XL Men's Shirt: the 3 essentials for wearing it well.

The cut of your shirt: neither too loose, nor too tight.

The classic mistake, when you are stronger or on the contrary tall and slender, is to choose a size that is too large or too small.

• Some men with a fuller figure tend to choose an XL shirt that is too loose for the sake of comfort, when, with a few alterations, an L would actually suit them better. The feeling of being between two sizes is common. But a shirt that is too generous can undermine the silhouette and give the impression of an excess of fabric. A fitted cut, more flattering, is then a better choice.


• Other clients, on the contrary, settle for an XL where an XXL big and tall shirt would be more appropriate. This is often linked to a change in build that has gone unnoticed, and the size 17 / XL shirt then turns out to be too tight and too constrained. In that case, you must accept the change of size and opt for a fitted or regular cut in the size above.


• Finally, taller and slimmer builds may tell themselves that going "a size up" will give them more presence and an illusion of broader shoulders, and that at least the sleeves will be the right length. Once again, this is a mistake: it is better to turn to a slim, fitted shirt that follows the body, while playing on heavier fabrics, pockets and patterns to add visual depth.

To choose the right collar, simply be logical

A taller collar will suit men with a longer neck, and you may opt for a two-button version to underline its refined character. The Positano, Neapolitan or Milanese collars are good examples.

For rounder faces, the goal is the opposite: to give the impression of a longer neck thanks to a smaller collar. You can then turn to a classic French or Italian collar.

Sleeve length: a recurring problem for taller men

Off-the-rack XL men's shirts are often designed for fairly stout builds, with little regard for tall and slim men, for whom a sleeve that runs short is a daily nightmare. It is worth knowing that, in the original drafting of a model, sleeve length is proportional to the collar size — which itself depends on your neck circumference. As soon as you step outside standard measurements, a sleeve issue is bound to appear.

Only a made-to-measure shirt guarantees sleeves that fall perfectly, with neck, waist and chest measurements all respected, at a moderate price. Ideally, the sleeves should sit about three-quarters of an inch above your thumb when the cuff is unbuttoned and your arm rests along your body.