Smooth shirts?

[etp777]

What's everyone out there wearing for smooth shirts? They seem to be in somewhat short supply as to choices, at least fo rmy taste. I don't relish the idea of a stretch shirt for smooth. Seems while they look great under a tailcoat, would look strange with just a vest (which is what I wear for smooth). Continuing to look around, but so far pretty much just come up with the Crisanne and regular white shirts from normal stores if I want to stay with plain white. Any other options out there? And does the plain white Crissane one with the removable collar have the typical ballroom shirt "diaper" (aka built in briefs), or is it really just a plain white removable collar formal shirt?

To sum up my babbling. Looking for suggestions on plain white shirts for smooth, non stretch. Also suggestions on collars if shirt uses removable collar.

I tried searching (and checked my threads, as I thougth I had asked this before), but didn't come up with anything. If I missed something though, feel free to point me to the applicable thread. Seems like there's lots of options on ballroom sites for latin shirts, but not much for smooth.

 

[fascination]

pro wears a plain black cotton men's shirt...didn't ask, lol, but I suspect no "built-ins"...and I think it is a very nice look with a white tie

 

[etp777]

Had slipped my mind, but yeah, I have been seeing black shirts a lot more often in smooth. That's an idea. Of course, I'm not allowed to think for myself, so would have to get pro's permission before I changed from white to black.

Can keep my eyes open for a fitted, black french-cuffed shirt though. I have black one that I was wearing for latin, but not fitted, too baggy, so want something that fits better. Thanks.

 

[reb]

What's everyone out there wearing for smooth shirts?

I don't relish the idea of a stretch shirt for smooth. Seems while they look great under a tailcoat, would look strange with just a vest (which is what I wear for smooth).

Continuing to look around, but so far pretty much just come up with the Crisanne and regular white shirts from normal stores if I want to stay with plain white.

Any other options out there?

Looking for suggestions on plain white shirts for smooth, non stretch.

Seems like there's lots of options on ballroom sites for latin shirts, but not much for smooth.

You've summarized the problem set.

Under a coat, it's easy since its just collars and cuffs and you don't even have to hold it down because the coat covers above the waist entirely - vs a vest solution which requires a collars, cuffs, and sleeves and a pull-down solution.

Aside from off-the-dance-rack solutions, if you have the time, here's one thing I've done to solve the sleeve and pull-down problem when I've worn vests:

Sleeves
Get/use a shirt you want (e.g. Nordstrom formalwear, french cuffs, collar you like, textured for style), open the sides and sleeves and re-stitch (tailor recommended) to eliminate the bagginess of off-the-rack shirts - but not too tight so as to make it dorky (as Laura would say) as would a stretch shirt under the vest.

Pull Down
Holding a shirt down so it doesn't creep up has options also - I've even sewn shorts at the bottom (stretch material works well here) - doesn't have to look good from the waist down, just has to work.

You only have to look good outside the vest area - which means collars, cuffs, sleeves, and between your vest and pants.

Probably easier solutions, but if you want exactly for you, this is one way.

And now you know another reason I like wearing a jacket these days, besides that I prefer the more formal approach, because . . . its easier!

 

[NielsenE]

I've done a lot of different things.

My two favorite for a long time were made by LeNique. Both are velcro front closures, wing color, with built-in briefs. One in a slightly shiny, very slightly stretchy white (which feels great to touch ladies say ), one is is matte black. Both are French cuffs. They are designed to wear under a vest with an ascot (hence the velcro front closure doesn't matter and is oh so easy to change into/out of.

I've also used very slightly tailored plain black shirts (fold down color, regular cuff), normally with "Shirt Stays" or "Shirt Suspenders" to solve the pull down problem. (These are little elastic bands that clip to the shirt tails and down to the socks. Normally you'll spiral it along the leg so the strap doesn't show when the leg is bent. If you're really masochistic you have two pair (front and back), but that will tend to abuse the back of the knee. You can find them at most military stores.... probably easiest to ask a friend in the military to get them for you or check out army/navy surplus stores. I'll use them whenever I'm dancing in a shirt without a vest and without builtins. (Ie on the pique shirt for tails, a tux shirt, etc.... since neither the waistcost nor the cummerbund helps solve the pull down problem, nor does it hide it enough. back before I had latin shirts and used used a black button down, I used them too.

If you're looking for a good french cuff shirt, check out Express, they just had some very nice white and black french cuff shirts (still fold down collar if that matters though). I also found a nice "modern" tux shirt at Men's Warehouse last week. (fold down collar, french cuff, non-pleated, but kinda pin striped with shiny/matt white. Would still fly at non-costume events I think.

 

[NielsenE]

Oh and the other pull down solutions I know of:

1) safety pin to your briefs.... not ideal, works if you forget your other supplies don't forget to un pin yourself before attempted to undress though....

2) another solution from my air force days.. most of my friends swore by a ~2 inch with elastic band with velcro that you'd put on over your shirt around your waist. Its much more comfortable than the shirt stays, but I suspect its not quite as "powerful" and more extreme shapes might still be able to pull the shirt out a little (and it might end up acting a little like a ratchet since it wouldn't slip back in on its own at all). I'd probably give it a try with tails or tux some time... since the higher waist of the tails, or the cummerbund/vestette would let one use a wider band ~4-5" (almost corset like) which I still think would be more pleasant than the shirt stays, and because less of the shirt is showing there is less demand for complete pull-down

 

[Josh]

You only have to look good outside the vest area - which means collars, cuffs, sleeves, and between your vest and pants.

Hmm, methinks the shirt should never show between the vest and pants anyway, if the vest is of appropriate length... ?

 

[reb]

Hmm, methinks the shirt should never show between the vest and pants anyway, if the vest is of appropriate length... ?

Easy if you stand up straight, don't shape, and don't dance at 3 beats a second.

You're right - it shouldn't show. But the challenge is practicality and different size people - particularly for tall, long-waisted guys.
Short guys in jackets can look like they're swimming in them while tall guys in vests can look goofy.

There are some guys out there wearing long vests, long armless jackets, and armless tailsuits! No further comment needed - especially when dancing with a lady who's spent a fortune on her dress.

 

[Josh]

Easy if you stand up straight, don't shape, and don't dance at 3 beats a second.

You're right - it shouldn't show. But the challenge is practicality and different size people - particularly for tall, long-waisted guys.
Short guys in jackets can look like they're swimming in them while tall guys in vests can look goofy.

There are some guys out there wearing long vests, long armless jackets, and armless tailsuits! No further comment needed - especially when dancing with a lady who's spent a fortune on her dress.

Yeah, I've seen these armless monstrosities... eek...!

I got my vest made at dancepants, and it has always fit so well and my shirt truly doesn't show, AFAIK, even when I dance, and I'm tall and long-waisted (well, 6'1" anyway). So if the vest really fits well, I guess it would be less of an issue.

 

[etp777]

Definitely seems I'm going to have to give this more thought, though some good input here.

As to keeping the shirt down if it's not a full dance shirt with built in briefs, in addition to all of the things mentioned, I've used a couple pieces of elastic sewn front and back of shirt to go through legs as a cheap (few cents of elastic) and simple way to help keep the shirt down. Helps that my pants have rubber band on inside that uses friction to help keep shirt down too.

Buying a removable collar formal shirt sometime before I get home anyway as I decided it's time I buy myself a tux. Whether I'll use it for dancing too, not sure.

Will look for the shirt stays next time I'm at PX, NielsenE. WIth two PX's and a BX here on base, I'd hope I'd be able to find them. Only reaosn I'm not sure is that very few full dress occasions here, most of time troops are just wearing acu's and desert boots. But won't hurt to look.

 

[fascination]

well...although my pro wears a tailsuit...I would rather see him in something armless than have him collapse due to overheating....and some folks are much more prone to that than others

 

[etp777]

As long as he times it for right at end of finals, could be a great dramatic bit to end your dance and maybe tweak a few extra sympathy points.

 

[fascination]

don't want points for sympathy dude...and BOT, I think tall guys look awesome in the long sleeveless vest..but pro tried one on and looked like he was wearing a dress

 

[etp777]

hahaha, yeah, based on that, I'll just not try that. I have regular length vest which looks good. I agree those long vests look good on some, but look REALLY bad on others. There was one in particular at a comp a couple months ago that looked really bad. Vest was nice, was prolperly tailored, etc, just wasn't right choice for the guy wearing it.

 

[Joe]

Um, aren't vests sleeveless by definition?

Am I recalling correctly that you are getting some suits custom-tailored while you're stationed Over There? Why not have a couple of shirts tailored for yourself while you're at it?