Short sleeve button up shirts and polos… they get a bad rap, man. I think that’s mostly because the nerds and dorks who wear them in TV shows and movies wear them all wrong. The fit is off, the color is off, the length is off… everything is wrong.

But in warm weather, short sleeve shirts are a life-saver! Especially if you run hot, like myself.

In this article, we’re gonna cover every detail about how a short sleeve button up shirt and polo shirt should fit.

Let’s get into it!

Try the sit down test. When trying on a new shirt, button it up like you normally would, and then sit down in a chair.

It should feel as comfortable (and have enough give) sitting down as it is while standing. The buttons shouldn’t be pulling apart; the shirt shouldn’t be stretching like spandex on your torso.

SHOULDERS

How your shirt fits at the shoulder is, arguably, the most important thing when it comes to fit.

Similarly to a suit, the shoulder seam needs to sit right on top of your shoulder bone. Get as close as possible.

HEM OR BODY LENGTH

In order to wear a short sleeve shirt (or any shirt, really) untucked, the hem shouldn’t go too far past your belt and the waistband of your pants. So right where your waist starts to curve outward to form your bum? The shirt should end there.