Brooks Brothers luxury shirts shrinkage?

[NoVaguy]

Do they shrink or not?

I bought 3 Brooks Brothers luxury shirt back during the sale (the slimmer fit is nice), and the salesman measured me and convinced me to get 16x35 - although i usually buy a 36 sleeve when i'm on my own. it basically comes to just about a millimeter or two past the wrist when my hands are down at my sides.

however, the material seems like it'll shrink with the first wash - and the shirt measurement is 35 inches. a 3% shrinkage will knock off about an inch and definitely make it too short. anybody have experience with this line? should i take it back for 36 inch sleeves?

 

[AlanC]

I think it was Shirtmaven who mentioned this 'rule of thumb' for sleeve length, but when the shirt cuff is unbuttoned it should reach the crook of your hand between your thumb and index finger. I've found the shirts that satisfy me with their length do extend this far. Try that test with your new shirts and your old ones, see how they compare and which fit you prefer.

How do you launder your shirts? If you do them at home and drip dry you'll have less shrinkage than sending them off to the laundry.

 

[NoVaguy]

I think it was Shirtmaven who mentioned this 'rule of thumb' for sleeve length, but when the shirt cuff is unbuttoned it should reach the crook of your hand between your thumb and index finger.

How do you launder your shirts? If you do them at home and drip dry you'll have less shrinkage than sending them off to the laundry.

Is that rule of thumbs for shirts before or after they get washed (i.e., pre or post shrinkage)? In any event, the shirts I have don't quite make it that far when unbuttoned, so back they go.

I wash at home, usually on cold, and hang dry in the bathroom. I don't really like any of the laundry services I've tried, although I haven't tried that many.

 

[johnnynorman3]

Sales people can't measure at all. I once had a salesguy measure me and convince me that I needed a 32 sleeve, even though a 32 sleeve hits just above where my watch is. I also saw a skinny guy get measured to a 17" neck the other day in BB.

 

[retronotmetro]

I got three of the non-iron BB luxury line shirts on sale. They seemed to be right where I wanted in sleeve length out of the package. I washed one and left two in the package in case I didn't like the first one. The one that I washed (warm water, low dry cycle) shrank a little (probably 1/4" off the sleeve). The other two will be going back. I'd rather get them long and have them shortened a bit.

 

[JohnMS]

what size are they retro?

 

[retronotmetro]

Marked as a 15.5/33, but they seem smaller than that by some indeterminate amount.