Description
Westminster Dress Shirt
- This shirt is specifically for white tie (the most formal evening dress code), not black tie.
- It’s designed to be worn with a white Marcella (piqué) waistcoat and white bow tie, plus a tailcoat.
Key features explained
- Wing collar: The small, upright collar with folded points—standard for white tie.
- Marcella (piqué) front: The stiff, textured bib panel on the chest. Traditionally very firm to keep a crisp appearance under a waistcoat.
- Stud front: Instead of buttons, you use separate dress studs (like the mother-of-pearl ones you mentioned).
- Neckband loop & trouser tab: Old-school details that help secure the shirt neatly to formal trousers and keep alignment tidy.
- Single cuffs (piqué): These can be starched for extra stiffness; historically, white tie shirts often had very stiff cuffs.
- Generous body fit: Allows for comfort and proper drape under formal layers, especially given the rigid front panel.
How it compares to other formal shirts
- Compared to a black tie shirt (for a tuxedo), this is more formal and more structured.
- The stiff front and wing collar are what really distinguish it from softer pleated or turndown-collar evening shirts.
What you’ll need with it
- White Marcella bow tie
- White Marcella waistcoat
- Tailcoat
- Dress studs and cufflinks
- High-waisted formal trousers with braces
If you’re considering buying or wearing one, the main question is whether your event truly calls for white tie—it’s quite rare. If it’s anything less formal (like black tie), this shirt would actually be too formal and look out of place.
Features:
- 100% cotton
- Wing collar
- Pique front
- Pique single cuffs.
