to your shirt, as it will imply a certain degree of servility and subjugation – you may have noticed that these placket colors are pretty standard for bell hops, doormen and waiters in upscale restaurants.
The great thing about getting your dress shirt custom made is that you can control so many fine details you may never have noticed with off the rack items – the placket being one of them. As always, we want to encourage our readers to push themselves creatively, especially when it comes to their wardrobe.
Tags: Advice, Classic Fashion, Details, Placket, Retro Fashion, Tailoring Options
