Mens Shirts

[Guest gentleman1]

This question is for all the FTM's out there and any MTF's who may know the answer to this question.

I currently have a very difficult time finding mens' shirts that fit me in the neck...(17 1/2") without having the sleeves be so darn long. I don't know the length of my arms, but I do know that 33" and above are too long for me. I end up having to buy xtra large dress shirts which hang like a tent on me even tucked in. Thank God for jackets!!! My chest size is not much at issue since I thankfully have always been around an A cup.....but not after next week!!!......another thing to be greatful for!!! Have any of you gone to a mens shop to be measured? I won't do this until after surgery, but I'm hoping for another way. ANy ideas out there? Thanks! - Shawn

[Guest Clare]

One thing you might want to try is shopping in the youth department. The clothing there is smaller, and as an added bonus, cheaper. Unfortunately it doesn't last as well as mens' clothing. I know there are online stores specifically for smaller men.

Going to a tailor is another option. A good one could easily make the sleeves a bit shorter for you.

[Guest joeytheman16]

hmm... First off, where in AZ are you? If you are in Phoenix or Tucson (Flagstaff might have one...) try the Men's Clothing stores. I don't remember the name of the one I was thinking of right now but I know they carry lots of "odd" sizes.

Have you tried V-necks?? Or stretching out the necks of the shirt?

If those don't work, you should probably go to a tailor.

--Joey

[Guest Evan_J]

Sounds like you are of the "pitbull necked" variety? I say that with a smile cuz I think its cool as hell. I see your dilema though if thats the case and the sleaves don't work. I'd have to say see a good tailor. Usually there's at least one guy in town everybody swears by. Oooor (and this'll only work if your necks not too big prolly) buy for the body to fit and there are collar extenders.

[Guest gentleman1]

Thanks guys! I'll have to look into collar extenders. I wish I had thought of that!! Thanks!

As for the taylor approach, I have been opposed to going that route until after my chest surgery because I don't want to have to explain why I have a "little more chest" than one would be accustomed to. I don't have much longer to wait thank God. It's next week, so I won't be on-line for awhile while I am recuperating.

Thanks all! - Shawn

joeytheman- I'm in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Feel free to pm me if you want.

[Guest Pól]

If you get measured and act a bit standoffish, they won't ask too many questions if you pass fairly well (in my experience). And if you get a shirt that fits in the body but is too long in the sleeves, then they won't need to measure around your chest anyway. Should cost you about $10-15 to get the sleeves shortened.

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

JC Penney: Custom Fit Clothes

You might check this out. I was able to get a shirt with shorter sleeves than standard. Basically you just enter your measurements and they custom make the clothes. The prices are very reasonable.

[Guest Evan_J]

You gotta love JC Penny. If I'm correct, they also are one of the major sellers of Arrow brand shirts, and if what's said is true, Arrow has more shirts for thick necked but short armed gents as well. Ains, best know I'm keepin that link Yeah, I can fit a 17 1/2 34/35 but there's more stuff to buy (like suit jackets) than shirts. Why is it you can fit the shirt and the sleeves are fine but jackets not so easy (sigh) I also found this as well,

http://www.shortsizesinc.com

And I feel you on the surgery thing. I'm holdin most of my purchasing till after the surgery. It'll change what size you're in anyway.

[Sally]

You guys have the opposite problem than I had for so long, I used to have to strugle to find a 14 1/2 36/37 and that was impossible, then I 'filled out' and needed a 18 1/2 36/37 and they were easy to find but they taper the wrong direction!

I hade a few custom made in Hong Kong and Bangkock but while the shirts were only about $12 each the airfare is a bit much for a shopping trip!

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Martin]

I have that problem - when I buy shirts that fit my body, the collars are too small and the arms are too long. It's really annoying.

[Guest gentleman1]

Sally, I forgot that MTF's do indeed have the oposite problem! Sigh! I have a good MTF friend who has a heck of a time trying to find womens blouses she can wear without the sleeves being too short! Frustrating indeed. I wonder if you have to get taylor made blouses as well or do they make womens shirts with longer sleeves......it seems that mens arms are longer than womens in proportion to their bodies. If only we all could have started hormone treatments early enough to eliminate this problem. My hope is there will come a day when hormone treatment will be standard procedure for us and it will be a perfectly normal thing like any other type of medical treatment.......but I think we all hope that.

Thanks guys for all the useful tips and links! I love this forum and appreciate you all! - Shawn

[Guest April63]

if you can sew, you can just shorten the sleeves. or maybe try rolling them up, back that might look dumb

[Guest Pól]

if you can sew, you can just shorten the sleeves. or maybe try rolling them up, back that might look dumb

You can roll the sleeves back if it's very informal, but otherwise, you need sleeves that fit properly.

I can sew enough to sew a button back onto my shirt, but that's a stretch at best. "just shorten the sleeves"? You must be jokin' me. Not with my sewing skills (or lack thereof), lol. Mike can probably sew pretty well what with his cosplay and so on, but I definitely can't sew that proficiently. If you're like me, just go to the tailor.

[Guest Evan_J]

Sleeve shortening is like 10-15 dollars. Go to the tailor.

If you're usin em for work its worth it and likely not difficult to do financially (you don't have to take all 16 or whatever at the same time). If you're not the type to wear one often/ "don't have that kind of job" then you probably don't own that many to worry about the cost (what exactly are we talkin about? two shirts?). Either way, it's probably doable and would be more sensible than ruining an object intended to look "polished".

<--Mr Grumpy-old-man, do-stuff the-right-way, person

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

I have to go get my suit sleeves altered. It's so annoying to have to do things like that. I am a total procrastinator.

[Guest leo]

agrees with ains i just cant be bothered with the hassels

lucky for me i got shoulders for shirts

[Guest Kyden]

I have a major problem that seems to fit with this problem. I am a skinny neck guy, like 14 to 14 1/2. It's very hard for me find shirts because i am a big guy like my chest is smallish but i have a stomach, I wear a large shirt and that is tightish around my tummy. I need some help my arms are short and I am only 5'2" so it can't have a long shirt either. I tried JC Penney custom but my arms are 29 inches. Any help? I need a shirt for my first homecoming as a man!