White Dress Shirt Men 15 1 2 32 33 Uniform

The Best Man

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• #1

What does it really mean when a manufacture puts up a shirt as 32/33? Its a 33 and will shrink into a 32 after being washed?

The Thin Man

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• #2

It is a 33. It just means that they do not make a 32.

ballmouse

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• #3

I always thought if you button to the farthest button on the shirt cuff, it's a 32 and the closer a 33. Is that not the case?

porcelain monkey

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• #4

I always thought it was just an excuse for sloppy standards, like the US post offices's two to three day guarantee for priority mail.

Gibonius

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• #5



I always thought if you button to the farthest button on the shirt cuff, it's a 32 and the closer a 33. Is that not the case?

That was my understanding. I remember some shirtmaker's website (don't recall which one) that described it as such.

Winston S.

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• #6



I always thought if you button to the farthest button on the shirt cuff, it's a 32 and the closer a 33. Is that not the case?

This is the way I understood it too. If there is only one sleeve number there is only one button.

bourbonbasted

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• #7



I always thought it was just an excuse for sloppy standards, like the US post offices's two to three day guarantee for priority mail.

Interestingly there are some shirt manufacturers that produce on a 32/33 basis with the understanding that once the shirt is purchased they will tailor the length accordingly. So if you wear a 32.5 then you buy a 32/33 and they take it up a bit. Sid Mashburn, for instance, sells shirts with these measurements and performs alterations right after you purchase if you so choose. The alterations are included in the price of the shirt.

cbbuff

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• #8



I always thought if you button to the farthest button on the shirt cuff, it's a 32 and the closer a 33. Is that not the case?

This makes no sense. The sleeve length is what it is. How does which button you use change the length?

I always thought it was just an excuse for sloppy standards, like the US post offices's two to three day guarantee for priority mail.

+1

• #9

I also don't get how the buttons on the cuff affect the sleeve length?

Gibonius

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• #10

The sleeve is the same real length, you're just changing the width and where it falls on your arm. If you use the outer button, the cuff is wider and falls farther down your wrist. If you use the inner button, it's narrower and is effectively shorter.

NORE

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js4design

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• #12



The sleeve is the same real length, you're just changing the width and where it falls on your arm. If you use the outer button, the cuff is wider and falls farther down your wrist. If you use the inner button, it's narrower and is effectively shorter.

This. Brooks Brothers factory line (346) uses this type of sizing.

porcelain monkey

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• #13



Interestingly there are some shirt manufacturers that produce on a 32/33 basis with the understanding that once the shirt is purchased they will tailor the length accordingly. So if you wear a 32.5 then you buy a 32/33 and they take it up a bit. Sid Mashburn, for instance, sells shirts with these measurements and performs alterations right after you purchase if you so choose. The alterations are included in the price of the shirt.

I wasn't aware that Sid's shirts were tagged like this, but his shop is clearly the exception as they have outstanding in-house tailors and are all about fit.

This. Brooks Brothers factory line (346) uses this type of sizing.

This is more to my original point of cheaper, sloppier manufacturing - the main line BB has more exact sleeve measurements. I am not sure I buy the bit about the buttons.

Last edited: Feb 9, 2012

js4design

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• #14



This is more to my original point of cheaper, sloppier manufacturing - the main line BB has more exact sleeve measurements. I am not sure I buy the bit about the buttons.

Not sloppier. I own a number of them and they are all 33" and the second button works as advertised, to make the fit as a 32 by holding them at your wrist. If you buy a sport shirt from BB in a retail store, they are the same way. For example, a small is really a 14 1/2 - 32/33 with 2 buttons at the cuff. The split sizing is a way to reduce inventory while serving the same number of customers.

DJLA13

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• #15

Nope, it just means that if your arm is a 32 the shirt will be a bit long and if your arm is a 33 the shirt will be a bit short. It just keeps the shirt maker from having to manufacture and stock twice as much inventory. And no, the buttons do not magically change the length of the sleeve.

I guess if your arm is a bit too short for the sleeve, the second button will help keep your hand from disappearing up the sleeve. But if your arm is a bit too long for the shirt, well, you are screwed.

Last edited: Oct 22, 2015

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Source: https://www.styleforum.net/threads/when-a-dress-shirt-is-15-32-33-does-that-mean-the-sleeve-is-a-32-5-one-sleeve-a-32-the-other-33.287109/

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