Taking in big shirts

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by vitaminc

But could the armhole cut be altered?

Yes -- it can be raised. Very easy to do while you're taking in the sides.

 

[pgoat]

wow - i went through half my dress shirts last night - the cheaper half (I have about 40-50; I bought about half of them very cheap brands when I first graduated a few years ago and needed a work wardrobe fast - the other half are Brooks Bros, Tyrwhitt, etc, bought here and there over the last few years). Almost all of them are like tents on me.

I eliminated the ones that are not good candidates for the cost of taking in because of age/wear, poor collar choice for my face (I learned the hard way spread collars are NOT for me!), or short sleeve length (I used to buy 34-35s, which were always too long; so many of these are 32-33s - which fit fine in the store but after a few launderings are now too short...I now buy 34" at Brooks, etc).

Of the ones that remain, I understand the sides can be taken in and the armholes raised.

In evaluating the shoulders, would you reject based on the shoulder seams being too wide (in other words, you can see the seams droop off the side of my natural delts to a degree.)?

Oddly enough, many of the shirts I thought fit me well, upon closer inspection look plain awful! The best OTR cut on me so far are the $20 specials (Club room - Macy*s!!

)

 

[pgoat]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Yes -- it can be raised. Very easy to do while you're taking in the sides.

I'm assuming they use part of the sleeve to "build" up the lower part of the armhole space?

 

[WhateverYouLike]

I'm pretty unfamiliar with getting alterations done and the structure of a dress shirt, but this sounds like what I'm looking to get done. Usually, the shoulders and chest fit fine but the sleeves are rather billowy and there is no drop from the chest to the waist. Is this what you guys are talking about? Getting a tighter fit around the arms and a taper going from chest to waist? If so, what do you tell the tailor to do (specifically, please, if anyone is willing to help...it's not going to be pretty if I have to make up words to describe what I want)?

WYL

 

[Mustapha]

Originally Posted by WhateverYouLike

I'm pretty unfamiliar with getting alterations done and the structure of a dress shirt, but this sounds like what I'm looking to get done. Usually, the shoulders and chest fit fine but the sleeves are rather billowy and there is no drop from the chest to the waist. Is this what you guys are talking about? Getting a tighter fit around the arms and a taper going from chest to waist? If so, what do you tell the tailor to do (specifically, please, if anyone is willing to help...it's not going to be pretty if I have to make up words to describe what I want)?

WYL

My alterationist makes me stand and raise my arms away from my body. Like that silly pose some of the WAYWNT posters adopt to show the waist suppression on their jackets.

She pinches a bit of shirt every couple inches starting at the hips, then the waist, then the chest, then the armpit, then the sleeve all the way to the cuff. She pins each time. She asks; 'is that too tight?' everytime she pins. Stand naturally. If you belly sticks out, stick it out; else you shirt will be too tight.

 

[DocHolliday]

Poor man's Paint illustration:

 

[pgoat]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Poor man's Paint illustration:

cool - Thanks! - I'm going to print this page out and bring to my tailor - I like the "is that too tight ?"gauge