Formal Shirts for Men: Office, Interview and Meeting Outfit Guide

Formal shirts for men are built around clean fit, balanced colours and simple styling. For office wear, interviews and meetings, the shirt should look sharp without feeling loud. The safest starting points are white, blue, solid, striped and subtle checked shirts.

Best formal shirt colours

White and blue are the easiest colours for formal dressing. White creates a clean base for interviews and meetings. Blue feels softer for daily office wear. Grey, black and deeper shades can work for smart-casual office settings when styled carefully.

Formal shirt with trousers

Pair formal shirts with navy, charcoal, black, beige or grey trousers. Keep the trouser plain if the shirt has stripes or checks. If the shirt is solid, you have more room to use textured trousers or sharper footwear.

Interview shirt styling

For interviews, keep the outfit simple. A white or light blue shirt with navy, grey or black trousers is usually a safe choice. Avoid strong prints or bold party colours unless the role or company culture clearly allows it.

Fit checks before buying

The shoulder seam should sit naturally, the chest should not pull at the buttons and the sleeve should allow comfortable movement. A formal shirt that fits well looks more expensive than a loud shirt with poor fit.

Shop the look

Explore TryBuy men’s shirts, including white shirts, blue shirts, solid shirts and striped shirts.

Frequently asked questions

Which shirt is best for office wear?

White, blue, solid and subtle striped shirts are strong choices for office wear.

Which shirt should I wear for an interview?

A clean white or light blue shirt with plain trousers is usually a safe interview outfit.