Tall and Struggling to Find the Right Shirt? Here’s What Actually Works

Why Most Shirts Don’t Fit Tall Bodies—And What You Can Do About It

You don’t need to be 6’6” to struggle with shirt fit. If you’re tall—whether 5’9”+ for women or 6’1”+ for men—you’ve likely faced the same set of frustrations: sleeves that stop short of the wrist, hems that won’t stay tucked, and shirts that pull across the shoulders. And no, sizing up doesn’t fix it—it just shifts the problem elsewhere.

The real issue? Most brands grade shirts for average heights using a “scale-up” system that doesn’t adjust for vertical proportions. That means longer arms, torsos, and broader backs are often squeezed into patterns that simply don’t accommodate them.

In this deep-dive guide, we’ll help you navigate:

• Which shirt styles and structures work for tall bodies

• What to avoid (with garment measurements to prove it)

• Which brands are worth your time

• How Tellar.co.uk removes all the sizing guesswork using real garment data

📌 For more technical breakdowns, see:

• Understanding Brand Sizing Variations

• UK vs EU vs US Size Conversion Explained

• Which Brands Run Small or Large?

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Why Tall Frames Break Standard Shirt Patterns

Tall individuals generally need more than just longer sleeves. Here's why most shirts miss the mark:

Technical note: Brands often scale sleeves and torsos together, which doesn’t work for tall individuals with lean or athletic frames. The result? A tight chest or baggy midsection.

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Top Shirt Styles That Work for Tall Bodies

These shirt types offer the best structure, coverage, and proportion for vertically longer frames.

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1. Longline Oxford Button-Downs

A classic Oxford becomes essential in a longline cut—especially with a box pleat or split back yoke for flexibility.

🧵 Fabric Note: Look for heavyweight Oxford cloth (180–200gsm) to hold structure, especially with longer torsos.

✅ Try these brands:

• Charles Tyrwhitt – extra-long sleeves and tall sizing available

• J.Crew Tall Fit – especially for US sizing

• Asket – minimalist Swedish brand with cm-specific sizing

• Banana Republic Tall – reliable for both men’s and women’s shirts

• Percival London – great boxy Oxfords with length

• Uniqlo U – longer cuts than standard Uniqlo sizing

📍 Find your best Oxford fit: Tellar Store Size Lookup Tool

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2. Poplin and Broadcloth Shirts

These are go-tos for workwear or formal occasions. The key for tall wearers is precise grading in both torso and sleeve length.

🧵 Fabric Tip: Choose a high thread count (100s or 120s) poplin for a refined finish. Avoid blends with excessive stretch—they warp under tension from long limbs.

✅ Best brands for tall sizing:

• TM Lewin (Slim/Tall range)

• Eton Shirts – premium Swedish brand with long back and sleeve options

• Suitsupply – made-to-measure and standard long lengths

• Spoke London – lets you customise sleeve and torso length independently

• M&S Autograph Long Fit – reliable fit for men up to 6'4"

• Twillory (US) – wrinkle-resistant broadcloth, long-sleeve cuts available

🧵 See How Luxury Sizing Compares to High Street

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3. Overshirts & Shackets

Tall frames can easily wear overshirts—if they’re long enough. Look for designs hitting mid-hip with widened chest panels and 70cm+ sleeve length.

✅ Materials to consider:

• Twill: durable and weighty

• Brushed cotton: warm with movement

• Stretch denim: adds comfort to structured styles

✅ Brands to try:

• Wax London – relaxed tailoring in longer cuts

• Carhartt WIP – naturally generous proportions

• Arket – minimalist workwear styling, often long by default

• Universal Works – British utilitywear with good coverage

• NN07 – Nordic minimalist label with excellent shoulder-to-hem balance

🧵 Need layering help? See Jackets That Suit Tall Frames

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4. Camp Collar and Cuban Shirts

Cuban shirts and short-sleeve options can work—but only if proportioned correctly.

🧵 Design Rules for Tall Bodies:

• Body length = minimum 76cm

• Drop-shoulder seams improve silhouette

• Straight hems with deep side vents enhance movement

• Avoid chest pockets placed higher than 18cm from collar

✅ Top brands:

• Percival London

• ISTO (Portugal) – sustainable, clean lines, and long torsos

• AllSaints

• Portuguese Flannel

• NN07

• Faherty Brand – US tall sizes in relaxed summer shirts

📍 Use Tellar’s fit tool to confirm shoulder width and body length.

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What to Avoid in Shirts if You’re Tall

🧵 See How to Spot Bad Shirt Grading

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Technical Fit Metrics You Should Know

📌 Download Tellar’s printable measuring tape and measure accurately before buying online.

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Our Top Brand Picks for Tall Bodies (Updated)

For a brand-by-brand breakdown of fit and sizing quirks, check out:

👉 Which Brands Run Small, True or Large?

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How Tellar.co.uk Makes Shirt Shopping Foolproof for Tall Shoppers

We built Tellar.co.uk to solve the exact problem you’re facing: brands use different sizing, and tall bodies don’t conform to default fit charts.

What Tellar does:

• Matches your measurements to over 1,500 brands

• Accounts for sleeve length, shoulder width, and shirt tail coverage

• Converts between UK, US and EU sizing

• Stores your fit profile for future purchases

• Saves time, returns, and wasted money

🎯 Ready to eliminate size guesswork?

✅ Create your free Tellar profile

✅ Get your shirt size by brand

✅ See how your current brands really fit

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Follow Tellar.co.uk for More Fit-Focused Tips

For more advice, seasonal shirt guides and style drops tailored to your frame:

• Instagram – @Tellarsizing

• Pinterest – TellarSizing

• Twitter (X) – @TellarSizing

• Facebook – TellarSizing

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Final Thought: It’s Not You. It’s the Shirt.

Tall bodies need better fit—not bigger sizes. The shirt that fits your chest shouldn’t leave your wrists cold. With better understanding of pattern grading, fit metrics, and Tellar.co.uk’s real-time recommendations, you can buy smart, wear confidently, and never settle for “good enough” again.

🟢 Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s Free & Easy.

👉 Start now

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