Post: #1

I've been working out and my regular shirts are becoming tight. I'm 5'11'' 180lb.

I normally wear a Charles Tyrwhitt Extra Slim Fit (15.5''/35''). I'd like to stay with the brand if I can, but my shirts are almost skin tight at this point in the chest, back, and shoulders.

If I stay with the Extra Slim Fit and go up to 16'' or 16.5'' in the neck, is the rest of the body larger as well? Or does just the neck change?

If I move to a regular Slim Fit, does it change more in the chest, back, and shoulders, or in the waist? I'm looking for a shirt that's very tapered, basically.

CT is the only brand I have experience with. If you have experience with others, please share. I live in Chicago, so if there's a local store that works too.

Post: #2

Yes, the neck measurement dictates the size of everything else but sleeve length. If you're finding the shirts too tight while it fits around your neck, try doing neck lifts to make your neck bigger.

I have the opposite issue. I'd like to make my neck bigger with neck specific exercises, but then any off the rack shirt would be too big in the chest, arms and shoulders. For now, CT fits alright. I picked up a custom shirt in a thrift shop and it fits me better than anything else - the high scyes are key.

I used to do Brooks Brothers, but CT is better and cheaper. I also have trouble finding shirts with a good taper or drop from chest to waist.

Consult this: http://www.ctshirts.com/SizingGuide.aspx...size_guide

Post: #3

crazy idea, go try both on see for yourself.

I know that sounds douchey but it seriously the best way to decide. My extra slim fits are getting super tight and almost uncomfortable now as well. I normally wear express dress shirts, and they should be having some crazy after holiday sales soon so I may go check them out.

If you can't get your hands on CT locally to try them on, go try on a similar brand to get a basic idea of what your going to get.

Let me know how it goes, because I'll be making the move soon.

Post: #4

Burberry shirts hug my athletic physique real sexy but I understand if you don't want to pay up for simple dress shirts.

If you're stockier get Ralph Lauren or Brooks Brothers, if you're slim though it won't fit dope.

If you're on a tight budget get Uniqlo or Tommy Hilfiger

Post: #5

Get a shirt with a proper neck size and sleeve length and have it altered. They can take in the seam on the sides and under the sleeves. It's not that much. My dry cleaner lady does alterations. I bring her all my stuff.

Post: #6

Start going custom. By the time you buy a shirt and get it tailored its about the same as a custom shirt.

Post: #7

Can't find a place that does non-iron fabric.

Post: #8

Taking in a big shirt is not a big deal. Throw some darts in the back and you're good to go. Your tailor or seamstress can do it. Used to cost me $20.

#redpillproblems

Post: #9

I think a lot of men's fashion is going in the wrong direction in terms of vanity sizing. There's several off the rack shirts that I can fit into a medium as long as I never plan to button the top button. However, if I get a large there's definitely excess fabric in the body. You can go the tailor route or depending on how many shirts you need and what your budget is try the custom route. No names come to mind, but I know there are several reasonably priced American custom clothing lines.

Post: #10

If you really want cheap bespoke, go to style forum and search their board for Jantzen. About 50 bucks, 8000+ fabrics to choose from, a month or two on delivery. Pick your best fitting shirt and measure that, and send "Ricky" your info. That thread on sf has hundreds of examples, some good, some awful.

Post: #11

I like Brooks Brothers, slim, extra slim or regular fits in non-iron, try them all for the best fit. I have a thick neck and a slimmer waist, and a pronounced v-shape, nothing fits but these usually do. Their non-iron shirt is really the staple dress shirt. They are selling them pocketless, finally. They last forever and look great. There are a few companies out their trying to do 'athletic cut' shirts, but most of the time they are outdated designs and for the money don't look like a nice shirt, weird shiny material, etc. If you are super V I would probably do custom.

Great sale going on right now.http://www.brooksbrothers.com/

fyi I have had bigger shirts taken in and they still feel and look off, I would start with your correct size.

Post: #12

I just measured myself and I have an 18'' neck and 44'' chest. But I can still button my 15.5'' shirts with some struggle. So should I try the extra slim 16.5'' neck CT shirt?

Post: #13

Floss, unfortunately for unique non standard builds - it is sometimes a matter of trial and error. Thanks to RVF motivation, I have been hitting the gym harder and am in the same position now that regular stuff won't fit well.

You always want a little space around the neck - squishing your neck doesn't look good. I think you want to make sure your neck and shoulders fit well. Everything else can be tightened through alterations - even if the sleeves are too long.

As WIA said, I would give Jantzen a shot - I grabbed some shirts years ago and they are holding up - but I don't have to dress up every day so your experience may be different. Also, they have nice mother of pearl buttons which is a nice touch.

Post: #14

So I dug up a cheap JCPenney shirt with a 17'' labeled neck that fit me well in the neck. I measured it and it's really more like 18.75''.

I then measured a 15.5'' labeled CT shirt and it's really closer to 17''.

I think I'm gonna buy a few 16.5'' extra slim fit CT shirts then.

Anyone have experience with their slacks? I'm going either with those or Bonobos. I like a mid-highish rise and a taper to no more than a 15'' leg opening.

Post: #15

Have your shirts altered by a tailor. CT extra slim shirts come with back darts....you can have the same thing done to many other shirts. Just stay away from patterns for this, because that makes it a bit harder on the tailor to match up the designs when stitching the new seam.

I personally swear by CT, and I'm a pretty muscular guy. I think you should go try on some shirts in larger neck sizes before checking any other place. The Price/Quality combination at CT is hard to beat when it comes to shirts.

For slacks, I would either have some tailored off the rack if they have to look sharp, or hit up Nordstrom Rack for a good price on something that I don't mind wearing with a belt.

Post: #16

The selection of CT shirts looks real slim right now. Any idea when they re-up?

Post: #17

"I like Brooks Brothers, slim, extra slim or regular fits in non-iron, try them all for the best fit."

If you don't have a gut, Brooks shirts are cut too wide in the waist, including their extra slims. The extra slims are made for skinny fat people.

"I just measured myself and I have an 18'' neck and 44'' chest. But I can still button my 15.5'' shirts with some struggle. "

That's because you don't have an 18" neck.

Post: #18

^I measured the CT shirt collars with tape and they're like 17.5''. So they're not true-to-size, I guess. Gonna get some 16.5'' ones and that works hopefully.

Post: #19

Why don't you just go to a clothing store and try on some clothes?

The Internet is great and all, I love it in fact.

But a lot of you kids are almost handicapped by it.

There are stores that sell clothes. They allow (no, they encourage, since they want you to be a satisfied customer who returns) you to try on shirts.

Right there in the store.

No need to guess or ask guys online.

You can just see for yourself right there.

I know, I know, in a post-Internet world that sounds shocking.

I swear that it's true.

Post: #20

(12-30-2013 09:24 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  Why don't you just go to a clothing store and try on some clothes?

The Internet is great and all, I love it in fact.

But a lot of you kids are almost handicapped by it.

There are stores that sell clothes. They allow (no, they encourage, since they want you to be a satisfied customer who returns) you to try on shirts.

Right there in the store.

No need to guess or ask guys online.

You can just see for yourself right there.

I know, I know, in a post-Internet world that sounds shocking.

I swear that it's true.

CT shirts aren't sold anywhere near me.

Post: #21

Have some dirt cheap shirts that I had tailored for $18 and everybody thinks that they were as expensive as some Boss Red Label shirts from Saks by how awesome they fit. If you don't fit in a certain brands available sizes then maybe upgrade your clothing "ceiling" by paying more for better quality AND fit or just have everything tailored. It's inexpensive and you can take pride in knowing you can literally wear any shirt you have because they all fit YOUR size versus you fitting into THEIR size.

Post: #22

(12-31-2013 03:53 PM)estraudi Wrote:  Have some dirt cheap shirts that I had tailored for $18 and everybody thinks that they were as expensive as some Boss Red Label shirts from Saks by how awesome they fit. If you don't fit in a certain brands available sizes then maybe upgrade your clothing "ceiling" by paying more for better quality AND fit or just have everything tailored. It's inexpensive and you can take pride in knowing you can literally wear any shirt you have because they all fit YOUR size versus you fitting into THEIR size.

I think this is the best for people with irregular body sizes due lifting,

A good fit can transform a 20$ shirt

From another post of mine:

Quote:http://dappered.com/2013/05/before-after...ate-shirt/

http://dappered.com/2012/06/before-after...-tailored/

Before/After

When I went to Asia, what I should have done was buy a bunch of Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus house brands when on sale, then tailor overseas for 1-10$ a shirt depending on the quality of the tailor.

Post: #23

(12-31-2013 10:24 PM)startedfromscratch Wrote:  

(12-31-2013 03:53 PM)estraudi Wrote:  Have some dirt cheap shirts that I had tailored for $18 and everybody thinks that they were as expensive as some Boss Red Label shirts from Saks by how awesome they fit. If you don't fit in a certain brands available sizes then maybe upgrade your clothing "ceiling" by paying more for better quality AND fit or just have everything tailored. It's inexpensive and you can take pride in knowing you can literally wear any shirt you have because they all fit YOUR size versus you fitting into THEIR size.

I think this is the best for people with irregular body sizes due lifting,

A good fit can transform a 20$ shirt

From another post of mine:

Quote:http://dappered.com/2013/05/before-after...ate-shirt/

http://dappered.com/2012/06/before-after...-tailored/

Before/After

When I went to Asia, what I should have done was buy a bunch of Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus house brands when on sale, then tailor overseas for 1-10$ a shirt depending on the quality of the tailor.

Damn, you can get them tailored that cheap? That's awesome. I saw a Top Gear where the guys got bespoke suits made for really cheap in.. Thailand, I think?

Post: #24

/thread-9634-p...#pid143899

Quote:peep http://www.styleforum.net.

Thailand tailors get a very bad rap. Most of the great tailors in that part of the world are in Hong Kong or Japan generally. Neither of which are particularly close.

If you're just buying clothes to swoop, by all means, do Thailand. But if you're doing business with men who wear suits, they'll notice how bad the suits are.

>How do you differentiate a good tailor from a chump?
>Good fabric from mediocre?

At your stage in the game, you probably can't distinguish either
- working jacket buttons
- hand sewn button holes
- fully canvased
- spalla camicia? roped, natural, shoulders?
- high arm holes
- deep gorges
- properly ironed lapels
- where the lapel fits on the suit - if it's high up, it's harder to do

With fabric, you want good "hand", which means it feels good in your hands. #'s mean nothing. (super 120's super 150's are marketing garbage) Mills might mean something, but then you have to learn about all the different wool mills.

And then even if you understand construction, you need to understand design, design for yourself, and consider use.

I would personally hold off, unless you desperately need suits. Especially if you're looking for investment suits, and by the time you hit 40, most of those suits won't fit.

- Westindianarchie

I remember reading this post, thought it was really helpful and spot on

Usually though quality is very spotchy anywhere in Asia with the exception of the big time places (but at that point you'd be paying the same prices as back home or more!), thats why I would just take off the rack stuff from a nice store like Nordstrom and have them bring it in or whatever adjustments which any decent tailor could do

btw i'm all about saving money on clothes etc. But with a suit sometimes if it's under $300 and not tailored then you really got to ask yourself if it's worth it

I'm thinking of checking out Suit Supply Co. (usually their suits are in the 400-600$ range tailored) or possibly Dragon Inside after seeing this review

Post: #25

I am not sure where to post this but...

I got some polo shirts. I had to get a large to fit my arms and shoulders in, but it wears like a dress. I got them for a business purpose (long story - company paid for them - that purpose has been served).

My question is can I alter it - or that just fucks it up? I want to take a few inches off.

I am not a shirt tucker. Only with business shirts and suits.

Any thoughts? Just seems like a waste of a few hundred dollars.