SHIRT RESEARCH- RUGBY SHIRT HUNTING

After researching some of the possibilities for the style of my own shirt design, I decided to head into Falmouth and try some on for myself, to get a better idea of how I wanted the shirt to fit when I actually tried it on. I figured that the best idea would be to search specifically for rugby shirts as this was definitely more the fit and look I was going for as opposed to a button down shirt, however I am not closing my mind to the style elements of the other shirts discussed in my last post, this was purely to get an idea of how I wanted the shirt to fit me aesthetically and also looking at things like finishes on the cuffs and plackets. I searched through some charity shops on the lookout for rugby shirts. Actually trying on the shirts gave me a better understanding of the fit I wanted and other details, such as the cuff style, how the collar sits and the concealed placket. All the shirts I tried on were mens, the majority of my jumpers are mens as I prefer a looser fit around the shoulders and arms.

Shirt 1-

I liked the boxier fit of this Shirt, the fabric used was thick which gave it a structured shape. The slightly dropped shoulder is something I also want to incorporate into my own shirt. While the fit and shape of this rugby shirt is relevant to my own design, I realised that on this particular shirt the cuff is more like a button down shirt cuff, with buttons and an opening, looking at this against the other rugby shirts I realised I would prefer a more sweatshirt-like ribbed cuff, which is slightly elasticated around the wrist. I would also keep the collar colour separate from the main body colour of the shirt, whereas here, the shirt and collar are the same colour.

Shirt 2-

The fit on Shirt 1 was more what I had been looking for. I think the material used for this shirt meant it was a lot baggier but without a structure, it just fell over your body rather than holding its own shape. The length, however, was more what I had been looking for and the cuff style was much closer to what I had envisaged.

Shirt 3-

I know the shirt I want to make is going to be cropped, because I like my tops to finish just above where my trousers start so you can see the belts I wear. Bearing that in mind, the actual structure and shape of this shirt was by far the closet to what I had in mind. The collar may be a bit wide on this one, but the cuff style is near perfect and I like the dropped shoulder and that the arms are slightly too long. The piece still keeps its shape, while maintaining the loose fit around the arms. I would defiantly decrease the width and height of the collar though, as I don't think it sits quite right on me.