A rant about men's shirt sizes

[trof]

I'm a big guy.
265, 6'2".
I wear size 2X shirts.
They're nice and roomy and comfortable...until recently.

Miz t. bought me a couple of shirts for my 75th birthday.
I tried them on and they seemed to be OK.
Until I reached for something.
Like the car's steering wheel.
Then they were really tight through the shoulders.
Binding under the armpits.

I measured a couple of my older good shirts.
Shoulder seam to shoulder seam.
22 to 23 inches.
The new ones measured just 20 inches.
Jeez.
Anybody else noticed this?

Now Miz t. keeps a tape measure in her purse so she can check.

[jonno99]

1. Well, I don't know about shirts, but your wife sounds like a great gal!

[trof]

2. Oh HELL yes! 47 years and counting.

She's definitely a keeper.

[Lochloosa]

3. I'm a 1X guy. Had to go to 2X. Nothing changed but the shirt.

They definitely are smaller.

[trof]

4. OK. Once again they're screwing us.

[Lochloosa]

5. I never knew a pound of coffee was 14 ozs.

[GoCubsGo]

17. With some brands, it's actually 10 or 12 oz.

[True Dough]

6. At age 75

you're getting closer to the point in your life when you wear your pants to high that they will practically engulf your shirts anyway.
Like this:






If I were to rant about shirts, it would be the damn sewn-in tags that poke or scratch you in the back of the neck. Why can't shirts be more like undershirts and underwear that have logos embossed so they no longer require friggin tags???

[trof]

7. I very carefully cut them off with a razor blade.

[malthaussen]

21. Then the edge is sharper! n/t

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. I've been buying the same shirts for years but the last "restock" I did, they were tight.

These are JC Penny Stafford button down oxford shirts. My older ones fit fine all over while the newer ones MARKED THE EXACT SAME SIZE grab me in the forearms and the underarms. I used to be able to just swoop in to the store, grab a couple shirts off the shelf and be on my merry way.

[Fix The Stupid]

9. Agree. Now what about shoe laces?

Why in the name of everything that is holy, do men's shoes come with 9 feet of shoelace per shoe?

Am I supposed to wrap the laces 5x around my ankles or something?

Buy new laces and swap them out?

Don't.get.it.

[benld74]

10. Agreed. Most of my shirts are now the breathable golf variety in 2x.

These always have the room for me

[dembotoz]

11. and all this time i thought i was just getting fatter...I CAN BLAME THE SHIRTS

you made my day

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

12. Haven't noticed that, never thought to measure, but

At 6'2 and 272, myself, I had to go to XXXL years ago, for my work/tee-shirts, which are Carharts. The XXL are were, for me like you, just too tight.

[trof]

13. She even measured a 3X collared shirt in the store. 21"

Damn

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

16. Huh

I'm getting close to buying some new work shirts. It's been a few months, but my newest ones fit just fine. Maybe when I go I should try on the XXXL before buying, just in case. Have you tried Carharts?

[trof]

18. 2X Tees seem to be OK for me, so far.

I just measured one and it has 25" shoulders.

[trof]

15. Never button the top button.

These are all short sleeved sport shirts.

[steve2470]

19. I'm a big guy too, I always buy 17 inch neck and traditional cut shirts

Any smaller in the neck and slim fits do NOT fit me. Good luck with further shirt purchases!

[trof]

20. I live in coastal Alabama.

I haven't bought a shirt by neck size in YEARS.
I'm 75.
I have one dress shirt.
I haven't worn it in years.
Even weddings and funerals don't require a tie down here now.

[Major Nikon]

22. There's no real standards when it comes to men's shirts

Even when you look at dress shirts that are properly sized for neck and sleeve length, there's still a 2 inch variance on chest sizes even among top retailers and if you want a normal, slim, or whatever fit at the waist then there's other options from there.

As far as dress shirts go, if you really want them to fit, the best thing I've found to do is to find one that fits your neck and sleeve length but is oversized everywhere else and have it tailored. This is usually pretty cheap to have done if you have a local tailor that is reasonable. Another thing I've done is when buying a suit I buy a shirt or two and can usually talk the retailer into throwing the shirt tailoring in for free while they are taking in the suit.

[trof]

23. HooWee. You must live in a big city.

The closest we have to a men's store is the Brooks Brothers factory store at the outlet mall and they don't do alterations.

[Major Nikon]

24. DFW

So yeah, plenty of places around here, but in my experience smaller towns usually have an abundance of small inexpensive tailor shops and people that work out of their home if you can find them. Anyone who does much at all should be able to tailor a men's dress shirt pretty readily. You should even be able to find some that can fully tailor a shirt for you from whatever material you select. All they need are your measurements. It's been a while since I've had a fully tailored shirt, but if you can find someone that does them for a reasonable price, they are well worth it. Makes for a very sharp look and perfect comfort.

[TexasBushwhacker]

25. Same brand as you've bought before?

The fit from one brand to another can vary a lot.

[Skittles]

27. you want I should kick your big ass, trof?

I WILL BRING MY TAPE MEASURE; yes INDEED

and by the way, now you know what us gals have to deal with our ENTIRE LIVES - yup

[trof]

30. Yes, please.

[UTUSN]

28. I'm short & fat, and 2X - Van Heusen -

The outlets with racks of shirts on hangers - Ross, Burlington - all us guys stand there, putting the shirts on on top of our clothes - GREAT!1

Yea, all the "Made in Banladesh" and "Made in Vietnam" and whatever - run Small.

No measuring - all trying it on!1

The sizes from the East are tiny.

The *big* sizes (3X, 4X, 5X) are at Burlington.

[spiderpig]

29. OK - here's a rant about women's pant sizes

Men's come in varying inseam lengths. If you're lucky, you might find a women's petite or tall.

Meaning you usually have to hem them yourselves or take them to a tailor.

Why are men's legs different lengths, but women's are, in marketing terms, all the same?

Signed,
Frustrated