The button-down shirt may have started off as a fixture in the boardroom but it has since become an essential for both sexes for work and play. However, finding the perfect shirt remains a holy grail of fashion (along with black trousers and the little black dress) because there are so many styles and colours available, from cheap and chic to super luxurious and expensive.
So, where should one start when searching for the ideal shirt?
'It should be comfortable to wear, suitable for the occasion and have coherence to the style and attitude of the wearer,' says Sherry Stone, retail manager of Alain Figaret Hong Kong.
Experts say that fabric is the first consideration. Buyers should pay attention to yarn count, which is an indicator of the softness of the fabric. The higher the yarn count, the smoother and softer the fabric. Most experts agree that anything around 100 is acceptable. For example, shirts from Alain Figaret are made from fabrics with an average yarn count of between 120 and 170, while British shirt maker Thomas Pink, which recently opened its first boutique in Hong Kong, offers shirts with yarn counts of 200.
'Since the yarns are so fine, the colour density is stronger and the design definition is sharper - think of it in the same way as an HD television,' says Simon Maloney, head of buying and production at Thomas Pink.
Fabric is also classified by weaving techniques, which result in different textures, thickness and appearance. For example, poplin and end on end are smooth and light fabrics suitable for summer and all-day wearing, while twill and herringbone have refined and subtle textures that give a more luxurious look.