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Oxford Shirt Fit for Newbies

post #1 of 16
9/5/11 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 

Hello All,  At 33 years old, I'm a late entry into the world of the fashion-conscious.  As I am an engineer in a manufacturing plant, there is seldom the need for one to carefully construct his wardrobe.  Even worse, one runs the risk of damaging expensive and well-tailored pieces when worn to work. 

 

I'm 5'8" and approximately 165#.  

 

After months of reading about classic men's clothing, I decided to start my journey at Brooks Brothers, where I purchased 6 classic cotton, slim-fit, oxford-cloth button downs in ecru, pink, blue, and university stripe red and blue.  I was measured at 15 1/4 - 33.  I usually wear 15 - 32/33 in dress shirts because the fit is usually more flattering to me than 15 1/2 - 32/33.  I cannot button a 15" neck comfortably, because I seldom, if ever, wear a tie.  

 

That said, I bought the OCBD shirts in 15-33 and love the fabric and finish, though I have not yet washed them.  I've attached some photos for fit critique.  Please note that the belt, chinos, and condo are not prepared to receive a review, so please be kind.

 

Thank you!smile.gif

 

Photo on 9-5-11 at 12.57 PM.jpg

Photo on 9-5-11 at 12.57 PM #2.jpgPhoto on 9-5-11 at 12.57 PM #3.jpgPhoto on 9-5-11 at 12.58 PM #2.jpg

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post #2 of 16
9/5/11 at 11:45am
Looks like you could do with trying extra slim fit and possibly lose an inch from the sleeves.
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post #3 of 16
9/5/11 at 11:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by inimitable View Post

Looks like you could do with trying extra slim fit and possibly lose an inch from the sleeves.

 

Thank you for the advice.  I should have indicated in my initial post that I did try extra slim fit and it was uncomfortably tight.  I had ordered the ESF shirts online; when I went to return them in the store the clerk snickered at the idea of me wearing ESF.

 

I do feel like the 33" sleeves are slightly too long, but I feel the 32" is too short.  From a style standpoint, what is worse, shorter or longer?

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post #4 of 16
9/5/11 at 12:11pm
Have you washed the shirts yet? I have found that the BB oxfords shrink quite a bit if you put them in the dryer. My guess is that they may benefit from a bit of shrinkage.
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post #5 of 16
9/5/11 at 12:13pm
wash one before you decide on anything. I'm 5'8" 145 and wear the ESF. my normal size is a 15/32, but I'm returning my oxford cloth shirts for a 15.5/33 because even with cold wash and tumble dry, they continue to shrink. Wash one warm and tumble dry low as the shirt's wash instructions state, then try it and see how it fits. side-note, how did you buy six oxford cloth shirts and get zero in white?
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post #6 of 16
9/5/11 at 12:16pm
You could try washing one of the shirts and see if it shrinks up a bit. Just seems to be a bit too much extra fabric round the back and bunching at the sleeves.

Try undoing the cuff and see where that sits. I wouldn't buy a shirt, especially not 6, if the sleeve was too short or too long.
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post #7 of 16
9/5/11 at 12:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ejboutin View Post

I had ordered the ESF shirts online; when I went to return them in the store the clerk snickered at the idea of me wearing ESF.

Heh... Typically BB customer service where I'm from. Go in there in a wifebeater and cut-off jeans shorts asking about a $1200 suit and they fawn all over you. Go in there asking about a $70 shirt and they act like you're wasting their time. I asked if they had any blue university stripe oxfords in the slim fit and they sales guy told me "I don't think we make one. That's a bit of an oxymoron don't you think?" I was like uhh... you make one. Check the website.

I think you should definitely try to wash one of them and see what you think. I don't think they look bad really, but you may like them a bit after they shrink up. Oxfords inevitably have a little bit of extra fabric in the back. You can get the sleeve length altered pretty easily though it may start to sound pretty expensive when you take 6 shirts in to be done.

Best advice from me is to slow down a bit. Don't buy 6 shirts at once. Figure out what size, fit, brands you really like. Nine out of 10 days I'm wearing a Gitman Vintage oxford. Maybe check those out too?
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post #8 of 16
9/5/11 at 12:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melanzana View Post





You need a 15 1/2 neck because even though you're not wearing a tie the shirt must still look like it fits in the neck area. The clerk snickered because the ESF shirts are really meant for boys and scrawny undeveloped 'tweens.That cut was really the cut in the boy's dept. but for some marketing reason they transferred it to the men's shirt dept. It's not just a more tapered shirt but one made for a boy's proportions.

 


yes everyone who can wear an ESF is a child or an underdeveloped twink. You can't fit them because you're big boned, not fat of course. rolleyes.gif
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post #9 of 16
9/5/11 at 12:43pm
the shoulders are a little too narrow already. i would have gone with the 15 1/2 - 33 and put them through a hot washer and dryer.

go watch 'the odd couple' to see how a brooks shirt should fit.
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post #10 of 16
9/5/11 at 1:22pm
Thread Starter 

LOL...you are correct.  I miscounted.  The number is 5.

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post #11 of 16
9/5/11 at 1:33pm
Definitely need extra slim... or perhaps MTM. The shirts posted are too baggy. I'd opt for MTM, but that's just me.
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post #12 of 16
9/10/11 at 10:12am
Thread Starter 

So after digesting all of the replies to my question (and chuckling at all the differing opinions on the BB ESF shirts), I decided to get a BB SF 15.5 neck, with the 33" sleeve (which is my measured size) and attempt to shrink it.  After putting it through the warm water / tumble dry low process, It shrank slightly, but I am still not happy with the fit.  

 

At this point, I am ready to abandon Brooks Brothers altogether.  I LOVED the idea of a well-fitting, off-the-rack, American-made shirt; I just don't think that will happen with Brooks Brothers.  Their MTM line is just too expensive for me to build an OCBD base.  

 

This sucks...looks like my zeal in purchasing too many shirts at once is going to lead to some hefty tailoring costs.  Will acquire more slow in the future.

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post #13 of 16
9/10/11 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ejboutin View Post

So after digesting all of the replies to my question (and chuckling at all the differing opinions on the BB ESF shirts), I decided to get a BB SF 15.5 neck, with the 33" sleeve (which is my measured size) and attempt to shrink it.  After putting it through the warm water / tumble dry low process, It shrank slightly, but I am still not happy with the fit.  

 

At this point, I am ready to abandon Brooks Brothers altogether.  I LOVED the idea of a well-fitting, off-the-rack, American-made shirt; I just don't think that will happen with Brooks Brothers.  Their MTM line is just too expensive for me to build an OCBD base.  

 

This sucks...looks like my zeal in purchasing too many shirts at once is going to lead to some hefty tailoring costs.  Will acquire more slow in the future.


Have you considered veering to an online MTM source? I use moderntailor, and when fabrics are on sale, I can pick up staple shirts for 55-65 dollars each (including shipping and mother of pearl buttons). Take the BB shirt with the 15 inch neck and alter a few proportions slightly. Great thing about MTM is that you can choose how you want your shirts to fit. I like mine slim, though not tit squeezing tight.

You're right about purchasing too many shirts at once. Should have just bought the one, tested the fit, and proceeded from there. Also, in future, get a shirt that fits, and then cold water wash/hang dry/iron damp so that it does not shrink at all!
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post #14 of 16
9/10/11 at 3:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ejboutin View Post

So after digesting all of the replies to my question (and chuckling at all the differing opinions on the BB ESF shirts), I decided to get a BB SF 15.5 neck, with the 33" sleeve (which is my measured size) and attempt to shrink it.  After putting it through the warm water / tumble dry low process, It shrank slightly, but I am still not happy with the fit.  

 

At this point, I am ready to abandon Brooks Brothers altogether.  I LOVED the idea of a well-fitting, off-the-rack, American-made shirt; I just don't think that will happen with Brooks Brothers.  Their MTM line is just too expensive for me to build an OCBD base.  

 

This sucks...looks like my zeal in purchasing too many shirts at once is going to lead to some hefty tailoring costs.  Will acquire more slow in the future.


What's the problem with the shirt now?

Get darts put in. Your tailor may charge about $10-15. It's worth it, as BB OCBDs are the best.
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post #15 of 16
9/10/11 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajmanouk View Post


You're right about purchasing too many shirts at once. Should have just bought the one, tested the fit, and proceeded from there. Also, in future, get a shirt that fits, and then cold water wash/hang dry/iron damp so that it does not shrink at all!

Or, buy shirts that you know will shrink slightly a tad bit large and then don't take any extra effort washing and drying them for the rest of the life of the shirt.

Seriously, the added effort over the life of the shirt is going to add up to a hell of a lot more than the effort it takes to get a fit dialed in at the start.
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