It’s a bit embarrassing to ask this… but, uh, how do I shop for everyday shirts that aren’t just t-shirts? (I don’t know all the different clothing vocabulary, sorry, maybe “business casual”?) As a working-class millennial, I feel like this is one of those things that I was just never really taught or picked up on my own. I mean, I can walk into a Target or Costco and pick up a size “L”, but that’s about all I know…
For most of my life I just threw on whatever t-shirt I had around, or whatever I happened to pick on sale at the thrift store or Target. But for an upcoming work trip, I’d like to pick up a few shirts that make me look somewhat less… rag-tag and impoverished? My company is European, I’m the only American on staff, and it’s my first time meeting them in person after two years of working from home. I’d like to make a reasonable first impression that somewhat hides the fact that I usually work in my pajamas
I don’t mean suit and tie or anything, and nothing “East Coast” / Wall Street like, just a plain ol’ button-up that’d be completely unnoticeable in an office environment, the kind of generic $20 shirt you find at every Nordstrom or Gap outlet rack.
Problem is, I don’t really know how to fit these things. At 5’ 10" and 210 lbs, I’m average height and a bit overweight, but I have a longer torso and shorter legs than most. So most shirts that fit me girth-wise end up being really short, while larger sizes end up being drapey and flouncy.
Without being able to afford a tailor (say, a budget of ~$50/shirt), are there any helpful measurements I can take (and then subsequently use online or in-store) to find clothes that fit my frame better?
I don’t know if this is something that every man just kind of casually fumbles their way through, or if I maybe missed a “Son, this is how you size a business shirt…” talk earlier on in life? Any tips?
Business casual means different things for different people. If you were not given any more precise instructions, I’d go with something like a gingham check shirt or a pastel colored one. Assuming you want a button down.
Bit hard without measurements but there will be two measurements that will be the most important - neck and sleeve length rather than going for shirts that are S/M/L/etc
Figure out (by trying some on, if necessary), what neck size works - 16 1/2", 17", etc, and figure out your sleeve length (32", 33", 34", etc). Many shirts will be sized for a range - 32/33 sleeve, for example. Just make sure not to get something way off on either of those two measurements or the shirt won’t remotely be a decent fit.
I don’t know what those terms means… are they color/styles? I mean, I know that pastels are lighter (and that sounds nice). I’m pretty OK at picking out colors and designs that I like.
But how do you fit them? Most “L” shirts I find are incredibly awkward on me. Some "M"s fit much better, but then are uncomfortable around the chest. But once in a while, I find one (of one size or the other) that just fits perfectly… are there measurements I can use to make it less of a gamble every time?
Sorry if this is a dumb question… but is a button-down different from a button-up…? Yes, I’d like something with buttons, but I’d probably usually wear it open, over a t-shirt underneath. Once in a while I’d wear it completely buttoned up. Short-sleeve, preferably (it’s hot around here).
I’ve been in the same situation. I work in a closed lab, so my dailywear is generally some jeans and old grubby metal tees. There are times I have to hit the road and visit customer sites and the “fanciest” I’ll generally get are some polos (often company polos.)
Now I’m a little guy, so I’ve had similar sizing issues on the opposite end. I know it’s 2025, but the fact is sometimes you gotta go into the store and just try them in the dressing room. That’s what they’re there for!
Search Google for a Jos. A. Bank store near you and go there. The sales associate will be more than happy to help get your measurements, and tell him you want a deal on 3-5 business casual button up shirts. They’ll have anywhere from 3-5 tiers of “niceness”, offfering wrinkle-free and other things that may be of interest.
Do not buy the cheapest version - they wrinkle quickly, and you’ll hate wearing them. try them on, make sure they’re comfortable and you like the colors/patterns.
Go online at LandsEnd.com using your neck size and sleeve length and select from their button down shirts. They have a huge range of sizes, excellent customer service, easy and painless return policies. Lots of easy care no wrinkle permanent press choices so you will look presentable. My son went through medical school, residency and fellowship wearing Lands End and on a budget.
Get your neck size and sleeve length measured at a mainstream brick and mortar men’s store or dept that have sale staff with experience and a tape measure around their neck or in their pocket. Don’t know which store that would be near you-Macy’s, Nordstrom, Von Maur, etc.
For a step up from a t-shirt you’d probably be looking for something with a collar. Look for polo shirts or golf shirts.
Or you can do a basic button down long sleeve dress shirt just skip the tie.
Seconding this. I’ll admit, I used to just buy the cheapest thing off the rack. Once they’re literally coming apart after only a few washes you learn why they were so cheap.
Jos A. Bank always has deals (“buy one suit, get one suit, 3 shirts, a belt, a handful of golf tees and a puppy for free!”). I’ve always been happy with their quality and price.
This isn’t going to help you in the short term for your upcoming meeting, but for a longer-term solution for upgrading your wardrobe, I highly recommend Stitch Fix. I’ve been using them for several years now, and I’m very happy with the experience. You give them a bunch of info about your measurements and what kind of clothes you are looking for, and stuff you are NOT looking for, and then every couple of months you get sent a “fix,:” which is generally 5 items. (You can determine the schedule). You try the stuff on, keep what you like, and send back the rest. There are extra discounts if you keep everything.
When you check out, you can also give feedback on the fit of each item, so over time they build up data about what sizes and cuts fit you better, and - in my experience - you get more stuff that fits perfectly as they learn what works for you.
I hate going clothes shopping at stores, so this really works for me. I’ve completely overhauled my wardrobe without having to go to a mall in recent memory.
With your measurements, you definitely want to get something that’s for men with a long torso. That’s the one issue that makes your sizing non-standard. My husband has the same measurements as you, and I’ve found when shopping for him that some shirts are really too short for him.
I’ve used a tape measure to measure the side seam of a shirt that fits him well (looking at the length from under the armpit, in his case 17 inches) and when shopping I don’t get him anything shorter than that.
The early days of “business casual” in the 80s had a definite code for men: Khaki pants and an Oxford-cloth button down shirt. Belt and shoes were casual but neat, socks were optional.
Oxford shirts gradually yielded to collared, button ups (usually with some sort of sport-themed patch on the breast), and pants went from strictly khaki to pretty much any kind of chinos.
Since you specifically mentioned Nordstroms, here’s a classic short-sleeve Oxford button-down shirt. Zoom in on the image so you can see the pinpoint white and blue pattern. Yes, they come in other colors. And be sure to tuck them in.
If you decide to go to the regular Nordstrom store rather than Nordstrom Rack, you might just rely on the advice of the salesperson, especially if you describe the scenario. The shirts might be a little bit expensive but might be a fashion staple for a long time.
Like a lot of guys, I don’t much care for clothes shopping. It’s not that I don’t care about my appearance, on the contrary, I do want to look good and appropriately stylish for my age and my senior role at my company. But I just roll into a department store and get lost in the options.
So what I do not is either formally (by calling in advance) or informally (finding a salesperson that seems helpful) roll into Nordstrom and ask for a shopper. Often I’ll bring pictures of what I currently have and like, a budget and a bit of definition of the need and let them just assemble outfits and bring them to me in the dressing room. Throught the process of elimination, they figure our what I like, and they have always been able to find deals in the racks while also finding me flexible options that go together in many ways.
If you work with the same person multiple times, they (at least used to) put together a file on your purchases, preferences and sizes, meaning that with heads up, you come into a dressing room with a whole bunch of stuff already selected.
Couldn’t be easier.
Yeah, I have found that by spending a little more on quality I spend a lot less by not having to replace worn out cheap stuff every year.
Not a dumb question - I myself didn’t really consider the difference.
Per the first Google search result (other than the one generated by the chatbot): " The main difference between a button-down and a button-up shirt is the collar. A button-down shirt has small buttons on the collar to keep it in place, while a button-up shirt has no buttons on the collar. Button-down shirts are more casual and button-up shirts are typically dressier."
I meant a shirt with buttons. Per @Hampshire - nowadays even a polo or golf shirt could be enough.
Gingham check is a pattern, with one solid background colour and straight lines, horizontal and vertical, in different colours. The lines are usually spaced close together. It’s an alternative to louder patterns. Not just a solid colour shirt, but not flashy either.
Button-down is a shirt with collars that button down. Generally worn with a tie. That might be a bit more formal than you’re looking for, but it depends on the office culture. “Button-down” can be used as a metaphor for someone who’s a bit reserved. May be appropriate for a first meeting. (I personally like button-downs. Make of that what you will.)
Button-up is just a term for a shirt with buttons rather than a pull-over shirt, like a polo shirt. I sometimes wear one over a t-shirt, unbuttoned, but I think of it as a fairly casual look. Maybe not try it until you’ve been to a few meetings and have a better sense of the office culture.
Pastel is a light coloured shirt. Quite common on golf or polo shirts. Solid bright reds, blues or greens tend to be seen as more assertive; lighter pastels are more of a “blend-in” style.
There are XL shirts. I find them more comfortable. Not as tight and more likely to stay tucked in.
Technically yes, although I’ve seen them used interchangeably. “Button up” is any shirt that has buttons all the way down the front - not a T shirt, golf/polo shirt , Henley ( a few buttons ), (mock) turtleneck etc. “Button down” refers to a particular sort of collar , where the collar buttons onto the shirt like this
Depending on the brand , there may be different cuts - every company will probably have different names, but I remember full cut , athletic cut, regular cut. slim cut
I personally go into the Men’s Wearhouse and first try on what is in my size on the sales rack first then if nothing there find a brand cut size combo that fits and buy several.
Yes, I’d like something with buttons, but I’d probably usually wear it open, over a t-shirt underneath. Once in a while I’d wear it completely buttoned up. Short-sleeve, preferably (it’s hot around here).