There are certain pieces that every wardrobe must have. Some style experts have standard lists of their own recommendations. While perfectly plausible, the essentials you decide to maintain in your wardrobe must match your lifestyle. Therefore, in selecting your essentials, select the key items and be careful in the style of the essential that you choose. Make sure that it suits your personal style as well as your lifestyle.

We’ll feature a few wardrobe essentials over the next few weeks and start today with the shirt.

The most essential, of course, is the white shirt; which may be worn with jeans, shorts, a denim skirt, casual or business slacks as well as a business suit.

As a classic style and a wardrobe essential that may be worn several times, special care must be taken to ensure its longevity.

Some tips for achieving this include:

o Buttonholes: Take care in making buttonholes so that they match the button size and are neat, with no loose threads.

o Collar: Ensure that a good interfacing is used to shape the collar well (making it stiff).

o Cut: Choose a pattern that matches your shape and can provide several looks. Definitely not too loose.

o Darts: Related to the cut you select is the dart positioning. Note that to accentuate your curves, vertical darts work best.

o Length: Some persons recommend a hemline just an inch or so below the waistline, but note that if you plan to wear the shirt tucked into trousers or a skirt, a top that is too short may become untidy. So a length midway the hip and waist may be better (noting that too low can look bulky when tucked in).

Steps:

1. Cut:

a. Back

b. Front pieces (with extended area for button stand)

c. Collars: upper collar and under collar

d. Collar stand

e. Cuffs

f. Sleeves

2. Insert darts

3. Iron interfacing to button stand, fold and stitch in place

4. Make buttonholes

5. Sew sleeves along length to close

6. Join pieces:

a. Front to back at sides and shoulders

b. Upper and under collar

c. Collar stand to collar

d. Collar (joined) to shirt neckline

e. Cuffs to sleeves

f. Insert sleeves

7. Finish edges and hem

8. Attach closings (buttons)