r/malefashionadvice • u/redditfuckingbanned • Dec 17 '22
Company complaint I’m at my wits end with shirt sizing. Why don’t companies just post the length and width of their shirts?
For two hours I’ve been reading American Giant reviews for their heavy weight tee shirts. And it’s not just the companies, but it’s the reviews people leave.
If using a measuring tape is so difficult, fine. I’m just going to start taking advantage of their return policy then until they stop being so useless.
Every shirt I am considering, I’m gonna order it in M, L, and XL, measure them myself and try them on, and return the 2 sizes I don’t like. From now on I’m going to do this with every single item.
Hundreds and hundreds of reviews for the exact same shirt be like “I’m 6’1, and the medium fit perfect!” “Im 5,11 and the large was a bit short.” “Im 6’3 and the large was way too long!” JUST POST THE LENGTH FOR CHRISTSAKES. Seriously why is this such a hard thing to figure out?
Here, I’ll post the dimensions of American Giant’s sweatshirt myself for you guys to prove it’s not that difficult. If I can do it then an entire company should be able to.
The Classic full zip in size Medium (I purchased in 2016, and after extensive washing) is 23 inches wide from pit to pit, and 28 3/4 inches long.
The Classic pullover hoodie in size Large (purchased a few weeks ago, not yet washed) is 24 1/2 inches wide from pit to pit, and 29 3/8 inches long.
Why is this so hard? People will blabber for paragraphs and paragraphs about literally everything except for the actual size of the garment.
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u/Furthur Dec 17 '22
i emailed a brand once to as which of their products had similar cuts as one that i really like and had been discontinued. the CSR told me i should just buy a bunch and return what doesnt fit as id like. l.o.l.
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u/RadiantVessel Dec 18 '22
What a dumb response. It would save everyone time and money just to measure them
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u/tripletruble Dec 18 '22
Depends on the consistency of their own sizing. If they list precise measurements that do not match their actual garments, customers might be especially irritated
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Dec 17 '22
[deleted]
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u/bluemooncalhoun Dec 18 '22
Yeah most companies just trash the returns anyways, its really wasteful.
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u/dccorona Dec 17 '22
I wish more companies would post measurements. But I’ve also experienced firsthand why they usually don’t. SuitSupply posts measurements. And yet I’ve gotten 3 identical pairs of pants from them with variance of like an inch and a half in the waist measurement among them. The reality is that most clothes are mass produced, and there can be a lot of sizing variance when you do things that way (think about cutting a thick stack of paper all at once - it all shifts and each piece is slightly different. Same with fabric).
Most companies don’t want to commit to the size information in that level of detail because they can’t actually guarantee it’ll even be close. So they just give you the body dimensions that size is designed to fit instead. Sadly, it sounds like one of your major concerns is body length, and that one is almost never included in body measurement charts from what I’ve seen.
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u/LetsGambit Dec 17 '22
Spier and Mackay also posts a plethora of measurements, but there is often a lot of variance. The Spier thread at StyleForum is full of people complaining about sizing being wildly off from the posted measurements. Measurements also vary from year to year for certain items and there's no guarantee the measurements chart you're looking at is for the current year's make or not.
So, on one hand, I do appreciate when companies post some measurements. On the other, if it's useless, they may as well not post anything.
I can understand why big companies don't post measurements, which goes along with your analogy, but for smaller businesses, it would be nice to see measurements along with any notes on variance/quality control.
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u/mlsteinrochester Dec 17 '22
If you are shopping for dress shirts there's www.shirtdetective.com. You're on your own with t shirts afaik. But length and width aren't enough. You need shoulder/yoke, sleeve length, ideally sleeve diameter. Your work is cut out for you.
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u/YinzJagoffs Dec 17 '22
Shirts for tall men = 404
Yeah, that’s about right
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u/beardtamer Dec 17 '22
It’s not even the torso length it’s my god damned arms that are killing me.
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u/theother_Jeff Dec 17 '22
Seriously. As someone with a short/medium length torso, broader shoulders and long ass arms but a narrower waist, finding long sleeve shirts that fit all three is like searching for a unicorn. Generally it’s hope it’ll fit 2 of those and compromise the rest
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u/beardtamer Dec 17 '22
I just roll the sleeves habitually or get stuff tailored. But I don’t have funds for Taylor’s clothes in every instance.
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u/YinzJagoffs Dec 17 '22
I’m the opposite. 6’5” but with the arms of someone 5’9”.
Tall sizes mean my sleeves will go halfway down my hand.
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u/173448 Dec 17 '22
MTM shirts can be had for <$125 each and will change your life. The first one is the worst but most spots allow free remakes on the first model because its never perfect.
Dial it in then just reorder based on your measurements.
I've been using Ratio Clothing for years and have not bought ready to wear since I found them.
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u/bigtallblacknbald Dec 17 '22
Same! I have a relatively regular torso at 6’4 (he’ll it might even be short for my height) but long chimpanzee arms with a 6’9 wingspan. I’ve debated just getting custom shirts
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u/everythingscatter Dec 17 '22
Look at Charles Tyrwhitt. For all their smart shirts, for each collar size, they sell a range of different sleeve lengths (given in inches) and a range of slimnesses of cut.
Don't buy from them now. Wait till the January sales. Their non-discounted prices are much higher than their prices in the (ver frequent) sales and promotions they offer.
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u/steaknsteak Dec 17 '22
This is it for me too. I get “tall” sizes, the torso will be absurdly long, but in normal sizes the sleeves are always too short. Doesn’t help that I seem to be stuck in the no man’s land between Medium and Large for most brands
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u/beardtamer Dec 17 '22
Yes! and the problem is that tall will fit my sleeves, but if I want a casual button up to wear with jeans or chinos or something untucked, then the torso is so long I look like I'm a teenager in her boyfriends dress shirt.
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u/onedegreeup Dec 17 '22 edited Dec 17 '22
This is what I do. I search ebay/grailed for the exact shirt I’m trying to buy. The sellers often have pictures with tape measurers overlaid, if not most respond with measurements. Bonus points since they’re often used, and reflects washed shrunken size.
Resellers trying to hustle some money / people trying to offload stuff they don’t need are often hungrier and more responsive than bloated companies with slow customer service reps just tryna hold down a job doing the least possible work.
I suppose a caveat is if the company changed sizing over the years.
Brands aren’t gonna post measurements. Its not in their best interest, because they want to sell one generic thing to the most people. They only stand to lose customers who might see a measurement not working. Its better to provide as little information as possible and hope people just make do with suboptimal fits, or just forget to return items, or rationalize it in their head somehow saying they’ll probably lose weight or fill out the shirt working out, etc
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u/onedegreeup Dec 17 '22
That being said, my other gripe is the taper. There’s no definitive way to measure taper, and it means nothing to me when reviewers say it “fits like a glove” to their bodies that are clearly different to mine. The fuck does true to size even mean when size isn’t clearly defined in the first place?
Fucking post measurements at every part of the shirt. Post a 3-D CAD render of the shirt. I once had a suede jacket that was perfect in every way, except the sleeves were too tight at the forearms. Fucking really? I got it all right hunting all the measurements, only to be foiled by a measurement no one really even thinks about.
The answer is usually “get it tailored” but you can’t really tailor a suede jacket unless you’re willing to shell out hundreds of dollars at a leather specialist. If you’re dealing with a loopwheeled shirt, it defeats the purpose too.
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u/oldcarfreddy Dec 19 '22
100%. For more traditional menswear stuff there's plenty NWT/NWOT on sale on ebay replete with measurements and detailed pics.
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u/TheTreesMan Dec 17 '22
at the very least, and i mean bare minimum, they could do the whole "The model is 6'2 and wearing a size medium"
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u/BC437_ Dec 17 '22
I prefer to buy my clothing irl so I can put them on and see if they’re comfortable and to make sure they fit. I really don’t like only shopping for clothing
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u/Wacko_Banana_Pants Dec 17 '22
I agree. posting measurements would be beneficial. I think the reviews are so scattered because of quality control. I can't tell you how many times I bought 3 of the exact shirt but different colors only to have each one fit differently.
Now let's talk about shoes and boots.... If I'm an 11 on the brannock device then why do I need a 10 in your loafers and a 10.5 in your boots? Shouldn't they label those both an 11?
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u/SecaucusSodomite Dec 17 '22
I love when people on eBay go to the trouble of showing measurements but the picture is too far away and you can’t read the number on the tape measure. Yes!
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u/generaalalcazar Dec 17 '22
My best purchase is a made to measure / bespoke shirt. It fits and looks so so much better. Just a shirt. It does cost a little more hut because it fits better they last longer. Really can advise it.
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u/Metcarfre GQ & PTO Contributor Dec 17 '22
Uniqlo
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Dec 20 '22
Uniqlo's product measurements are very inaccurate ime, at least for their pants. I just don't get the point in listing actual product measurements if they're going to be off by several inches because of vanity sizing
They have reasonable prices and cool stuff sometimes, but inaccurate sizing makes shopping there much less convenient for people who don't have a store nearby
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u/Metcarfre GQ & PTO Contributor Dec 20 '22
Has not been my experience
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Dec 20 '22
Interesting. The last time I bought from them I had to return a pair of pants because they were ~3" larger in the waist than the website measurements
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u/TheBoomClap Dec 17 '22
Shop at better online retailers or check used listings on sites like Grailed or Ebay. Farfetch and End provide product measurements and details about the model’s fit.
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u/theoriginalshadilay Dec 17 '22
"Asket" have their measurements on their website. Only tried their plane white t-shirts but so far I am happy. Perhaps a bit costly.
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u/clive_bigsby Dec 19 '22
Also, when companies just post "fits true to size." OK, what does that even mean anymore? If I have a closet with medium, large, and XLs from different brands that all fit me, which is the "true" size here?
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u/TinyTerryJeffords Dec 17 '22
I don’t know which garment exactly you’re looking at, and I can’t speak to how consistent their manufacturing is, but American Giant does have size charts for their sweatshirts…
https://www.american-giant.com/products/mens-cotton-crew-sweater-lead
It’s the third accordion after the “Made in Los Angeles” callout with the California icon (on mobile).
Edit: Length is not included in this size chart
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u/tyrukuro Dec 17 '22
Those aren’t the measurements, that’s sizing. Those sizes are what they estimate would fit you if that’s what you measure.
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u/knogbjorn Dec 17 '22 edited Dec 17 '22
Admittedly I don't buy stuff online that often, but I believe that the vendors every single time have provided a sizing guide where you can see what measurements (most often length and width for t-shirts/sweatshirts) the sizes correspond to. You can then just measure one of your own shirts that you like the fit of and compare them. EDIT: I figured this might be an European thing, so I went and looked at the company you mentioned, and they have some measurments, but not the length. I guess they declare the length of the model, but not the shirt, which seems like more work but whatever. https://i.imgur.com/TuMeKF2.png
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u/rydor Dec 18 '22
I like to buy tees from End, cause they do post full measurements of all sizes for tees. Some are more premium than others, but you can get a much better sizing advice from them than from most other places.
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Dec 17 '22
I just learned about vanity sizing and the tactics manufacturers use . We will forever be disappointed and misled when it comes to a standard… ugh so frustrated.
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u/athonis Dec 17 '22
I reached the conclusion that my body demands a tailor tax, I have accepted my fate.
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u/RevivedMisanthropy Dec 17 '22
A good clothier should be able to provide you with these measurements when asked. If they don’t have some level of advice or customer support with sizing – even a size chart – consider shopping elsewhere. Best thing to do is shop around in person (if possible) until you find a brand that fits consistently. I do this with button downs and pants, which I can then safely order online later.
Brands like Banana Republic or Zara are going to be the least consistent with sizing because of the volume of clothes they produce. A place like Drake’s or Rowing Blazers produces smaller quantities of better clothes, so the QC is much better, and sizing is more consistent. I avoid shopping online if possible because mailing things back is a hassle.
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u/WakeNikis Dec 17 '22
Just get a place w free returns (or relatively cheap).
Buy a few different sizes online, try them when they get there, send back any/all that don’t work
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u/samamatara Dec 18 '22
i saw a brand put something like 'size guides are just a social construct' or something rubbish like that
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Dec 17 '22
Yes!! I fit a medium in the chest, but my length is typically extra small. Finding shirts is an absolute nightmare. Every time I go to a size chart, they NEVER list the length.
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u/Thierry22 Dec 17 '22
I am waiting to go on a trip to try clothes in store because I don't want to buy online anymore. First you get the surprise of the import and brokage fees and then wrong fit, not worth it.
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u/treelager Dec 17 '22
This has been my biggest issue with AG, especially when they have items for final sale. How am I supposed to know my size if you give me the model’s chest length in the photo? Wtf? Just put a chart up like everyone else. You’ll still get my money, maybe more lol.
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u/MichiganMan12 Dec 17 '22
5’9” correct BMI gang and almost exclusively Uniqlo for basics for the last 5 years gang
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u/mcflyin8 Dec 17 '22
Preach, brother.