longsleeve shirts for thinner taller guys
April 26, 2010 12:23 PM Subscribe
I'm a mid-twenties, relatively-tall, relatively-fit (6' 1", 180 lbs...but I run a lot) guy who has a shirt problem. During the colder months I really like wearing long-sleeve cotton shirts as a sort of base layer under other things. My problem? I can't find any brand that fits...either the arms are too short, or the shirt maker seems to presume that I'm going to have a beer belly to go along with my longer than average arms. I.e., what I'm looking for is something like the small size of this, but with longer arms. I realize I could get larger shirts tailored down or go the bespoken route, but both of those options seem kind of overkill for what should really be a pretty standard product. Are there any brands that serve guys in my size by default?
(on preview this is basically a rehash of this question, except for non-dress shirts. And for what it's worth I wear an American Apparel size medium tshirt but find for other brands I'm all over the map from small all the way up to large.)
(on preview this is basically a rehash of this question, except for non-dress shirts. And for what it's worth I wear an American Apparel size medium tshirt but find for other brands I'm all over the map from small all the way up to large.)
I'm about the same size as you, and tried American Apparel on the advice of MeFi. The body fit was much better than average (and generally long enough), but for some reason the necklines were either strangling-ly tight, or bizarrely wide open.
Don't know where you shop now, but I've discovered that Nordstrom and (sometimes, but not lately) Macy's have much better-fitting shirts than other, cheaper places.
posted by coolguymichael at 12:58 PM on April 26, 2010
Don't know where you shop now, but I've discovered that Nordstrom and (sometimes, but not lately) Macy's have much better-fitting shirts than other, cheaper places.
posted by coolguymichael at 12:58 PM on April 26, 2010
taking a shirt in on the sides so it fits better is really easy to do...how do you feel about getting a sewing machine and going the DIY route? you can pick up a pretty basic machine for around $100-150...u might even find one cheaper on ebay (don't bother with one of those 'handy stich' mini-sewing contraptions...they are useless)
posted by sexyrobot at 12:58 PM on April 26, 2010
posted by sexyrobot at 12:58 PM on April 26, 2010
The best places that I have found are the online stores of GAP, Banana Republic, and J. Crew. Yes, they are expensive, but they have relatively large "Tall" sections with both layering clothes (e.g. long-sleeve cotton shirts) and nicer dress clothes.
I'll be watching this thread... I would love more options for those of us who are "relatively-tall" and "relatively-fit."
posted by dgc at 1:02 PM on April 26, 2010
I'll be watching this thread... I would love more options for those of us who are "relatively-tall" and "relatively-fit."
posted by dgc at 1:02 PM on April 26, 2010
Have you tried the LL Bean shirt you linked, but in the Tall sizes? Going to tall sizes usually means more length in the arms and body, without adding to the width.
posted by Forktine at 1:11 PM on April 26, 2010
posted by Forktine at 1:11 PM on April 26, 2010
My husband (6'3'', not sure how heavy) has had good luck with Eddie Bauer Large Tall shirts---I don't know if they would be too big for you (if you usually wear a medium?), but they're longer in the arms and torso without being built for someone really large around the waist.
posted by leahwrenn at 1:24 PM on April 26, 2010
posted by leahwrenn at 1:24 PM on April 26, 2010
I'm sure MEC in Canada will suit you well. Up here, people joke or complain about the converse situation...i.e. that the clothes won't fit on fat people. Plus, they're great value -- I buy their plain t-shirts by the dozen.
REI might work for you too but I have no direct experience with them.
posted by randomstriker at 3:52 PM on April 26, 2010
REI might work for you too but I have no direct experience with them.
posted by randomstriker at 3:52 PM on April 26, 2010
Why bother with brands? A local tailor will make a custom shirt for $50 in my town; this is cheaper than most store-bought shirts and will likely fit better.
posted by SpecialK at 4:07 PM on April 26, 2010
posted by SpecialK at 4:07 PM on April 26, 2010
I'm an inch shorter than you and 10 pounds lighter, but I've found that mediums from Gap and Lands End Canvas (not regular Lands End, which are cut much boxier) have a nice slim fit. Beware with Gap, though, as some of their t-shirts are cut much larger than others. Your slightly longer-armed mileage may vary, however.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 5:10 PM on April 26, 2010
posted by Nothing... and like it at 5:10 PM on April 26, 2010
I am 6'5" and 190 pounds, was up to 230 pounds prior to yoga. 230 was the outside of Eddie Bauer large tall shirts range and 200 probably the inside of that range -- none of my shirts fit any more. The good news is that EB medium tall fits me fine now, in any of their collared shirts.
As for their long sleeve tshirts it's sortof schizo, sometimes large tall fits me almost perfectly now. I don't get it, seems their sizing has changed but just in this one style shirt; short or long sleeve tshirts. I'd go to their store and try on a few.
But to make it easier for you, EB shirts traditionally run pretty long, and you being at six foot one you can perhaps get by on just the medium from them, and not have to go with their tall sizing at all.
Good luck.
oh yeah, lands end tall works for me also but instead of a medium now I wear a large in their sizing schema...
posted by dancestoblue at 8:05 PM on April 26, 2010
As for their long sleeve tshirts it's sortof schizo, sometimes large tall fits me almost perfectly now. I don't get it, seems their sizing has changed but just in this one style shirt; short or long sleeve tshirts. I'd go to their store and try on a few.
But to make it easier for you, EB shirts traditionally run pretty long, and you being at six foot one you can perhaps get by on just the medium from them, and not have to go with their tall sizing at all.
Good luck.
oh yeah, lands end tall works for me also but instead of a medium now I wear a large in their sizing schema...
posted by dancestoblue at 8:05 PM on April 26, 2010
I'm about the same size as you and find the american apparel henley a good fit. Looks good and if you are lean and or muscular it's pretty flattering on it's own as well as under things.
posted by jade east at 12:11 AM on April 27, 2010
posted by jade east at 12:11 AM on April 27, 2010
Response by poster: Forktine: Have you tried the LL Bean shirt you linked, but in the Tall sizes? Going to tall sizes usually means more length in the arms and body, without adding to the width.
Unfortunately LL Bean does not seem to make a "Tall/Small" size, which is what I think I would want (their mediums are already starting to get boxy on me)
SpecialK: Why bother with brands? A local tailor will make a custom shirt for $50 in my town; this is cheaper than most store-bought shirts and will likely fit better.
This is true, but $50 is more than I want to pay for what is essentially a tshirt with longer arms, and if I can find a brand/size that works, why go with custom made?
Thank you telegraph, jade east, dancestoblue, Nothing... and like it, and dgc for all your suggestions. I'll definitely be checking out the long sleeve options from American Apparel, and if that does not work the options from gap, BR, jcrew, and Lands End. I've never heard of MEC before, but I may check them out as well. Thanks everyone!
posted by dyslexictraveler at 9:54 AM on April 27, 2010
Unfortunately LL Bean does not seem to make a "Tall/Small" size, which is what I think I would want (their mediums are already starting to get boxy on me)
SpecialK: Why bother with brands? A local tailor will make a custom shirt for $50 in my town; this is cheaper than most store-bought shirts and will likely fit better.
This is true, but $50 is more than I want to pay for what is essentially a tshirt with longer arms, and if I can find a brand/size that works, why go with custom made?
Thank you telegraph, jade east, dancestoblue, Nothing... and like it, and dgc for all your suggestions. I'll definitely be checking out the long sleeve options from American Apparel, and if that does not work the options from gap, BR, jcrew, and Lands End. I've never heard of MEC before, but I may check them out as well. Thanks everyone!
posted by dyslexictraveler at 9:54 AM on April 27, 2010
My husband has been happy for decades with the Tall sizing from JCPenneys. You can buy Tall Medium. They actrually have Supertall also
I am surprised that you don't buy dress shirts by neck and sleeve size. Like 15 x 34. This would give you the slim fit and the long sleeve
posted by ohshenandoah at 4:09 PM on June 22, 2010
I am surprised that you don't buy dress shirts by neck and sleeve size. Like 15 x 34. This would give you the slim fit and the long sleeve
posted by ohshenandoah at 4:09 PM on June 22, 2010
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posted by telegraph at 12:43 PM on April 26, 2010