Buttons that pull open across the chest. A collar that feels tight by lunchtime. Sleeves that cover half your hand. Most men have accepted at least one of these as "just how shirts fit". But these shirt fit problems are not your body's fault. They happen because ready-made shirts are cut for standard sizes, and very few people match a standard size in every measurement.
This guide explains why each problem happens and how Tarrit's made-to-measure service in Tiruppur addresses it, by building the shirt around your measurements, posture and movement instead of the nearest size.
Can Made to Measure Fix Common Shirt Fit Problems?
Yes. Tarrit's made-to-measure service is designed to address common shirt fit problems like gaping buttons, tight collars and long sleeves. Measurements are taken in person, accounting for your proportions, posture and ease of movement, and you choose your fit, collar style, cuffs and placket. The shirt is then made to those specifications.
Tired of shirts that almost fit? Book your made-to-measure appointment at our Tiruppur flagship.
Key Takeaways
- Most shirt fit problems come from standard sizing, not from your body.
- Gaping buttons, tight collars and long sleeves usually mean one measurement doesn't match the size you buy.
- Tarrit's made-to-measure shirts are built from in-person measurements covering proportions, posture and movement.
- You choose your fit, collar, cuffs, placket and construction.
- If your fit issues are small, Tarrit's ready-to-wear comfort fit may already solve them.
Why Do Ready-Made Shirts Cause Fit Problems?
Ready-made shirts are cut to standard sizes, where chest, neck, shoulders, sleeve length and shirt length are all linked together. If your chest is a 40 but your arms are longer, or your neck is larger, one part of the shirt will always be wrong. That is why so many men size up for the chest and end up with long sleeves, or size down for the waist and end up with pulling buttons.
Common Shirt Fit Problems and How Made to Measure Fixes Them
| Fit Problem | Usual Cause | How Tarrit's Made to Measure Addresses It |
|---|---|---|
| Gaping buttons at the chest | Chest too tight for the size you wear | Measured chest and ease of movement, with your preferred fit |
| Tight collar | Neck size doesn't match your shirt size | Measured in person, plus your choice of collar style |
| Sleeves too long or short | Standard sleeve length doesn't match your arms | Measured to your proportions, with your choice of cuffs |
| Pulling across the back when you reach | Not enough room for movement | Measurements account for ease of movement and posture |
| Shirt too long or too short | Standard length doesn't suit your height | Built to your proportions |
| Loose, billowing waist | Sizing up for the chest or shoulders | Fit shaped around how you prefer the shirt to sit |
Why Do My Shirt Buttons Gape at the Chest?
Buttons gape when the shirt is too tight across your chest for your build or posture. When you sit, breathe or reach forward, the fabric pulls and the placket opens between buttons. In a made-to-measure shirt, your chest and ease of movement are measured in person, and the fit is shaped around how you want it to feel, so the placket can lie flat.
Why Does My Shirt Collar Feel Too Tight?
A collar feels tight when your neck measurement is larger than the collar size that comes with your usual shirt size. Many men buy for the chest and accept a tight collar, then leave the top button undone. Made to measure measures you in person and lets you choose your collar style, so the collar can sit comfortably, with or without a tie.
See your options in collar, cuff or placket: what can you actually customise?
Why Are My Shirt Sleeves Always Too Long or Too Short?
Sleeve length in ready-made shirts is fixed to the size, but arm length varies a lot between men with the same chest size. That is why sleeves often cover the hand or ride up the wrist. Made to measure is built to your own proportions, so sleeves can be made for your arms, and you choose the cuff style that finishes them.
Is Made to Measure Better Than Altering a Ready-Made Shirt?
Alterations can fix some problems, such as shortening sleeves or taking in a loose waist. But issues in the chest, shoulders and collar are much harder to alter, because they are built into how the shirt was cut. A made-to-measure shirt is cut for your measurements from the start, so these areas are planned rather than corrected afterwards.
Are Premium Ready-to-Wear Shirts a Good Alternative to Made to Measure?
Often, yes, if your fit issues are small. Tarrit's ready-to-wear shirts are cut in a comfort fit with space through the chest and shoulder without looking oversized, which already reduces pulling buttons for many men. If standard sizes still don't suit your build, made to measure is the better choice.
Not sure which fit suits you? Read tailored fit vs Tarrit's comfort fit.
How Tarrit Measures for a Better Fit: 5 Steps
- Choose your fabric from a curated range selected for comfort, durability and season.
- Get measured in person, accounting for your proportions, posture and ease of movement.
- Tell us your fit problems, such as gaping, tight collars or long sleeves, so they are addressed directly.
- Choose your fit and details: collar style, cuffs, placket and construction.
- Your shirt is made to the agreed specifications.
For the full studio walkthrough, read tailored shirts in Tiruppur: inside Tarrit's made-to-measure studio.
How to Spot Fit Problems in Your Current Shirts
- Sit down and lean forward. Do the buttons pull or gape?
- Button the collar. Can you fit a finger comfortably inside it?
- Raise your arms. Does the shirt pull out of your trousers or tighten across the back?
- Check your cuffs. Do they end at your wrist bone when your arms hang down?
- Look at the waist. Is there excess fabric billowing when tucked?
If two or more of these are a problem, made to measure is worth considering.
Common Mistakes When Trying to Fix Fit
- Sizing up to fix gaping buttons, which creates long sleeves and a loose waist.
- Living with a tight collar instead of fixing the neck fit.
- Relying on alterations for chest and shoulder issues, which are hard to correct.
- Not mentioning your fit problems at a made-to-measure appointment.
What Our Tiruppur Team Recommends
Bring the shirt that annoys you most to your appointment. Customers most often tell us their biggest frustration is buttons that open when they sit. Showing us the exact shirt helps us understand where it goes wrong for your body. We've found that naming your fit problems at the start is the fastest route to a shirt that finally fits.
Written by the Tarrit team, Tiruppur.
Fix Your Fit at Tarrit, Tiruppur
- Where: Tarrit Flagship Store, 278 Bungalow Stop, Avinashi–Tiruppur Road, opposite RK Residency, Tiruppur
- How: By appointment only. Book online
- How to book: read how to book a made-to-measure appointment at Tarrit
Conclusion
Gaping buttons, tight collars and long sleeves are the most common shirt fit problems, and they come from standard sizing, not from you. Tarrit's made-to-measure service measures you in person for your proportions, posture and movement, and lets you choose your fit, collar and cuffs, so your shirt is built for your body from the start.
Book your made-to-measure appointment and bring the shirt that never quite fits.
Last updated: October 2026
FAQ
Can made to measure fix gaping shirt buttons?
Yes. Tarrit's made-to-measure shirts are built from in-person measurements that account for your chest, posture and ease of movement, so the placket can lie flat.
Why does my shirt collar feel tight?
Your neck measurement is likely larger than the collar size that comes with your usual shirt size. Made to measure measures you in person and lets you choose your collar style.
Why are my shirt sleeves always too long?
Ready-made sleeve lengths are fixed to the size, but arm length varies. Made to measure builds the shirt to your own proportions.
Is made to measure better than alterations?
For chest, shoulder and collar problems, usually yes, because those are hard to alter. Simple fixes like shortening sleeves can be done with alterations.
Are Tarrit's ready-to-wear shirts a good alternative?
If your fit issues are small, yes. Tarrit's comfort fit gives space through the chest and shoulder without looking oversized, which reduces pulling for many men.
Where can I get a made-to-measure shirt from Tarrit?
At the Tarrit Flagship Store in Tiruppur, by appointment only. You can book online.