Where To Buy Dress Shirts – Even for Those of Short Stature

Ever wonder how and where to buy men’s dress shirts? It can be particularly challenging for us men of modest height. Here are some solutions!

You can wear dress shirts on any occasion, save for the gym that is. Even your most casual outfit wouldn’t look compromised if you replaced that t-shirt with a button-down or a short-sleeve dress shirt. But, if the shirt doesn’t fit right or compliment you properly, you can kiss that inherent versatility goodbye. This is why it’s important to know where to buy dress shirts. Or rather, it’s important to know how to source the right kinds of dress shirts for you.

For us smaller-statured men, this can be especially challenging. The Fashion with a capital F that proliferates into most department stores loves thin men, but not short men. And most clothing stores cater to men of average height (that’s 5’9” in the US and the UK). Even bigger guys have historically had more specialty shops to choose from than short guys have.

Fortunately, fashion has changed quite a bit. Today, we’ll explore brands, stores, and hacks to find the right dress shirt for you.

Where To Buy Dress Shirts: Brands for Short Men

Let’s start with some brands that markedly cater to us modest men. I’m happy to say that we have so many more options today than ever in history. Could we use more? Of course. But these brands are leading the charge in acknowledging that shorter gents also want to look like put-together men.

Peter Manning

Peter Manning started in 2012 and makes clothes for men under 5’8”. In fact, their proprietary sizing system accommodates statures as low as 5’1”, which I find truly remarkable. They’re a great brand to turn to for a classic, simple look. They’re occasionally preppy, but not as a rule. That being said, what I love about them is how trend-resistant their designs are. 

So, don’t come to Peter Manning looking for extra slims and oversized shirts. They use excellent, comfortable materials. For example, you can find white dress shirts made from wrinkle-free 100s two-ply cotton.

Hugh & Crye

Hugh & Crye isn’t a dedicated short-man brand. They’re a fit-focused brand that doesn’t ignore their shorter contingent—finally! Their short fit is made for men between 5’4” and 5’7”, which seems to be the average range for under-average guys. Most of us will find a nice-fitting shirt with them.

They offer dress shirts in whites, blues, and light pinks with subtle prints like Glen plaid. They also sell button-downs with different fun, but not loud, patterns.

Under 5’10

As their name suggests, Under 5’10 caters to men of average height and below. For us, particularly shorter guys, their smalls and extra smalls will often do the trick. 

In addition to having some extra formal dress shirts, they also have a nice selection of button-downs, short-sleeve dress shirts, and down shirts. That being the case, I highly recommend Under 5’10 for guys who love a smart casual approach to dress shirts.

Ash & Erie

Like Peter Manning, Ash & Erie makes clothes for men under 5’8”. It was founded by two fellow men of modest height who struggled with shopping like many of us. They offer a wide range of styles and constructions, all offered as a slim or standard. 

Basically, you can incorporate their shirts into your wardrobe. And it doesn’t matter if you’re a classic guy or a trendy guy — depending on how you style them, of course. I also love that they offer performance dress shirts. I think having formal pieces that you can also move around in is important.

Nimble Made

Nimble Made’s main objective is to provide a genuinely slim fit. So, they’re a great option if you’re extra skinny or love a skinnier dress shirt fit. Skinny pants may no longer be in, but skinnier dress shirts, especially under a jacket, are evergreen.

Even more, their N01 size fits men in the 5’1” range. Their tops offer excellent structure, and their dress shirts are even bolstered by metal collar stays.

Brands With Extra Small Fits

Ultimately, I do think that most shirts need to be tailored anyway. Most designs require at least one or two alterations here and there. As such, I can often find a nice-fitting shirt, even among regular brands that are not aimed at short guys. As long as they offer an extra small or extra slim, I can work with it.

Here are some of those brands.

SuitSupply

Not only does SuitSupply offer an extra small, but you can also get a sub-14 collar. It’s a shame that this is remarkable. Still, I’m a big fan of SuitSupply (you can check out our review here) because they do a good job accommodating men with hard-to-fit bodies. They also sell smart casual knitted shirts and extra formal tuxedo shirts made of Egyptian cotton.

Charles Tyrwhitt

I love Charles Tyrwhitt because they’ve democratized classic English tailoring. Their shirts come in every color, pattern, and every style. So basically, all types of dress shirts. Do you prefer a herringbone weave or a dobby? A wing collar or a semi-spread? 

Moreover, their website is easy to navigate (as are their beautiful spaces in New York and London). They offer slim and extra slim sizes, though some men might need to get the arms tailored.

Premiere Manche

I’m a recent convert to French brand Premier Manche because of their impressive quality-to-price ratio. Their shirts are sharp, crisp, and flattering, especially for thin men like myself. They offer a European chic aesthetic, whether you want to look like a London deal-closer or French Riviera resort-chic. At 5’7”, I found I needed to slightly tailor the sleeves. However, the shoulders sit perfectly, which is the most important quality.

Best Brands for Made To Measure and Customizations

As a style writer, friends often ask me, “Where can I buy a dress shirt?” or “Where can I buy dress shirts cheap?”

For the former, the best option really is a custom, bespoke shirt. You get the exact size you want and the exact look and fabric. However, it certainly doesn’t accommodate the latter request. A middle-ground? Made-to-measure shirts. Or, you can consider brands that allow customizations.

Here are a few:

• Charles Tyrwhitt
• Brisk
• Proper Cloth
• Turnbull & Asser

These brands allow you to do one of two things. You can start from “scratch” by choosing a fabric and fit. From there, you might choose different collar styles, cuff styles (I personally love French cuffs), and so on.

You can also choose one of their shirt designs and make custom changes from there. When I ordered my shirt from Brisk, they even asked about my weight and waist size, which was as close to custom as you can get without going full bespoke.

FAQs

Here are some common questions about dress shirts!

How Can You Tell if a Dress Shirt is Good Quality?

The stitching should be even, and the patterns should align even where pieces of cloth meet. The fabric should be soft and comfortable but strong, and it should maintain its shape even after several washes.

What Is a Cutter Shirt?

Some people in Western Japan refer to a cutter shirt as a collared shirt. It can also refer to shirts worn under students’ school uniforms. In the US, a shirt cutter cuts fabric into the pieces and shapes used to construct a shirt. 

How Can You Tell if a Dress Shirt Is Cheap?

A cheap shirt doesn’t have a clean finish, often has loose threads or unfortified stitching, and usually loses its shape easily. Still, if you get a cheap shirt tailored, it’ll look more expensive than it is.

A cheap dress shirt often reveals itself through poor fabric quality, uneven stitching, and a lack of attention to detail, such as misaligned patterns or flimsy buttons. Additionally, it may feel rough to the touch, wrinkle easily, or lose its shape after a few washes. Paying attention to these signs can help you distinguish between a budget shirt and one that’s well-made.

Conclusion: Bespoke Is Best

When it comes to where to buy dress shirts, finding a high-value option can be difficult. At the end of the day, investing in a bespoke shirt really is the best way to go, especially for us short men. I want to make that very clear. However, it’s just not possible for a lot of us. Fortunately, you can go for brands that focus on short men or simply get an XS shirt tailored!

Questions? Comments? Let us know in the comments below.