The Limits of Tailoring a Shirt

[Janshi]

As a ~36/37" chest, ~14.5" neck, 28" waist guy, finding shirts that fit me well OTR are nigh upon impossible. So this year I finally pulled the trigger and have been having my shirts tailored.

The shirts I've had tailored have been shirts that fit well except for the waist, so there wasn't any significant surgery required. However, I'm now looking at some shirts that look like they'd require an operation. Perfect neck, shoulder and sleeve length - but we're talking about so much excess fabric that they bunch up weirdly on my frame, blousiness that would put a duchess to shame.

So my question is, what are the limits to tailoring a shirt?

 

[wj4]

Just go MTM, problem solved.

I'm more or less in the same boat as you are. My chest measures exactly 37''. Neck size is 14.5''. Waist is 30''. My arms are a bit longer than average, and my upper arms are bigger than average. In a nutshell I'm too big for Asian/European slim, but too small for American slim.

The only shirt that really fits me nicely is Paul Smith.

I've gone MTM and never looked back.

Before I was about to afford MTM shirts, I would buy J. Crew shirts on sale. The neck, shoulders, and length of sleeves were decent. I would spend the extra $15 to get the sides and sleeves taken in. It was good enough for the college days.

 

[Janshi]

Thanks for the reply, wj4. MTM is something I've been looking into, just wary of pulling the trigger on. I've heard too many horror stories re: online MTM, and Drinkwater's, which seems to be the best Bostonian MTM around, is a bit pricey at this moment in time. Perhaps in the new year.

J.Crew is actually somewhat awkward for me, as well. Both their slim and normal line 'S' shirts fit my shoulder, neck and sleeve length great, but there is just something about the body shape that is awkward, as opposed to straight baggy. Which is why I ask what the limitations of tailoring a shirt are.

The best decent quality shirt I own is a Club Monaco slim fit oxford, and even then I had to get the sides and back taken in so much my tailor was worried that it'd start bunching up in the back.

 

[JJGooden]

Have you tried the BB Extra Slim Fit?