A fit guide for men’s shirts

Considering our lives revolve around clothes for men, one question we often see come up from our customers is about how their shirts should fit. “Is this t-shirt too tight?” “Should I tuck in this shirt cause it’s a big too long?” With everything else you have going on, we’re sure this is the last thing you want to be thinking about! We put together this quick guide to make sure you “Fit” right in...pun intended.

The T-shirt fit

A simple t-shirt worn the wrong way can really throw off an outfit. If it’s too tight, you risk accentuating the wrong parts of your body – too loose, and you may look like you stepped out of a 90’s VHS tape. We’re breaking down the t-shirt piece by piece to piece to give you some direction on the right fit.

Arms

The right fit

The Sleeves should hit at the midpoint of your upper arm – exceptions apply to those with longer arms. Just make sure the length does not exceed your elbows. If you’re a gym buff and blessed with Greek-like biceps, focus on having shorter sleeves to emphasize what you’ve put all those hours in the gym for!

Torso

The right fit

Make sure the t-shirt falls below your belt line and sits right around where your zipper/fly would be. Keep the torso fit close to avoid making your torso look wider than it is. For you taller folks among us, do not go a size up to get the right length, just opt in for a longline cut in your sizing instead (just avoid the holy ones please)

Shoulders

The right fit

Pay close attention here! It’s simple and also the most important part to get that A+ fit. The shoulder seam of the t-shirt needs to line up with your actual shoulder bone. That’s literally it, Capiche?

Stomach

The right fit

This part needs your undivided attention. If the fit is too tight, you risk accentuating things you shouldn’t. Going too loose or baggy may emphasize the things you’re trying to downplay. The trick? Make sure you’re able to pinch a few inches of fabric on either side of your stomach area. If you feel it’s a bit too tight, go a size up in a slim cut.

Neck

The right fit

Nothing too crazy here. With a good quality t-shirt that doesn’t lose it’s shape after the first wash, the neckline should be flat and comfortable. The neck should be high enough to hide any chest hair unless you’ve opted for a v-neck. In that case, make sure the chest hair doesn’t exist and the V is not too deep and shows too much skin.

Dress shirts

Pre-Covid days, we imagine this is the shirt you were wearing the most. For those of us going in and out of Zoom meetings, this is likely the shirt we continue to wear most days – business up top, party down below! Regardless of collar, fabric or style, we’ve eliminated the guess work on the right fit with some pointers below.

Arms

The right fit

Because everyone has a different physique, make sure you try these on before making any purchases. We recommend services like Mr. Draper where you can try things on at home before you buy them big plug.

Make sure the sleeves are not too loose nor too tight. There should be approximately an inch between your arm and the fabric with the cuff should hitting at the wrist with a close fit. A good indicator would be try this on with a blazer and make sure that you can see part of the cuff, but not all of it.

Torso

The right fit

Like the t-shirt, there should be about 2-3 inches of extra fabric on each side of your body. The shirt in this area should close-fitting, but not too tight that you’re uncomfortable after a decent sized feast.

Shoulders

The right fit

Again, like the t-shirt, line up that shoulder hem to that shoulder bone – this is the key to comfort. Especially for a shirt you wear all day.

Stomach

The right fit

If you’re tucking in the shirt, which in most cases you likely are, make sure the buttons sit flat. There should be an inch or two of extra fabric on either side of your body for a snug, but comfortable fit. To complete the look with the shirt tuck, you’ll also need to make sure that the pants you’re wearing also a good fit – a topic for another day and another guide.

Neck

The right fit

To ensure the right fit for the neck apply the two-finger rule. Place two fingers between the fabric and your skin on your neck. If you’re able to fit them comfortably with ease, then you have the right fit.

As our British friends in the office say – Bosh! There you have it, a complete fit guy for some of the most important items in your wardrobe. Don’t forget, if you have any questions about fit, you can always let us know by reaching out to our help email or speaking to your stylist!