Borrelli

[Stu]

I recently started wearing Borrelli shirts. The thing that strikes me are the high armholes. I am not used to them. They make the shirt look beautiful across the chest and shoulders. However, I am not used to them and they are not uncomfortable, but they do feel weird.

Is this something one gets used to?

 

[aportnoy]

Hey Stu...you will definitely get used to it much like getting used to wearing a suit with higher arm holes. Borrelli are usually cut on the generous side so there shouldn't be too much tightness at the chest or waist. Unless of course these are from the European market and then they could be quite trim all the way around.

 

[Stu]

Originally Posted by aportnoy

Hey Stu...you will definitely get used to it much like getting used to wearing a suit with higher arm holes. Borrelli are usually cut on the generous side so there shouldn't be too much tightness at the chest or waist. Unless of course these are from the European market and then they could be quite trim all the way around.

I bought them from Ian. The weird thing about it is they, according to his measurements, are cut very full. For example, a 15.75 shirt I bought had the chest measruement listed as 47 inches. For me, with my 42-inch chest, that should be a sail. But it seems like the higher armholes compensate for that and provide a closer fit.

I mean I usually don't buy an OTR suit if it has a chest measurement of more than 46 inches, let alone a shirt.

 

[minimal]

The good news is: you *will* get used to it.

The bad news: there's a good chance that soon you will want to replace all your other, less well-fitting shirts.

This happened to me when I introduced one good-fitting shirt into a wardrobe of lesser examples. The Darwinian contest that followed thereafter was brutal, and a short time later my closet had *only* shirts of the former type. Who can deny the process of evolution when it is so clear in my own house?!

 

[Dragon]

I recently started wearing Borrelli shirts. The thing that strikes me are the high armholes. I am not used to them. They make the shirt look beautiful across the chest and shoulders. However, I am not used to them and they are not uncomfortable, but they do feel weird.

Maybe you should try some other Neapolitan shirts and compare (they all have high armholes). Since you mention that it "feels weird," it could be that the Borrelli shirts are too small, or the armholes are too high. I don't think you should really "feel" the shirt...especially a shirt made in Naples.

There are many other Neapolitan shirt makers that make same or higher quality. Especially if you're buying OTR, I think that you should try all the different makers, so you can find a shirt that fits as close to MTM or bespoke as possible.

 

[Mr. Checks]

Originally Posted by Stu

I bought them from Ian. The weird thing about it is they, according to his measurements, are cut very full. For example, a 15.75 shirt I bought had the chest measruement listed as 47 inches. For me, with my 42-inch chest, that should be a sail. But it seems like the higher armholes compensate for that and provide a closer fit.

I mean I usually don't buy an OTR suit if it has a chest measurement of more than 46 inches, let alone a shirt.

I wonder if one of the shirtmakers would weigh in on whether five inches would be considered baggy. My sense is that it wouldn't, and might even be on the borderline of being snug.

FWIW, I once measured a Brooks 17-inch at a beefy 56 inches around the chest; that's 11 extra inches for me and, I assume, most customers.

 

[Renault78law]

My Borrelli shirt's armholes fit and feel fine. If it fits properly, it shouldn't be noticeable. However, I have some finnamore shirts where the armholes are too high and too small. If they cut into your armpits, there is something wrong. That reminds me, I need to sell some shirts...

 

[Renault78law]

Mr. Checks is right, I believe the usual allowance for a standard fit MTM shirt is greater than 6 inches. I'd consider a 4 inch allowance "tight."