Question:
For casual wear (work in casual office environments), my colleagues and I generally wear button downs with jeans/pants (slightly up from "slob" wear). Because I am relatively tall at 6'2" and athletic build ( 15.5" neck, 35-36" sleeves, 41" chest, 33" waist), I often find myself buying large (or occasionally, extra large) shirts for length's sake.
I've recently discovered Mens Fashion Tips and have been reading your various tips and guides, finding them immensely enlightening. I didn't find something specifically addressing fitted shirts, so thought I'd write in to ask. I've since visited various department/chain stores (Macy's, Banana Republic, etc) and found some much better fitting shirts. In the process, I've found "medium tall" (standard/modern fit) and slim fit/fitted shirts both a great improvement from standard large sizing where I'm afflicted with excessive billowing around the waist and chest.
In general, would you recommend a more square fitting shirt providing adequate length (medium tall) or a more fitted shirt? (Perhaps this is an idea for the blog?) I don't know if a fitted shirt may be a bit too liberal for a casual work environment, even if I'm in my late-20s.
Answer:
Just to explain, fitted shirts are not for everyone. Some people do not have the body-built to wear them and I do not want to recommend something that can get people confused. However, the principles behind a classic dress shirt can be applied toward a slim-fit shirt, it is just a tighter fit around the arms, chest and waist area.
Fitted shirts are not too liberal for work at all. My dress shirts are all tailored with a slim-fit style. Such slim-fit shirts are actually making men look sleek and neat. It is especially so for men with athletic built like yours.
I would recommend going for slim-fit shirts over medium tall. I can imagine that it looks very good on you. But you have to be the final judge of things because there must be some disadvantages wearing slim-fit shirts for you that you can't decide over medium tall. Is it the length of the dress shirt? If it is then you would want to go for medium tall even though it is slightly baggier since you are considering for work and having your shirt ends well-tucked as well as sleeves slighty over your wrist are important criteria.
If the slim-fit is not giving you any of such problems, then please go ahead with a slim-fit dress shirt. I am sure you will look good in it.
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