For most people, shirts are core items of his or her closet. With their fit and design, shirts can be comfortably worn by anyone. Some infants can wear soft shirts as early as four or five months of age and surely, your grandfather would have his own collection of shirts in his clothes drawer. As shirts are simple and uncomplicated clothes items, it does not mean that getting ripped off on purchasing one is not possible. So next time you go shirt hunting, keep in mind these helpful tips to make sure you get good quality.

* Make a price check. It has been said that the price of a shirt usually equates its quality. So a lower price will very much mean poor standard. Unless you want a shirt that you can only wear once then use as a rag later, you better go for more pricey but standard or class A shirts. In some instances, branded shirts are offered at a much lower price when they are overspills or run offs from the original manufacturer. If you have your doubts on the price of the shirt, it is good advice to inquire about its origin with the seller or vendor.

* Look at the tag. A branded shirt generally has a tag on it so make sure to check it out. Shirts without tags or whose tags have cuts on them will give you a clue as to the genuineness of the shirts. You might be getting a knock off at a regular price, so be prudent enough to verify. In some shirts the letters IRR may appear on the tags. IRR means irregular. Some irregular shirts, however, may not show IRR on their tags so take note.

* Inspect the shirt itself. Just because a shirt is branded does not mean there is no possibility for defect. Hold it up and search for any stains or marks. Manufacturers usually process these shirts in batches and discolorations can be likely. Further, these shirts have traveled from the manufacturing plant to the store to the shelves and these may have undergone various inspections from previous shoppers. It is probable that these may have suffered a few tears in the process. Look at the corners more particularly at the collar or on the sleeves. Try putting the shirt on. Some collars may be fitted too tight or too small to fit your head. With regards to sleeves, they should be even and their holes big enough for your arms. Look at the overall length of the shirt to make sure it is not too short or too long. Seams in unexpected places could mean that the shirt had holes which were sewn in.

* Look at the prints. Count 4 inches from the base of your neck. This is the usual place where prints on a shirt are placed. This is the general but not the strict rule. The wearer's preference still reigns. Just like unexpected seams, prints that look out of place may be suspicious. It has been said that puff prints are used by some printers to conceal holes in the shirt. Turn the shirt inside out to calm your doubts and ensure you that you are not getting a bogus item.