Help me dress myself?

[ray1970]

So, I?m vaguely familiar with the standard small/medium/large sizing system for clothing but could someone explain the numbers on dress shirts? There seems to be something like a 16 followed by two numbers with a slash mark between them like 32/33. I think 16 might be the neck but I?d be totally guessing on the other two. Sleeve length and chest maybe? Thanks.

[Bailey Guns]

Beats me. Carhartt t-shirts aren't sized that way so I'd have no idea.

[ray1970]

See. That?s exactly my dilemma.

[BPTactical]

Cup volume/ breast width

[ray1970]

Cup volume/ breast width

We so much need that damn ?like? button.

[Irving]

16 is the neck size, 32/33 is the arm length.

[Duman]

Is that your arm?!? It's twoo, it's twoo !!

[arbol]

What Irving said. And you can even take a tape measure and find your real measurements, so you don't have to guess.

Neck Size is a pretty good gauge of whether you are Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large, etc.

[Gman]

If you have a wider wingspan you might be a 34/35.

[Gman]

Is that your arm?!? It's twoo, it's twoo !!

I see what you did there. Love Blazing Saddles.

[Little Dutch]

If you are anything like me, you may find the extra cost of the iron-free fabrics worth it.

I?m a 17.5 36. I?m tall but not terribly fat, so fit and length are important. Most store brand shirts anywhere near that size are tents on me that are barely long enough to clear my belly button. It?s easier to just order my shirts.
For the cost of them, I found it was less than $10 more to have something that actually fit properly, ordered from a custom shirt website. If you know your measurements you can get a much better shirt for about the same cost.
I usually order from whomever is having a sale.

edit - I needed a shirt unexpectedly a year or two back. Jos A Banks had a reasonable selection.

[FoxtArt]

According to progressives, we all need to be shopping for 16 1/2 - 60/61

[Jim B]

OP, are you looking to buy dress shirts? If so, check out Land's End. Great selection, quality and price. Between different colors, materials, collar styles, cuff styles, neck sizes and arm lengths, there are A LOT different shirts for a retailer to try and keep in stock. Land's End is big enough to have most of those in stock pretty much all the time.

[Great-Kazoo]

Not sure i can be of help. Those are woman's sizes, no matter what anyone has posted.


Good job guys. Hope someone gets a picture as he's trying on the "shirt" . Or would that be blouse ;)

[Bailey Guns]

I buy all my fancy clothes at Tractor Supply. It's a little bit of an uppity place but I can get Round-up and DEF at the same time.

[def90]

All I know is that most clothing manufacturers have decided to shitcan the whole small, medium, large thing. Even within the same brand I might wear a large of one shirt and an x-large of another shirt. Clothing seems to have also expanded in width wear it feels like you are wearing a tent if you go by the arm length. Fitted or athletic cut shirts are now what a regular size used to be and a large tall (if they make one) seems to be what an x-large used to be.

[StagLefty]

All I can offer is my Gildan t-shirts the pocket is on the front !!! [ROFL2]

[Delfuego]

All I know is Hawaiian shirts fit me way better now that I'm old and fat.

[Grant H.]

What Irving said. Neck and sleeve length.

Also what Little Dutch said. Ordering may be the best option if you aren't the typical "American Male" body type... Even though I don't think most guys are the "typical American Male" body type.

I am one of those guys that has a long torso for my height, so buying a shirt that is long enough in the body, but not a freaking tent, has always been a challenge.

Now that I have lost a bunch of weight, and am continuing to do so, I am putting more effort into finding clothes that fit well. Getting your measurements (Neck, chest, arm length, actual waist measurement, inseam/outseam) will help in buying well fitting clothes.

UntuckIt makes some really nice button shirts, but they are more often more "casual". (not cheap)
Jos A Bank is also a good resource.
Honestly, Kohls house brand Croft and Barrow has a decent selection of button down shirts for varying body types and sizes. Solids, patterns, long sleeve, short sleeve.


If anyone is seeing the ads on the internet for True Classic Tee's or whatever the other brand is, they are just re-labeled Next Level 6210 t-shirts, which can be had here for $4-6/ea.
https://www.jiffyshirts.com/nextlevel-N6210.html?ac=Heather+Forest+Green
Much nice than Walmart/etc, but similar price and better fit.

[FoxtArt]

I honestly don't mind clothing being in a numbered size. Buy and walk out the door knowing it fits right. The last time I tried something on I probably was in grade school.

Condolences to all women out there, their clothing sizes need a degree in bullshit to wade through. Arbitrary numbers and sizes that manufacturers fudge on to try to create "self esteem brand loyalty" means they might as well label everything as size "guess".

[ray1970]

Thank you all. I got me a fancy new shirt last night. Seems to fit well enough especially since I?ll wear it for about four hours tomorrow and then it will likely sit in the closet until I need it again in several years.

I have several decent dress shirts but one is my favorite and I literally wore it two weeks ago for a funeral. Now I?ll be at a wedding with those same people and somehow it was going to feel weird to wear the funeral shirt to the wedding.

[Grant H.]

Condolences to all women out there, their clothing sizes need a degree in bullshit to wade through. Arbitrary numbers and sizes that manufacturers fudge on to try to create "self esteem brand loyalty" means they might as well label everything as size "guess".

The same self esteem BS exists in mens clothes.

Get an actual waist measurement and compare that to your jeans that fit comfortably/right. Often the label of your jeans will be off by 2-6 inches...

My wife is one of the acct managers for the uniform company that provides United airlines and a couple other big airlines/freight carriers all of their Captains/1st officers uniforms. She has spent a lot of time convincing whiny bitch ass pilots that the measuring tape doesn't lie, no matter what their levi's say...

[whitewalrus]

The same self esteem BS exists in mens clothes.

Get an actual waist measurement and compare that to your jeans that fit comfortably/right. Often the label of your jeans will be off by 2-6 inches...

My wife is one of the acct managers for the uniform company that provides United airlines and a couple other big airlines/freight carriers all of their Captains/1st officers uniforms. She has spent a lot of time convincing whiny bitch ass pilots that the measuring tape doesn't lie, no matter what their levi's say...

Jeans seem to be sized larger than they have on the tag. Especially with the different fits.


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[Aloha_Shooter]

I've had to buy a number of dress shirts for work (pre-pandemic). As stated, the numbers are neck and sleeve length and it's great knowing what your measurements are because you can order online with good confidence it'll fit right. The other thing to be careful of is the fit type: thin, tailored, athletic, "normal", "big". Tailored or thin won't work well on those of us who have acquired extra insulation over the years. It's helpful to know your chest measurement as the online retailers often have guides to help you know how well the shirt will fit -- even aloha shirt retailers sometimes do this!

Shirts are shirts -- doesn't matter what occasions you wear them for as long as they fit well and look good. If you don't want people noticing it's the same shirt, just change your tie and/or coat. The exact same shirt will look completely different with different color ties and coats.

[clodhopper]

Stop in at a Mens Warehouse or something like that. Get measured. Look around at what they offer. Tell the sales guy you "didnt find what you like" or get a call on your phone that you need to take and head out the door. Now you have the digits to order the clothes you need. But, keep in mind that if you like a particular fit, you may need to adjust the measurements a bit. I hate a tight collar and a jacket that restricts arm movement. I upsize my collar size and my sleeve length to what I like. Little less sharp looking? Sure, but comfort matters more to me than instagram and I am married anyway. Pants and shirts I can buy online or off a rack and be pretty sure they will be fine. Sport coats or suit coats I wont buy if I cant put it on, too many have strange fitment and seems like they are all different. The current trend to "skinny pants" and tight tailored jackets sucks as more than half the offerings are immediately ruled out. I will be glad when that trend passes on.

[clodhopper]

I understand the Amazon brand dress shirts are good quality/fit for the money. I havent tried them yet.

[ray1970]

Fortunately for me I?m pretty much a blue collar guy. I think funerals and weddings are the only occasions I?ve had to really kind of get dressed up. And the rare company Christmas party. Beyond that it?s pretty much comfort all the time.

[funkymonkey1111]

Also, unless a split size fits perfectly, learn your sleeve size and buy shirts that have a single number, not a split.