Bamboo T-Shirt for Men – Fit Guide
Short answer: A bamboo T-shirt for men should fit without pulling: shoulder seam at the edge of the shoulder, sleeves at the middle of the upper arm and length to the middle of the trouser fastening. Hit those three points and the soft bamboo fabric hangs well instead of bagging or straining.
The three points the fit rests on
The shoulder: the seam should end exactly at the outermost point of the shoulder. The sleeve: it should end around the middle of the upper arm and follow the arm without sticking out. The length: to the middle of the trouser fastening. Check the models under bamboo T-shirts for men.
How to choose a size in bamboo
Bamboo viscose is more elastic and hangs more heavily than cotton, so the fabric follows the body more than you may be used to. If you are between two sizes, the choice depends on the look: the smaller for a close fit, the larger if the T-shirt is to be worn loose.
Measure your best T-shirt
The easiest route to the right size is not a tape measure round the chest, but the T-shirt you already like. Lay it flat, measure the width from armhole to armhole and the length from the neck seam to the hem, and compare both figures with the size chart before you order.
Chest and shoulder width go together
If you are broad across the shoulders and narrow at the waist, a T-shirt that fits the shoulder will often bag at the waist. Choose a slightly tapered model rather than a straight one. If your shape is the opposite, a straight model gives the neatest drape over the stomach.
The sleeve and the upper arm
A sleeve that pulls around the upper arm makes a ring in the fabric and makes the arm look larger. A sleeve hanging down to the elbow makes the torso look shorter. The middle of the upper arm is the rule, and it holds however trained the arm is.
Length and movement
Raise your arms above your head in the fitting room. If the T-shirt rides up and bares the stomach, it is too short, however good it looks standing still. Bamboo viscose stretches a little in wear and draws back after washing, so choose the length with the arm raised.
When the T-shirt is a base layer
If the T-shirt is to be worn under a shirt or a jumper, choose one size down and a thinner quality. Then it adds no bulk. A sleeveless model can be better still in the heat, and those are under bamboo tank tops for men in the same colours.
After washing and over time
A bamboo viscose T-shirt shrinks very little at 30 degrees, but it loses shape if it is tumbled. So do not buy a size up in expectation of shrinkage. The rest of the range in the same fits is under bamboo for men, so the size carries over. See also the size guide for bamboo clothing.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if I am between two sizes?
Take the smaller one for a close look and the larger for a loose one. Bamboo viscose stretches more than cotton and follows the body.
Do bamboo T-shirts shrink in the wash?
Very little at 30 degrees. In high heat and a tumble dryer they shrink and distort, and that cannot be put right afterwards.
How long should a men's T-shirt be?
To the middle of the trouser fastening. Shorter bares the stomach when you reach up, and longer makes the torso look low.
See our range of bamboo t shirts for men.
