Men's shirts: collars, closures and sizing
Collar and closure do the work
A gothic men's shirt is recognised at the neck. The collar stands rather than folds, the placket runs off-centre or fastens with hooks instead of buttons, and the cuff is deep enough to show below a coat sleeve. Everything else can stay plain black and the shirt still reads correctly.
| Type | Collar | Worn under | Fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gothic shirt | Standing, high | Waistcoat, coat | Cotton, brocade |
| Visual kei shirt | Buckled, asymmetric | Alone or open | Twill, PU |
| Punk tee | Crew or raw | Vest, jacket | Jersey |
| Poet shirt | Ruffled placket | Coat | Cotton, chiffon |
Sizing
Men's Asian sizing runs roughly two sizes below EU and US. A European L is usually an XL or XXL here. Shirts are cut narrow through the shoulder, so measure shoulder width as well as chest and read the centimetre table.
Frequently asked
- What size do I take if I normally wear a European L?
- Usually XL or XXL. Check the chest and shoulder measurements in centimetres on the product page.
- Can these shirts be worn on their own?
- The visual kei and poet styles yes. The plainer gothic shirts are drafted as a layer under a waistcoat or coat.
- Are the shirts machine washable?
- Cotton and jersey styles yes, on a cold cycle. Brocade and PU are wipe or dry clean only.
- What is a poet shirt?
- A loose shirt with a ruffled or gathered placket and full sleeves, borrowed from Romantic-era dress.