Menís Clothing Sizes - Understanding Menswear Sizing - Male Shirt Suit Trouser Measurements
Hi.
Iím Antonio Centeno, the founder of Real Men Real Style.
And today weíre going to be talking about Understanding Clothing Sizes in Menswear.
Okay.
If you havenít already, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
By doing that, these videos will come right to you.
In addition, if you like this video, please click on the like button right down there.
In addition, Iím going to link you to an article which will talk more about measuring
and actually how to collect your own measurements.
Okay.
So, menswear sizes ñ and this is a question that came in.
Basically, itís ñ ìDear Antonio.
What is the exact difference between a casual button down oxford, sized small, medium, large
and extra large in dress button down oxford, sized by neck and sleeve measurements.
Is it the cut over material or something else?
Iíve seen both in solids and quite ñ canít quite figure it out.î
Really, the question the gentleman is asking is ñ why are some shirts sized small, medium,
large, extra-large.
And other times we get the neck size and the sleeve length.
And the short answer is that itís actually cheaper to make shirts sized small, medium,
large, extra-large because youíre only making it four sizes.
Whenever you go the other route, you are actually having to make more sizes because as you can
imagine, we got two variables.
And youíre immediately, you know, with those variables, youíre going to have a lot more
than four sizes of shirts.
So, if youíre choosing between the two ñ usually a higher quality brand is going to
go with the neck size and the sleeve length.
So, right there, thatís an indicator of which ones to buy.
Although, you may find that, you know, the small, medium, large, you know, fits you just
fine.
In any case, the point I want to address today is that sizing ñ when it comes down to this
stuff, you cannot trust the label when it comes to sizing in menswear, even when you
buy from the same brand.
So, you could have bought Brooks Brothers in letís say, 2004 and a shirt that you buy
in 2006, and another one that you see available now in 2011.
Those ñ even though, they are both ñ letís say, theyíre both mediums, they may be actually
completely different sizes.
Because the model that youíre using and what theyíre basing, you know, that target demographic
theyíre going after can change.
Now ñ so, okay, thanks Antonio.
Thatís all bad news.
So, are you telling me there is no set system?
Yes, Iím telling you there is no set system.
But what you need to do is break free of the thinking that you have to pay attention to
the labels.
I mean, they were ñ they arenít like a gauge.
Itís like saying, you know, is it hot or cold water?
Well, thatís not it.
You want to know what degree temperature of that water is because, you know, hot and cold
is pretty relative.
So, in the same way, you need to know what your measurements are.
So, go get a tape measure and measure yourself.
And when you know that and when youíre on top of your measurements, then you can go
in with a tape measure and look at a piece of clothing and lay it out and immediately
be able to judge ñ is this going to fit me the way I want it to?
And that way when you go in to the fitting room, when you try it on, itís much closer.
Or if youíre buying on the web, that youíre able to go a companyís website and look at
the measurements of the clothing and make a quick decision as to whether or not this
is going to fit you.
So, you want to ignore the tags and know your measurements.
In addition, you want to understand fabrics.
So, realize that something is made from 100% cotton can have some shrinkage.
And especially if you expose it to heat, itís going to have some shrinkage.
In addition, if something is made from wool, it will shrink if you expose to heat or another
great thing about that is that it also was going to conform to your body over time.
So, understanding that, youíre going to have a little bit of play and youíre going to
have a lot more success buying clothing.
Again, you need to know what your measurements are.
And you know, you can ñ I mean, because some companies ñ I know it sounds like, ìOkay,
if they tell me what that their necks were 16 and that their, you know, the sleeve length
is 33.
I should be able to match that up.
And that should be consistent, right?î
Well, not again.
Not always.
Because if a shirt, if itís made from a lower quality cotton thatís not woven together
super tight, then you could see a bit more shrinkage.
And so, that sleeve length could end up being ñ more like 32 or a 32.25 versus a true 33.
So, little things like that youíre going to have to pay attention to.
And well, guys, at the end of the day, know yourself, know your measurements.
And when you use that as the gauge, youíre going to find that youíre going to get a
much closer fit when youíre out there looking for clothing.
Okay.
This is has been Antonio Centeno with Real Men Real Style.
And hope youíve learned a little bit about measurements.
And go out there and dress with style.
Take care.