I'd like to consolidate some of the info on the resources and clothing items that work well for someone who's roughly my measurements. FWIW, I'm 6'1", 145 lbs, 31-32x34, Small Tall (14.5 neck/34 sleeve), 36L. Virtually no shirts or jackets fit accurately OTR.
There are many MTM options, but I'd like to curate the OTR choices that I find every now and then to make it easier for someone else in the same boat.
Express is back to their usual buy 1, get one 50% off deal with the 1MX. Granted, only two colors are in Small Tall: black and white. Good luck with black, but white is versatile. Guess I could get two white shirts.
Two shirts: $89.95. It's just shy of using one of their $30 off $90 coupons (not a coincidence), so toss a sock in the order to go over the edge, putting you at $30/each for the shirts. That's reasonable for 1MX quality, especially if the fit is spot on. But how much can one lust after two white shirts?
Thanks to MikeB's post, I've discovered some other options to consider too.
Macy's carries their Alfani RED dress shirts in a great range of sizes, including 15/34-35 (which means 15/35). Don't have to buy two of these or even use a coupon code - they're $29.99 each on sale.
With all the money you save, you can get it tailored. Still, the neck is 15" which isn't going to leave me swimming, but it's pretty spacious since I'm actually 14.25".
So maybe you have a bigger neck than I do, and slightly longer arms. You have more options besides BB (below) and MTM (obviously).
MikeB mentions the Nordstrom SmartCare Trim Fit. I went out and bought it, but same problem - at 15/35, the sleeves are a little long, and the neck is more than I need. Still, easy to wash and wear with a price ($65) that's barely reasonable for a shirt I can't wear with the collar buttoned.
I feel like $88 is a lot of money on an OTR shirt, especially since it eclipses the Made in the USA custom Ratio shirts at that point. But, Brooks Brothers is quite the name in quality, and it's the only ONLY place I've found so far that carries a 14.5/34 in an Extra Slim Fit. And practically every other size. I'm tempted to order one to check the fit, but I could just as easily get a Ratio shirt. Decisions, decisions...
FWIW, the Brooks Brothers would be an easy return if you don't like it. And if they carry it in store so that you can try it on before you hand over your money, even better.
And fit aside, is Ratio material going to stand up to Brooks Brothers material? I ask because I honestly have no idea.
I'm curious too. I keep putting my eggs in their basket! Like I've mentioned before, I'm hoping a special offer comes along for Ratio so that I can try them out. If not, I'll just get impatient and order in March or so.
I'm 5'10" and 145 lb and a BB ESF 14.5/34 fits me pretty much perfect aside from me needing to tuck it in a little bit around the waist. I just put a sweater over them for now. I agree that 88 is steep for a shirt, but I got mine on that deal where you have to buy 4 shirts and it comes out to about $40 a shirt. FWIW BB's customer service is awesome and they didn't charge me for returning one of my shirts even though that technically voids the 4 shirt deal.
Switching over to pants, MikeB (thanks for all of this, dude) offers the ever-popular, oh-so-expensive J. Crew urban slim fit chinos.
You can get them in any waist size and get them unhemmed so with the help of a tailor, the inseam is perfect. At some point, I'd like to get a pair of these. But really, I don't have a problem buying pants that fit. It's just the small neck and chest of mine that wreaks havoc.
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@Allen - that's cool. Gives me a little more confidence. =) Are you planning to get the shirts tailored at some point?
@nicholascrawford - I probably will eventually, maybe when summer rolls around and it's too hot to wear a sweater or cardigan all the time. Also forget to mention that I also tried one of BB's sport shirts in a small ESF. The fit is even better than the 14.5/34 around the waist, but (of course) the sleeves are just way too short. I'm okay with it b/c I just wear it with the sleeves rolled up, but it was also 10 dollars cheaper during that sale so I can't complain for the quality and look of the fabric.
@Allen - Do you have any other brands where you've found a perfect fit? I'm on a quest!
Nice! Blank Label is another company I've heard good things about.
What about suiting? What have you found?
greg_s
Moderator
I like my shirts from Blank Label a lot but I have had a couple Indochino-esque tailoring issues with them. They were great about remakes but it takes quite some time as production is in China. I finally got my shirt after 2 months of back and forth and now it fits perfectly.
For suits, J Crew Ludlow 38S fits me pretty much spot on perfect. For the longest time I thought I was a Regular, but since I'm 5'10" I guess I'm on the border of Short and Regular. It's worth noting that I have a short torso, and it seems like suit sleeves are always way too long to begin with OTR for me so the 38S worked out for me perfectly, but that's not the case with places like GAP, BR, or most of the suits I've tried at Macy's.
@Allen - Not everything is made in a 38S, though. As soon as you hit 40, the options multiply. I need that length. If put on a 38R, the sleeves are 3/4 length, and 38S would be closer to my elbows than my wrists!
@mell1n - My challenge is finding OTR shirts that fit my neck and sleeves. BB is the only one that makes a 14.5/34, as far as I know. If I size up in the neck, it looks like I was expecting a second head to pop out. Totally agree on tailoring the body once you find the neck/sleeve combo that works.
Update!
Here's my strategy thus far: For S/M/L sizing, I've gone from L in high school to M in college to S post college. My weight has not changed, I've just realized what size I actually am.
Small is usually 14.5" in the neck, which is very close as you can see in the photo, but it's usually 33" in the sleeves, which is okay if I keep tugging on them. This shirt is 34", which is perfect. I don't have to be conscious of the sleeves since they rest perfectly at my wrists. The body of a small tends to be perfect too, just a little short which makes tucking in a frequent task. Ideally, Small Tall would fit the bill, and I'll try the Express Small Tall white and black 1MX shirts at some point.
All that to say, Small shirts work well if I want it to fit in all but the sleeves, so if it's casual, and I'm going to roll up the sleeves and go untucked, it's perfect. Truly couldn't be better. If I want to wear it under a blazer or suit, though, I won't be showing much cuff, which is a problem.
Enter the BB 14.5/34 which I mentioned in the above post 2 weeks ago. I finally pulled the trigger and ordered it, posting a review here. The neck has way more than two fingers of space, but it looks decent. Everything else is killer, killer, killer.
I'm getting the button moved over a touch by the tailor for $5, so we'll see if that gets me a step closer. Anyone else have a button moved? I know, I should be able to move a button by myself, but for $5...at least it'll be done right.
HOLD THE PHONE! Express is now making Tall versions of S through XXL for their 1MX shirts in every color of the rainbow! And they're on sale. Dear God. And Extra Slim Fit. /dies
Have a look-see: http://www.express.com/1mx-extra-slim-fit-stretch-cotton-shirt-36550-800/refine/size/S-Tall/control/show/3/index.pro#jsLink
I like Express's brightly colored shirts, but I would depend on BB or Ratio for a real workhorse shirt, especially since these are all spread collars instead of an OCBD. Hmmm...
EDIT: Not every color...Just the first 6 are available as Small (and other) Talls. Still, better than the black and white only options.
I ordered 4 of the Small Talls and will see how they work.
It pains me to say this, but I'm on my 3rd round of shirts. Before discovering Dappered, I had a bunch of shirts that were waayyy too big that I had tailored down in the waist. I bought a bunch of shirts thinking that's the way to go.
THEN, I posted my NYE pic in January and got JC's feedback: http://threads.dappered.com/topic/wiwt/page/12#post-8468
He was/is right. Didn't matter about the body, the collars were still too big. So I'm re-re-purchasing shirts now that fit properly. Here's hoping the Express Small Talls fit the bill because the Mediums (like what I wore to NYE) ARE an inch too big in the neck.
When people jump on this site and say they know what size they are, I always take it with a huge grain of salt because I was in their shoes just a few months ago.
Wow - bit of a break through! Those Express Small Tall Extra Slim Fit Stretch 1MX shirts fit well! The neck is still a touch big for me (I'm really a 14.25", and these are 14.5"), but I am really glad I got them! No extra fabric any where, perfect armholes, great length for me. All the usual drawbacks of a 1MX shirt with the fabric, limp without a placket, and the collars look just slightly off to me. But I'm a happy camper. After I get these pressed, I'll post pics.
I realize this thread is turning into an echo chamber for my own posts, but it's helpful...even therapeutic...for me to catalog this.
Top Row:
L - LEC Small. The collar is very snug...almost uncomfortable. I haven't measured it, but I bet it's around 14.25". This is for reference to show how the sleeves are a touch on the short side but perfectly wearable without having to roll the sleeves.
C - Express Small Tall in Horizon. Look at that collar! So floppy with regular collar stays! It's ridiculous! Very tidy buttoned up like that.
R - ...in Steel Gray. Wrangled the collar up close with Wurkin Stiffs. Not my favorite look.
Bottom Row:
L - ...in Marine. The Wurkin Stiffs, the second button undone. The collar gets unstable again. Grr...but still my favorite look.
R - ...in True White. My main critiques on display here. The collar still isn't snug to my neck, even with a Small. The shirt is too long to wear unbuttoned (it's a Tall), and the sleeves are a touch too long. I can accept all of that for an OTR shirt since the regular small is a little too short in the sleeves, which totally borks it.
$40/shirt for 4 shirts that fit me really well? Yes. Thank you.
Count me a member of the 36L Club.
Unfortunately.
To me it almost seems easier to gain some weight (to get to a more 38L or 40L) than to find a 36L.
I'm about 6'0.5", 155lbs, with longish arms and legs. What's more is that while I have a fairly slim/athletic build, I am (or was anyway) a cyclist so I have relatively large thighs. Not huge by most standards, but big for my frame, making it difficult to find pants that fit correctly.
Speaking of Alfani Red shirts: they're apparently not very popular here as they are always on the clearance rack. Over the course of the last week I've probably purchased 5-7 for about $12.99 each.
I'm really considering the M&S suit. But of all the things I've purchased online sight unseen, a suit may be where I draw the line; I just can't imagine buying one from The Internets.
Have you measured yourself? Are you a true 36? My chest measures 36.25, but my shoulders tend to fit into most 38 jackets.
The M&S suit is a rare breed!
ThatFlaco
Member
@nicholascrawford, dont worry about this thread having a bunch of your own posts. Im a tall skinny guy, and definetly always keep an eye on this thread. Dont think there are a whole lot of us skinny folk who can't gain weight & find great fitting cloth.
I recently bout 2 express 1MX extra slim shirts,love them fit me well. I'm really considering ordering one or 2, 5th and Lamar shirts also. Any experience with them, anyone?
Keep it up nicholascrawford, do it for the skinny people. haha
scrambledpotato
Member
I'm 6'3, and was 158 when I bought most of my clothes, so I know how painful it can be. But honestly, the best fitting shirt I ever bought was an Arrow brand 'fitted' shirt from Kohl's . When I say this thing fit perfectly, it fit PERFECTLY. I took my suit to a tailor (natch) and basically wore the outfit I was going to wear for a couple of weddings coming up. Jacked needed some work, as well as the pants, and I even got the little flappy tab on the back of the tie moved up, which was a nice touch by him. But the shirt needed zero alterations, and he couldn't believe how well it fit off the rack. I don't know if they still carry them (this was a few years ago), and maybe this one was a fluke, but I'd check it out.
Another pointer, and I don't know how well this will work for you, but I basically got sick of clothes shopping turning into a 'will this or won't this fit', so I bought p90x and a bunch of protein powder. Already ran through it once and I'm up to 175, with the major gains coming near the end. So I'm going to do it again in a few weeks, since I'll really be able to pound out the reps. Already most clothes off the rack fit better and I'm feeling more confident. Plus, I'm in the best shape of my life (currently 29). So, I just wanted to put that out there for everyone.
ThatFlaco - don't worry, I will!
I have not heard of 5th and Lamar. What do you like about them?
scrambledpotato - I've made very real efforts to gain weight, but it just doesn't happen. I eat like a horse. It's better for me to focus on fitting clothes to me than the other way around. I'm 29 too and just haven't gotten out of puberty. When I can start gaining weight, you bet I'll work on putting on the muscle!
I haven't seen Arrow shirts, but I'm rarely in a Kohls. Finding a slim fitting shirt in that store was a rare find!
ThatFlaco
Member
I found out about 5th and lamar from,real men real style site, and his video review. They're suppose to be really slim shirts. I think I found one review ok the sf site,someone said they were really slim. They have what they call, tuckers,non tuckers and shorties. I'm digging some of the patterns too. If I get any I'll post pics and a little write up
