How can a short but not skinny guy find the right t-shirts?

July 21, 2009 10:33 AM

Where can a short but not super skinny guy get plain soft t-shirts in multiple colors? The smalls are always too small and the mediums too big!

I've tried American and Alternative Apparel and their smalls are too tight around the chest & torso but the length is right. Their mediums are just the opposite, with the length being too long but the chest and torso just right. Once in awhile, I get an American Apparel printed tee in medium that shrinks to just the right length... but not always.

I've tried some Hanes and Fruit of the Loom, but I find the quality either too low or they don't come in more than a few colors.

Any ideas? Thanks!

posted by Ekim Neems to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)

Children's t-shirts often seem identical to adult shirts, but on close inspection will reveal themselves to have slightly different proportions; they'll be shorter and wider, because children tend to be rather stout in comparison to full grown adults.

The little boy's section of Target will almost always have a table or rack of Mossimo brand blank t-shirts that are really soft, like this. The Boy XLs are a lot larger than you'd imagine, and I've definitely bought them for Small/Medium full-grown men before. It's worth stopping by a Target to try on, anyway.
posted by Juliet Banana at 10:38 AM on July 21, 2009

Seconding the children's section. My boyfriend has a similar problem, and it might still take a bit of shopping to make sure, but I have found quite a few places that sell shirts that fit right.

I also like Mossimo, but I found that sometimes their shirts are a little thin. If you can find in the colors you need, the new-ish Hanes soft tagless shirts are amazing for solid color t-shirts, and super-cheap at craft stores.
posted by semp at 11:10 AM on July 21, 2009

Their mediums are just the opposite, with the length being too long but the chest and torso just right.

a friend of mine is short but very broad, he gets even t-shirts tailored—brings them in to have the ends lopped off properly. at $5 or so a pop, it adds up, but at the same time all his clothes fit him exactly the way he wants them too.
posted by lia at 11:21 AM on July 21, 2009

Try Urban Outfitters. They have a big color selection for plain, soft t-shirts. Their smalls or mediums might work out for you, since they're not cut for lanky people like AA shirts.
posted by hutta at 11:24 AM on July 21, 2009

Duluth Trading Co. t-shirts run very large, and never shrink.

I have a feeling that a small would work for you, esp with the extra length.

Be sure to get the cotton, as the synthetic shirts there are more expensive and do not feel that good, worn.
posted by Danf at 11:30 AM on July 21, 2009

Uniqlo in New York sells super-comfortable, somewhat differently-sized-than-normal t-shirts in a variety of colors for 5 bucks. As someone who has the same problem (albeit with XL and L rather than M and S), I am quite glad for their existence. They tend to be cut with more generous room in the chest, so you'd probably be a small (my roommate is short and barrel-chested, and he wears their size small but most others' mediums). Your profile says you live in New Jersey, so it probably won't be too big of a chore to take a train up and try one on.
posted by Jon_Evil at 12:05 PM on July 21, 2009