The Definitive Guide to Slim Fit Shirts

Originally Posted by maomao1980

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Zaras are not slim by European standards. I would rate them to be slightly more generous than RL custom fit shirts. Also Zara shirts come in two grades, the standard and a higher end one with pearl buttons. Price difference about 30% I think.

It depends on how the shirts are labeled. The shirts that are labeled Size S fit me almost perfectly, while the ones that are labeled size 38 are quite a bit blousier in the chest and waist and fit more like RL custom fits. I can't afford designer stuff like Dries Van Noten or Margiela yet, so Zara will do for now

Bjorn's graph wrt the Armani Collezione, it's strange because it's the puffiest shirt I have. The neck and sleeve length are spot-on for me (15inch) but it's just huge, I find myself rarely wearing it.

Are you guys measuring true pit-to-pit right on the seam, or a little bit below that? My shirts taper quite a bit along that single inch.

Originally Posted by surrender

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It depends on how the shirts are labeled. The shirts that are labeled Size S fit me almost perfectly, while the ones that are labeled size 38 are quite a bit blousier in the chest and waist and fit more like RL custom fits. I can't afford designer stuff like Dries Van Noten or Margiela yet, so Zara will do for now
I've got two Zara S-size slim fit shirts, one labeled Zara Men (€24.90), darted back, and one labeled Zara Man (€29.90) w/o darts. Both made in Vietnam - my country - to be exported to EU. They fitted me nicely, but I found that Zara Man fitted better than Zara Men.

Is that similar to what maomao1980 said?

Originally Posted by orlagu

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I've got two Zara S-size slim fit shirts, one labeled Zara Men (€24.90), darted back, and one labeled Zara Man (€29.90) w/o darts. Both made in Vietnam - my country - to be exported to EU. They fitted me nicely, but I found that Zara Man fitted better than Zara Men.

Is that similar to what maomao1980 said?

The higer end shirts I've seen has white lables, with pearl buttons, while the lower end lines have black labels and plastic buttons.

My measurements (at skin): neck: 15.5" (39.37cm) arm: 34/35" (86.36cm) chest (under arms over nipple): 36" (91.44cm) mid: (around largest section of mid and over belly button): 32" (81.28cm) waist (wear pants are worn): 32" (81.28cm) Height: 5'9" (175.26cm) average shoulder slope and width average proportions (legs and torso are equally proportioned) I just found the very rare Polo Ralph Lauren Dress Shirt today at a local discount store and tried it on (I am a size 15 1/2-34/35). I have to say the fit was much better than the Van Heusen and Stafford fitted shirts I have tried on. Both the Stafford and Heusen have about 1 inch more arm space (measuring where the sleeve meets the body of the shirt. I measured straight from the top of the seam to the bottom, not following the seam). The "fitted" if it can be even called that, Stafford and Heusen shirts should be avoided unless you plan on having a tailor fix them up a bit. The Heusen has a weird curvyness to the body of the shirt as well which unless you are the perfect height adds extra fabric in the back around the mid section, and the end result is a poofy back and some extra fabric on the sides that is impossible to tuck. Here is a breif comparison of some measurements I took on the shirts: Stafford Fitted shoulders, across top of yoke: 20 arm width, as described above: 11 length, top button to tail: 29.5 width at middle of shirt, flat seam to seam: 20.75 width, under arm holes: 23.5 bottom of arm hole to tail, at side seam: 18.5 width at highest part of the tail, seam to seam: 22 Van Heusen Fitted shoulders, across top of yoke: 19.25 arm width, as described above: 11 length, top button to tail: 29 width at middle of shirt, flat seam to seam: 20 width, under arm holes: 23 bottom of arm hole to tail, at side seam: 17.5 width at highest part of the tail, seam to seam: 21 Polo Ralph Lauren Curham Custom Fit shoulders, across top of yoke: 18.75 arm width, as described above: 9.75 length, top button to tail: 29 width at middle of shirt, flat seam to seam: 20.75 width, under arm holes: 22 bottom of arm hole to tail, at side seam: 17 width at highest part of the tail, seam to seam: 22 These measurements don't fully show the subtle differences between the Heusen and the Polo shirt. The Heusen has a very full center pleating that poofs of the back. In addition the Heusen is too curvy and in my opinion resembles a woman's dress shirt. The over-curvy Heusen leads too additional fabric that can't be tucked in because of the stitching on the shirt. The Polo has more squared body and is also fairly slim. I know they are not at all in the same category but the "dress" shirts from American Eagle Outfitters have almost identical measurements to the Polo Custom Fit Curham shirt. I disliked both the Stafford and Heusen because of their bagginess in both the arms and although slightly less baggy mid sections, still baggy none the less. I enjoyed the Curham RL Polo but still feel it is not sharp enough as I would like it and certainly remains baggy around the mid section but the arms fit the best yet. Now, I am looking for some suggestions as to some better fitting shirts, or a guide to custom fitting my shirts. 1) My girlfriend has some very developed sewing skills and can easily take a part a shirt and sew it to the measurements I give her but I am not really sure how tight the shirt should be. She hasn't done much mens tailor but from what she knows about customizing her own stuff I think it will work out fine. Is an inch of space around the entire mid section enough? Two inches? I really don't know how to go about this so if anyone with a similar build to mine (if it matters?) could try on their best fitting shirt and create some kind of technique to get the right fit around the mid section and arms I would really appreciate it. I know one test I did was pulling on the front of the shirt, around the belly button, tightly to pull forward all of the fabric and then sliding a measure tape up my shirt measuring from my belly to the shirt. (I don't know how great that is but it is a start I guess). 2) Secondly, is there any company that produces a better fitting shirt for my build? I have read through this thread but it's hard when no one really posts their measurements or anything. A reply from some similarly built folks would be great. Sorry this is so long, but hey, you didn't have to read it all. Thanks, D.

I like how you have measurements to the tenth of a millimeter.

kudos should be directed to the google convertor.

Its been asked and discussed previously, but I took the liberty of making a drawing showing what IMHO is the optimum height for a slim shirt worn outside jeans (or pants). It is about half way down the front of the zipper, i.e. half way from the waist to the crotch:



Jon.

Does anyone have a Hugo Boss in 15.5, 34/35 and would be willing to take some measurements for me? I was looking for:
1. armpit seam to seam across chest
2. across yoke, seam to seam shoulders
3. acoss mid section of shirt
4. width across lowest parth of shirt

Thanks.

The shirt I have says BOSS hugo boss on a black label from an outlet store. Not sure if its different from the HB shirts with a red label. Its a 15/34,35, and I have a 37" chest, and its not close to slim.

Not all Boss shirts are made alike. Recently I tried one on that was a very full cut. I believe it was made in Hong Kong. I think the ones that are made in Turkey might be slimmer.

Can anyone comment on the difference in fit of Finamore black label versus Finamore white label?
I have one Finamore black label shirt and it is very slim with very high armholes. In size 16 it is the only brand I found that is actually too slim for my 42" chest.

Originally Posted by itskub

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The shirt I have says BOSS hugo boss on a black label from an outlet store. Not sure if its different from the HB shirts with a red label. Its a 15/34,35, and I have a 37" chest, and its not close to slim.

We have really similar measurements, what shirts have you found that fit you best?

the only brand so far that Im satisfied with the fit is Patrizia Pepe, this is a M 48.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9553/buy3hj4.jpg
I found a few at Daffys; in green, blue/white microcheckered, cream/linen..Though theyre not really dress-shirts.
And for sweaters and t-shirts Gazernitti (sp?) fits nicely.
Other then that I just have all my tops altered.

Originally Posted by itskub

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the only brand so far that Im satisfied with the fit is Patrizia Pepe, this is a M 48.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9553/buy3hj4.jpg
I found a few at Daffys; in green, blue/white microcheckered, cream/linen..Though theyre not really dress-shirts.
And for sweaters and t-shirts Gazernitti (sp?) fits nicely.
Other then that I just have all my tops altered.
Way too slim. Anyone w/ some upperbody muscle or fat would not fit into that shirt.

Too short to be tucked in also => not a dress shirt.