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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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. It was as if he had run away from a wedding to be with me.

[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.