• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

If I'm willing to alter new shirts, what should fit when I buy?

stuartSan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
85
Reaction score
0
Okay, my man boobs are pretty annoying for my height, and my arms are flabby since I haven't been working out in a while.

Standard S sized shirts don't seem to help me in this area. All they do is emphasize my moobs. M sized shirts are too long and sometimes too big in the sleeves. But I guess I'm willing to take extra measures now.

So, if I'm buying a shirt with alterations in mind, what should fit? Which parts are the hardest to alter and which are a breeze? That would help me with future sizing decisions. Thanks.
 

Dedalus

Distinguished Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2007
Messages
2,592
Reaction score
3
Neck and shoulders should fit, and sleeves shouldn't be too short, although sometimes there's some fabric in the cuff that can be let out.
 

spreadcollar

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Messages
555
Reaction score
1
generally anything above where the bottom of the armhole meets the shirt requires a reasonable amount of surgery -- shoulders, neck, and armhole. other than that, make sure the body and sleeve lengths are at least as long as you want them.
Originally Posted by stuartSan
Okay, my man boobs are pretty annoying for my height, and my arms are flabby since I haven't been working out in a while. Standard S sized shirts don't seem to help me in this area. All they do is emphasize my moobs. M sized shirts are too long and sometimes too big in the sleeves. But I guess I'm willing to take extra measures now. So, if I'm buying a shirt with alterations in mind, what should fit? Which parts are the hardest to alter and which are a breeze? That would help me with future sizing decisions. Thanks.
 

mensimageconsultant

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
Messages
4,600
Reaction score
145
The basics have been stated. Also, if it's patterned, it might not be possible to tailor and still look good. On the other hand, patterns can hide man boobs. Undershirts can, too.
 

Godspeed

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Messages
55
Reaction score
1
Let's say that the armhole is larger than you want, leading to the sleeves being wider/puffier. In other words, the bottom of the armhole is too low. Can this be tailored easily?
 

onion

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2007
Messages
3,047
Reaction score
3
Originally Posted by Godspeed
Let's say that the armhole is larger than you want, leading to the sleeves being wider/puffier. In other words, the bottom of the armhole is too low. Can this be tailored easily?

I'm not sure about the sleeves, but the arm hole it's self can be brought in.
 

spreadcollar

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Messages
555
Reaction score
1
No. They can taper the sleeves and try to slim them that way fairly easily, but to actually move the armhole is a lot of work.

Originally Posted by Godspeed
Let's say that the armhole is larger than you want, leading to the sleeves being wider/puffier. In other words, the bottom of the armhole is too low. Can this be tailored easily?
 

totally epic

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
574
Reaction score
9
I get my armhole/shoulder raised on my shirts all the time. Arm length has to be sufficiently long though. Only cost me $32 too.
 

Get Smart

Don't Crink
Joined
Oct 27, 2004
Messages
12,102
Reaction score
271
Originally Posted by spreadcollar
No. They can taper the sleeves and try to slim them that way fairly easily, but to actually move the armhole is a lot of work.

If the chest is taken in, the armhole will also get a tad smaller as a result
 

Empire

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Messages
163
Reaction score
1
How would a tailor typically shorten sleeve length on a shirt
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 55 35.5%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 60 38.7%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 17 11.0%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 27 17.4%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 28 18.1%

Forum statistics

Threads
505,180
Messages
10,579,211
Members
223,888
Latest member
alitamartin07
Top