Unless you can pull off that whole “naked under your blazer or suit jacket” thing you will need a flattering shirt to wear to parties. Ladies can swap the dress for a blouse and pants, while men will still look great even after they ditch their jacket for the evening. These stores have some of the finest shirts in Edmonton.
Both men and women can find dress shirts here (and menswear-inspired shirts for women, too!). Oak + Fort has simple, elegant shirts in toned down shades of grey, white, black, blush and rust. The silhouettes and shapes aren’t over-the-top – these are pieces that will last for years, instead of trends that will die out in three months. Pretty fabrics, minimal details and actually really reasonable prices for nice shirts means you can buy one for every party you’ll be attending this year.
If you’d rather go with a nice blouse and pants for party-hopping instead of dress, a consignment store is a great way to keep costs down. Vespucci has lovely clothes in great shape, and no one will ever guess you weren’t that gorgeous silk shirt’s original owner. Give that red blouse a home – after all, you’ll wear it non-stop during the holidays and you can retire it after the party season ends, knowing you still got your money’s worth.
The Helm caters exclusively to men, so any gentlemen who appreciate not having to search a store frantically for their section will appreciate this sleek, minimal store. They carry dress shirts from Hugo Boss Tailored, Corneliani and AMI. These brands are all full of investment pieces, so be prepared to drop anywhere from $169 to $325 for a collared shirt.
This cute ladies wear boutique has a carefully curated selection of clothes that will make you “ooh” and “aah” as you wander through the racks. The selection is small compared to a department store but every piece is top-notch and built to last. Pair an electric blue silk racer back shirt with black dress pants, or tuck an oversize white collared shirt into a colourful pencil skirt and voila! You’re dressed and ready to party.
There are men’s dress shirts galore here, in a beautiful pastel rainbow of colours. While I like men to wear a pop of colour at parties (makes it easier to spot them when you get lost in a crowd!), there are plenty of interesting white shirt options here – French cuffs, slim fit or, if you are the smartest person ever, the easy iron dress shirt (why would you not do this? Ironing your shirt before every shindig you attend? Waste of time!).