My thick neck

[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!

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

[Cadaverous Pallor]

He looks soooo good in his new gear.

[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.