Shirt sizing. One could argue that it is the toughest part of ordering a high end shirt, and I’m not talking about the neck and sleeve (although they are extremely important). DC shirt makers Hugh & Crye have a very interesting approach that combines the neck and sleeve inch measurement and the traditional S-M-L-XL labels we are used to dealing with.
Hugh & Crye were nice enough to send me a shirt (disclosure) to inspect to see how it works. Their approach is based on body type rather than traditional measurements. Whether you are Short, Average, or Tall in terms of your height, or Skinny, Slim, Athletic, or Broad, Hugh & Crye have a size for you.
Interesting, right? My measurements ended up being ‘Average Slim’, which equates to a Brooks Brothers Extra Slim Fit Large or a Sid Mashburn size Medium. The fit is spot on – it is a slimmer shirt, but the cut works well. For example, the armholes are cut just high enough so that you don’t look like a flying squirrel. The shoulder seams hit right at the point of my shoulder, and the shirt body hugs around my mid-section – but isn’t anti-buffet.
Beyond the fit, the shirt is made of 120’s Egyptian cotton. Above is ‘The Charleston‘ (I know), which is a deep purple and white gingham. I am impressed with the level of craftsmanship for a shirt at the ~$100 price point. It is machine washable, and looks very crisp when ironed.
My favorite touch: The alternate last buttonhole in contrasting stitching. Pretty cool…especially for those times in the dark when you can’t see the last button…and you’re in a hurry:
Overall – it’s all good. I would rank the Hugh & Crye shirt high in terms of value proposition. They have every flavor of gingham available, and some outstanding plaids – with brown buttons.
Check out their entire collection here.
I’d heard of their sizing system but didn’t really understand how it worked. Now I wonder how they can manage what must be a huge inventory. Nice looking shirt, BTW. Hope you enjoy it.
The obvious comparison is Ledbury and yet I can’t find one anywhere. So, which do you prefer?
Great looking shirt! I, personally find H&C to be the pinnacle of quality when it comes to menswear. I’m always looking to make the best impression and H&C allows me to get creative w/ my appearance. Fit comes first and w/ fit comes confidence. Big fan.
My son is 5′ 6″ and weighs about 140. Most regular men’s dress shirts are huge on him. I was starting to consider custom shirts until I found Hugh & Crye. The short/skinny fits him perfectly. Their T-shirts are nice too!