Thursday, June 2, 2011

Buying a Slim Fit Shirt - Say No To the Pirate Shirt!

Let's be honest, we've all worn the kind of shirts that just love to puff out in the back and make you look like you have the physique of a marshmallow.  Well today is the day to stop, I'm going to borrow heavily from the GQ article featured here because it is a great guide on how to find a great slim fit shirt.

Step 1: Not all slim fit shirts are created equal

This is one of the most difficult parts of buying a slim fitting shirt that you won't have to have tailored, the actual way a shirt fits you is going to vary widely between brands.  My best advice is to try a whole variety of different brands until you find one that fits you perfectly.  I personally love the Express 1MX Fitted Shirt, they are not too expensive and the variety in the past few years has expanded dramatically.  H&M is another great place for a cheap slim fit shirt, however if you want something that will last a little longer you can find slim shirts from Boss, Banana Republic, Gucci, Ralph Lauren and more.  See how well this shirt fits below and the slim look it gives.


Step 2: "It feels too tight" - Get over it

When you start shopping for a slim fit shirt, it's possible that you are going to be uncomfortable in it at first.  It will feel too tight around the arms, you might feel like your love handles are showing or maybe even that your shoulders feel constrained.   Chances are you have been wearing shirts that are too big for you in the first place your whole life, so it will take some time to get used to it.  If you don't think you can handle it, take a look at the picture below between a slim fit shirt and a standard puffed out shirt.  Who do you want to look like?


Step 3: Keep your slim shirt fitting perfectly

Nothing will kill how much you love a slim fit shirt like having it shrink up on you if you wash it incorrectly.  Trust me, you will go from admiring your new look to wondering how you gained 10 pounds overnight when a slim fit shirt shrinks up.  Wash white and light colors in a hot wash, dark shirts should be in cold water.  I recommend hang drying your shirts if at all possible but understandably this isn't possible for some households.  If you have to use the dryer, use it to get most of the moisture out of the shirt and then iron the shirt immediately.  You will get remove the rest of the moisture and any wrinkles this way.


I can't count how many guys I see that ruin a great look by wearing a dress shirt that is way too big for them.  By taking some time to examine how a shirt fits you and knowing what to look for you will make a big impact on your wardrobe.  Once again, I really recommend this article from GQ.  It has a lot of great looks and should give you an idea on where to start with picking a slim fit shirt

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.
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42 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 9, 2012 at 10:58 AM

    A shirt is not a corset - while many shirts are too baggy around the waist and too short/tight in the sleeve, it is important that clothes fulfill their primary purpose - to cover you and to make you comfortable. I've been wearing fairly loose clothes lately as I've adapted a back to basics approach.

    On the subject of appearance and the above photos, the shirt in the first is a little (and I mean a little) on the tight side - fine across the shoulders but a little more material elsewhere would complete the perfect look - the sleeves could do with a little lengthening - cuffs are fine. Color and strip as good - overall shape suits the person - just a little looser...

    The red shirt in the second image is perfect in the sleeve, but far too loose elsewhere - the sleeves should be longer so as to narrow the shoulder span (there's already enough length on the arms) and the body of the shirt tighter (not too tight of course) - let the sleeves give the loose look.

    Those last two pictures are "I had this shirt when I went to school..." - they simply don't fit - my suggestion: Get a scissors and cut them up - when done, get a decent shirt that fits!

    Irish and Proud

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousNovember 24, 2015 at 5:06 PM

      With the passage of time the popularity of the dress shirts for men 2015 is gaining the heights of attention and best place among the men crowd... Slim Fit Dress Shirts

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2013 at 6:49 PM

    Clearly you have no clue about modern men's fashion. Basically, take the exact opposite of everything you said and then a person would have a good idea of how a modern men's shirt should fit. I prefer to dress well and wear nice clothes that fit me well and that make a definite positive impression. I receive compliments from women all the time on my clothes, my shirts included and considering that those are the only real compliments that matter...I'd say listen to GQ, Esquire and the author of this article and ignore ^ his advice like the plague.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2013 at 3:09 PM

      Well let's be blunt here - do you want to look like a serious business like man or do you want to do comedy??? What that's exactly the impression I get from the shirts in the last two photos. Yes mate, a shirt should fit - let's cut the fetish nonsense - if there's strain clearly evident in the material when the shirt is on the person, then the shirt is too tight for that person - simple as - learn how to fit a shirt mate! Yes, I know I'm blunt, but I seriously feel the need to be...

      Regarding sleeve length, the cuff should sit comfortably on the hand (the hem approximately half way between the wrist and the top knuckle of your thumb - like the guy in the first photo) so that you're able to put your hand on your head without the cuff moving up the arm - if the cuff does travel up the arm as you raise you it, that implies that the sleeves are too short. The sleeves should also be adequately wide (but don't get carried away of course) so that they look comfortable, allow for movement (your arms do move don't they? - well at lease mine do!), properly fitted to the shoulder, and professional - remember, it's a shirt, not sportswear - and if you want to show your arms, then get real and show your arms by wearing neat short sleeves with the hem finishing a little above the elbow - well fitted short sleeves on formal shirts frequently look very sharp and certainly look a hell of a lot better than those silly tight long sleeves (like in the last two photos) - seriously, what's the point in long tight sleeves when you can just show your arms??? Am I missing something - I mean, you're not going to go about in cold weather in a shirt anyway, so...???

      Regarding the fit around the body, there should be an adequate amount of material around the chest so that it sits properly and should neither be a tent nor a corset - it should look comfortable, well fitted and professional - of course, make sure the collar fits so that you can put your index finger fully into it down the side of your neck when the top button is fastened - I think it should be no more or less than that. Once all that's done, the fit around the lower torso should be consistent with the chest so as to avoid spoiling the shirt with a baggy finish around the waist, or being a ballet dancer with a corset - remember, you want to look professional. If you are of good physique, your tuck-in shirts should always taper in towards the waist - even if it's a loose fit shirt. Just do it right mate - I also said that the red shirt above is generally far too loose - just in case you got the impression that I think it's cool. However, I do now think the shirt in the first image is too tight - especially around the waist - the sleeves should also droop slightly towards the cuff - in other words, a little lengthening and widening of the lower sleeves - the position of the cuffs are fine though. It is also clear that the shirt is not sitting properly around the shoulders - that's because it's too tight around the body IMO - the cut in the shirt should allow it to sit comfortably. There's also a strain in the material around the waist - that should not happen. However, I do like the stripe and that guy does look amazing (I think he might be flattering that shirt a bit) - I'd just like too see his shirt a little looser.

      Well, that's my take on it...

      Irish and Proud

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2013 at 3:27 PM

      Addendum...

      On a side note - tight trousers are a big no unless you are very thin and have very long legs. If you want the sharp look, consider bootleg trousers that are fairly slim (certainly no pleats) around the crotch and taper out slightly (I'm not talking about Elvis here) so that they have good width in the openings to sit nicely around the shoe. If you want to look like a man, then it's trousers you want, not tights - there's nothing at all wrong with wide leg trousers - I wear them all the time. Make sure that the back hems of your trousers reach at least the top of the sole of your shoes so that they don't hang like ugly bags while walking - however, avoid floor brushes at the same time - nearly as awful.

      However, if men feel the urge to show their legs, then maybe these 1920's/30's? style half length trousers tucked into knee length stockings (some golfers wear them from time to time) might be a good solution - from what I've seen of those, they look a hell of a lot better than most tight trousers (tights as I see them) and yes, they still look like men. Well cut shorts (again knee length - above the knee looks very unfinished IMO) can also be a good solution for men who like to show their lower legs - especially if they're long and slim.

      However, with my more average proportions, I'll stick with wide leg...

      Irish and Proud

      Delete
    3. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2013 at 4:18 PM

      BTW, here's the opposite to what I said in my first post...

      This should be funny!!!!!!! (***my commentary***)

      A shirt is a corset - while many shirts are too thin around the waist ***first contradiction*** and too long/loose in the sleeve, it is important that clothes do not fulfill their primary purpose - to cover you and to you comfortable ***erm... OK!!!***. I've been wearing fairly loose clothes lately as I've adapted a back to nonsense approach ***So fairly looses clothes are nonsense even though they're pretty much the tradition - maybe it's you and your fetish - do you seriously think these tight shirts are going to stand the test of time??? - Of course, you are going to spend the dosh anyway and make the fat cats happy - wonder how many of those wear tight clothes???***.

      On the subject of appearance and the above photos, the shirt in the first is a little (and I mean a little) on the loose side ***What???*** - bad across the shoulders and a little less material elsewhere would complete the perfect look ***OMG!!!*** - the sleeves could do with a little shortening ***Oh, is it for comedy?*** - cuffs are bad. Color and stripe is bad - overall shape does not suit the person - it needs to be little tighter ***Now that's good!!!!!!!***...

      The red shirt in the second image is awful in the sleeve, and far too tight elsewhere ***Now that makes sense!!!*** - the sleeves should be shorter so as to widen the shoulder span ***What??? is it a circus tent you're making???*** (however, there's not enough length on the arms either... ***Well, I thought there was plenty there***) and the body of the shirt looser (not too loose of course) ***What???*** - don't let the sleeves give the loose look. ***OK, I think someone needs a cold shower!!!*** ***This whole paragraph is the biggest contradiction of all***

      Those last two pictures are "I had this shirt when I went to school..." - they really fit perfectly ***I seriously need a few sarcastic smilies here!!!*** - my suggestion: Get a sewing machine and make them up ***Oh, after they're ripped apart (upon wearing) from being so tight I guess*** - when done, you won't need to get a decent shirt that fits!

      In opposition to Irish and Proud...

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2013 at 6:20 PM

    ...I'd say listen to GQ...

    You would now, would you???

    You would listen to popped up fashion dictators (indeed we have them in Ireland too) instead of manning up and exercising self determination.

    I've gone to war on this fetish regarding men's fashion. It seems the some young men are being brainwashed by the fashion industry. Regarding most the shirts seemingly recommended by GQ - do you honestly think they're good fitting shirts??? If you want a decent shirt, have a look at these...

    [URL]http://www.mytailorstore.com/64-men_button_down_shirt-7278.tailored[/URL]

    [URL]http://www.styleforum.net/t/61680/slim-shirt-fit-how-tight-is-too-tight-boo[/URL]
    (please scroll down to the guy in the blue shirt)

    Are the shirts in those examples baggy??? No is the answer - both those examples would be well within what I'd be advising - a proper fit - no corsets, no tents!

    Irish and Proud

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2013 at 5:05 PM

    In the end, 1)these models have ideal body types. So, there isn't much fat, etc being exposed behind the tight fitting clother. 2) Clothes even tailored rarely fit that perfectly. There's a ton of glue, safety pins, and binder clips used in these photo shoots that tighten the clothes (friend's a model). I think it looks great, but in practice, it's hard to achieve, hard to feel comfortable, and hard to maintain throughout the day. I spend countless moments retucking my shirts bc even the slim ones pull out and poof up some. Maybe I don't know how to tuck properly. In my opinion, the first pic is the most realistic and practical fit. The last two look nice, but if they actually fit that tight (without tricks of trade), might not be comfy. And again, unless you're super fit, you want a fit that's trim but still doesn't expose your manhandles.
    Non irish (respect though).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2013 at 2:17 PM

      I think when it comes to the fit, a top and tail approach is needed to get rid of shirts that are either too tight or too loose. I decided to make a statement by wearing my clothes very loose a couple of years ago, but have since pulled back a little in favor of generous fit clothes instead (fairly loose, but in a more fitted way) - it looks much sharper. I'm certainly not going for the 'cut to the bone' look - I really don't think it's sharp - in fact, I think the guy in the blue shirt above looks like 'Mr Bean' going for interview - if you know that British comedy program. I don't really see any point in shirts that have no loose material in them at all - there are certain polo shirts are for that IMO - they have material that's made to stretch. Also, if a ton of pins are being used to make a shirt look tight (it's frequently done on shop dummies in Ireland), then it's false as far as I'm concerned.

      There's nothing wrong with a bit of extra material in any case - it's where you use it and how you use it. You could also get a shirt tapered in to reduce the excess material around the waist (where the amount of extra material is often a problem) if necessary. However, you need to consider the test of time - you don't want to end up saying OMG!!! when you see a photo of yourself in ten or twenty years. I seriously don't think the very tight shirts will stand the test of time - they'll be known as corsets. I just saw a photo of myself twenty years ago at the time of leaving secondary (high) school (when I was stubborn against the youth trends of the time) and it's no embarrassment - while it's very much a classic fashion of 1992, it works!

      Irish and Proud

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2013 at 2:43 PM

      Addendum:

      Here's a couple of URLs for examples of well fitted shirts...

      [URL]http://www.stitchlogo.com/contents/en-us/p3323__13V0021_Men%27s_Short_Sleeve_Broadcloth.html[/URL]

      Nice Short Sleeved Shirt - there's nothing IMO wrong with short sleeves in a dress shirt as long as they're fitted correctly. It's certainly better than long sleeves that are too short as some sites seem to recommend - they think sleeves should finish at the wrist unfortunately - this to me looks wrong even with the arms fully lowered - inevitably, the lower arm often starts to show as the arm is raised. You either want to show the lower arm or you don't - there's no half measure here - a partially exposed lower arm can make a dress shirt look cheap IMO. This shirt is a very good alternative!

      [URL]http://www.josbank.com/menswear/shop/Product_11001_10050_101902[/URL]

      This shirt is almost perfect in terms of fit - if your shirts are too loose and you want to sharpen up and cut down on shirt fat, this is how to do it IMO! Look at those sleeves, they're perfect in length and width, while the fit around the torso is just right for the sharp look. The tie is perfect too!

      Great Shirts!!!

      Irish and Proud

      Delete
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    Love the design of the slim fit shirt in blue showcased above, it looks real great and I personally find it much fascinating with the perfect stripes and the color makes it to look more fascinating and enhanced. Super slim fit dress shirts

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMarch 19, 2013 at 5:13 PM

      Too tight IMO - it looks unnatural and badly fitted. Dress shirts are meant to have a bit of material in them - for tighter fitting shirts, well try Ralph Lauren polo shirts or something like that (but that still does not mean wearing corsets) - and yes it's short sleeves you want in that case - 'tight fit' and 'longs sleeves' don't go in the same breath IMO - if you want to show your arms, then show your arms - what's the point in having long tight sleeves - they're horrible IMO???

      ManUp

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  17. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    At least in Ireland, the corset shirt is becoming extinct as men seem to be increasingly shunning the instructions of 'how to dress' sarcastic smilie by the various powers that be - most my shirts are now loose fit (used to wear tight fit shirts with long wide sleeves - still miles better than the shirts shown here). The same is happening with tight trousers - less and less men seem to be wearing them here - they IMO look stupid and gives some men the dwarf leg effect - real stupid looking. Half to 3/4 length shorts are extremely popular here, so if men need to show off their legs, that's the way to go IMO. Bootleg jeans are making a comeback though - hopefully, bootleg trousers will soon follow as they look real well on me.

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