My thick neck

[Ghoulish Delight]

Okay, it seems I'm clueless as to how to find dress shirts that fit me. Hpefully there is SOMEONE here that knows more about men's sizes than I do.

Mostly, my problem stems from the fact that I have a proprtionately large neck and chest. I can get away with a 16 1/2 inch neck, 17 is more comfortable. But I'm only 5'8" or 5'9". If I buy shirts in those neck sizes, they fit around my neck and chest, but then drape like blouses under my arms and everywhere else. Even if it's a long sleeve shirt that matches my sleeve length (32/33), the body of the shirts always seem to be cut to big.

So does anyone have any shopping tips? I know some brands make "short" sizes. Would that bring things into the right proportion? I worry that while that will take out some of the extra material around my middle, it won't do anything about the gorilla-proportioned shoulders that these shirt makers think should be supporting my neck that causes the tents under my arms.

Am I doomed to wear ill fitting shirts until I become wealthy enough to have all of my clothes custom tailored?

Oh, I should add that if we're talking "S,M,L" designations, mediums tend to fit in terms of length, shoulders, and middle, but are often tight around the chest and neck, while larges tend to be too long, big in the shoulder, and blousey while fitting around my chest and neck.

[Morrigoon]

I offer to teach you and your wife how to sew.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Thank you. Any suggestions that don't involve manual labor? ;)

[UvaGirl]

Why not singlehandedly bring back that eighties classic look of the tshirt under a sports jacket?;) Sorry. No good suggestions here. I wish you well in your quest though.

[MerryPrankster]

I would go to Nordstrom or The Men's Wearhouse to be measured and fitted. Ask a lot of questions about the fit and ask for brand name recommendations. Buy one or two shirts. Then go to the Burlington Coat Factory to look for a similar product. I used to find a lot of very high quality dress shirts for my husband at BCF.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Why not singlehandedly bring back that eighties classic look of the tshirt under a sports jacket?;) Sorry. No good suggestions here. I wish you well in your quest though.Ironically, you're not far off of what my ultimate goal is, although replace tshirt with funky collard shirt (untucked, with jeans). It's a good look for me, if I can find a bloody shirt that fits.

Of course, the next step is finding a selection of sport coats. Oddly, I have no problem finding ones that fit. Now I just need to find ones that look good, are more casual, and don't cost an arm an a leg.

[UvaGirl]

I think that would work well. Hope you find something suitable!:)

[alphabassettgrrl]

I know a lot of shirts come in "Athletic" size- they basically are smaller around the waist. Hemming a shirt body that is too long shouldn't be too hard.

Since you don't have too many problems with sport coats, you might look at a thrift store. Last time I bought one, they had *tons* and I got one for $6. I need to replace it but I don't expect to have any trouble.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ladies, he is sooooo sexy in a snazzy button down, untucked, with the collar open, and a sport coat. He ended up wearing that in the rain at DL.....hair wet, jacket sprinkled....I swear, I could barely keep my hands off of him. :D It was as if he had run away from a wedding to be with me. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[BarTopDancer]

CP, I think it's the jeans and a jacket look. I find nearly any guy in jeans and a jacket just multiplies in yummyness.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Jeans and a jacket... yeah, I'll go with that. Looks good. Feels just a bit dressed up without being uncomfortable like dress clothes usually are.

[blueerica]

You know -- I'm late in the game, but MerryPrankster's suggestion is right up the alley on the way things should be done. Nordstrom's is a class act when it comes to helping their patrons find what looks good on them, and pretty much at any point, you can return things, you name it. I'm always shocked at the level of service they seem to bring to the table. Perhaps get a shirt there for the effort they give in measuring you, then find some similar dimensions elsewhere.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Sound advice, looks like my next shopping trip is NOT a Khol's ;)

[Prudence]

GD: You might also try Land's End. They do custom dress shirts by mail order. It's a bit pricey, but cheaper than a trip to Hong Kong. Their selection of colors isn't the most fashion-forward, but if you're totally stuck it could be an option.

[Kevy Baby]

Another nod to Nordstrom (with no "s" at the end). I too have a hard time finding shirts that fit, except at the opposite end of the spectrum: I have a 19" neck. But I always find those at N. ALL of my dress shirts are from there. However, expect to pay $45 MINIMUM for a shirt (the most I have allowed myself to spend for a shirt was about $80, but you can go MUCH higher there). Another good thing about Nordstrom shirts is that ther aren't split sleeve lengths (32/33 et. al.). If you are a 33" sleeve length, they will have it (or can get it for you from another store). I am a true 35" sleeve and every 34/35 shirt I've bought has been too short (and the rare 36/37 is too long).

I also suggest (if you wear ties with these shirts) going with basic colors - white, blue, etc. and jazzing them up with fashionable ties. This allows for better flexability in wardrobe.

Nordstrom also does custom fitted shirts but they are probably cheaper at Land's End.

And "short-sleeved dress shirt" is an oxymoron: if it is short-sleeved, it is not a dress shirt.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Okay, I know you're all DYING for closure on this, so I'll oblige you :)

Upon the several recommendations, I headed to Nordstrom today. I found the men's dress shirt department and was cheerily greeted by an attendant. All good. I say that I'm looking to get fit for dress shirts. He disappears and returns with his tape measure. He proceeds to measure my neck, and my sleeve length. "You're a 16 1/2, 32." :| Umm, gee thanks, I kinda new that. That's the easy part. It's the REST of my proportions that re an issue. So I say, what I said here, that shirts that fit my neck are like tents on my body, and shirts that fit my body choke me. THEN we got somewhere. He says, "Oh, so you're looking for, like, a fitted shirt?" Aha, there's the magic word. Apparantly, I'm looking for, like, a fitted shirt.

Huzzah, progress! Sort of, because after I said yes, the next word out of his mouth was, "Well...", the kind of "well" that does not bode well. "The only fitted shirts we carry are Hugo Boss. I'm actually wearing one right now." So he shows me over to the Hugo Boss display. Okay, these were very high quality shirts, that was obvious. But MAN were they boring. I don't need crazy patterns, but geez, some colors other than black, white, blue, lighte blue, ugly yellow would be nice. And then I spot a price tag. Now, I went in willing to pay quite a bit more than my usual cheap ass is willing to...but these were $75. For boring shirts. Umm, no.

Okay, so the salesman gave me another option. I could get any of the other regular cut shirts they carry tapered.....at $13 a shirt. Well gee, their shirts start at $50, so another $13 means over $60 again already, for their cheapest shirt. I hate sounding like such a miser, but I just can't justify spending that much money on 1 freaking shirt!

Just as I was trying to figure out a way to gracefully thank the guy for his time and leave without buying anything, he excused himself to go do something else. So I left. I Felt mildly bad for not buying anything after he helped me...mildly.

But all was not lost. I wandered over to Robinson May, where they are having a sale. Robinson May always has great sales, I've found. Lo and behlod, they had a very good selection of fitted and tapered shirts, and on sale to boot. So I walked out with a two very nice shirts, one green, one purple, both with subtle tone-on-tone stripes. And they FIT! I love 'em. I also got a fitted white shirt, because you always need a good white shirt. Of course, I got it home and realized it needs cufflinks, which I don't have. But I can pick up an inexpensive set of those, no need to be fancy. I walked out with those 3 shirts for what I would have had to spend on one at Nordstrom. Oh, and I also spotted at Robinsom May a $65 Perry Ellis shirt on a clearance rack that was marked $22, fit me perfectly, and rang up for $16. Score!

[MerryPrankster]

Congrats -- what a deal! I'm actually getting a high from your bargain buys! :blush:

I loooooove a good sale. And when an item rings up for an even lower price than marked...woohoo, oh happy day! :snap:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

He looks soooo good in his new gear. :cool:

[blueerica]

Nice!

[BarTopDancer]

WOOHOO GD!

N has awesome sales. I believe their mens sale is coming up.

I'm not allowed to go shopping anymore.

[Mousey Girl]

WOOHOO GD!

I'm not allowed to go shopping anymore.

Ditto! :blush:

[Ghoulish Delight]

Things just get better. I discovered that the copmany that makes the shirts I bought...has an outlet at the Citadel!!

[mhrc4]

heh, sounds good, ive been getting some of my nice shirts from Kohls, but where i love is the Van Huesen outlet store in Lake Elsinore, great sales and great selection, though i am an easy fit (15 neck, 32/33 arm length, which is doable, any longer adn it dosent look right, but those shirts tend to be a little shorter, so i end up with usually a 16" neck, so i can have the length, it helps when youre 6'3")


but you know, you cant really beat Kohl's 80% off sales ;)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

This may be too late, but I'd also suggest getting a collar extender. It's basically a small loop with a button attached to it. All Big and Tall stores carry them and they're only a few bucks. You can see an example of one on this page (http://www.dickanthonyltd.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=240&Category=46).
If you're wearing a tie, they're totally invisible.

[Ghoulish Delight]

This may be too late, but I'd also suggest getting a collar extender. It's basically a small loop with a button attached to it. All Big and Tall stores carry them and they're only a few bucks. You can see an example of one on this page (http://www.dickanthonyltd.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=240&Category=46).
If you're wearing a tie, they're totally invisible.I've seen those. Good idea, I might pick a couple up, at least to extend the life of some older shirts that are still perfectly fine save for the asphyxiation factor.

[tracilicious]

Have you considered neckercise? I don't know how effective it is, but it would be quite a sight to see you gyrating your neck around for fifteen minutes. You could also try wearing rings around your neck to elongate it like some trible women do. Post pics if you do that. :p

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Have you considered neckercise? I don't know how effective it is, but it would be quite a sight to see you gyrating your neck around for fifteen minutes. You could also try wearing rings around your neck to elongate it like some trible women do. Post pics if you do that. :pHeehee. Wouldn't a neckercise just build muscles in the neck, making it bigger? You can't spot reduce fat.

[blueerica]

Have you considered neckercise? I don't know how effective it is, but it would be quite a sight to see you gyrating your neck around for fifteen minutes. You could also try wearing rings around your neck to elongate it like some trible women do. Post pics if you do that. :p

Neckercise.... Hmmm... Sounds like fun!

I must add that on Sunday night, he looked mighty good in his shirt. Good job, GD!