Getting extremely nit-picky on sleeve length

[creagdhubh]

I sometimes have this problem, but I simply readjust my jacket cuff by pulling it down in a subtle, 'Duke of Windsor style,' fashion!

[Jack Daw]

Tobus, the only explanation I can think of as to why you are having this problem and others are not, is that you must have some bulging pythons.

[Mickey]

I've always had this problem too and it annoys me to no end. It is the cut of most jackets. The armpit is much lower so when you lift an arm or reach out, the jacket sleeves really have no place to go. Most jackets just aren't meant for motion unless you get one that was tailor made for it.

For shirts riding up, I still occasionally wear military "shirt stays". Elastic bands that clipped to the front and back of the shirt that would down the legs and clipped to the socks. Kept the socks high and shirt always tightly tucked and perfectly blocked in the back. Not really an option with kilts though!

[Mickey]

My thought pattern was interrupted on the last post...

I was also going to add that a very well fitting shirt goes a long way to preventing this. Ill fitting shirts bunch up at the shoulders and down the sleeves, which helps stop the jacket from sliding back down.

I don't know where you shop, but I know that we are nearly identically built, and it is very hard for me to find a shirt in all of my measurements. The sleeves are always too long (which bunch).

I can't afford custom made shirts, so I have to get the best compromises that I can off the rack for neck, chest and sleeve lengths.

So as others have said, I just work with it and try to remain elegant when I adjust.

[ForresterModern]

I can't afford custom made shirts, so I have to get the best compromises that I can off the rack for neck, chest and sleeve lengths.

Might I suggest you peruse the mens dress shirt selections at, of all places, jcpenney.com , where you should be able to find nearly any combination of neck size, sleeve length, and even straight or tapered body shirts, in a wide variety of colors and patterns and collar and cuff styles. Basic prices are actually quite reasonable, and if you keep your eyes out for the fairly frequent sales you can actually get a nearly custom fitted shirt for relatively little outlay. I tend to buy in bunches when I find a style and colors I like in my size, and the last cluster of 6 shirts I bought ranged from $15-25 per shirt. Quality is more than acceptable, and far less expensive than shopping at either a mens suit shop or high end retail department store. Definitely beats custom tailoring, unless you are really into that sort of thing. Worth a look, IMHO. And as stated before, I am about as far from a standard size as one human might get (18.5 neck, 38-39 sleeve, straight cut body, french or standard two button cuff), and I can always find several shirts I could use in my wardrobe.

jeff

[CopperNGold]

There is something very masculine about a man adjusting his jacket and sleeve cuffs. It's a movement that women don't usually do. Just think of James Bond and how he adjusts his cuffs. Don't worry about it!

[ccga3359]

I'm sure I've seen Connery's 007 fix his jacket sleeves on more than one occasion and in true gentlemanly pana... flair. Surely you can carry of the such the subtle correction because let's face it, Connery was no Lazenby, even he made it look like the proper thing to do. There is nothing wrong with ensuring that one is alway looking there best at all times.

I can suggest two things. Install some weight within the cuffs lining to help gravity or do what I'd do in my early years when going into a bar that had a dress code (shirts, no t-shirts/sweatshirt). cut the collar and cuffs off of an old shirt, don them as ussual under the sweater then ditch them once you get past the plug ugly standing at the door. I never had the issue of exposing too much cuff.

Now to Alan to hear how he painstakingly solves this problem. I'm sure he just uses his office stapler to ensure that there is always 1.067" of shirt cuff showing. Interesting to know if he staples from the inside out so that he doesn't get blood stains on the shirt or if he staples from the outside in to make it look like a nice silvery basting stitch.

[TurboKittie]

There is something very masculine about a man adjusting his jacket and sleeve cuffs. It's a movement that women don't usually do. Just think of James Bond and how he adjusts his cuffs. Don't worry about it!

***

And then some

[Spartan Tartan]

I tend to have problems with my shirt sleeves moving up inside my jacket. That said, I happen to notice when others adjust their clothing. Whether it is too often or not often enough. But I like to see a gentleman (or a dude, if Alan H has dared to read this far) make minor adjustments to his appearance. Since, as others have stated, minor adjustments are almost always needed at some point.

For myself, I try to be subtle, yet purposeful when adjusting my sleeves-be it shirt or jacket.

[CMcG]

For me, this issues comes down to two things: fit and comportment.

I have a couple jackets that either have a more generous fit or are actually a size too big. These are much more forgiving in terms of both comfort and what the sleeves do. My more fitted jackets tend to ride up a lot more in the arms. I've also had the opportunity to try some affordable custom tailored shirts here in Hong Kong and it makes a world of difference.

The other side of the coin is what I happen to be doing. If I'm wearing a more fitted jacket, I try to maintain a more "dignified" comportment i.e. move around less, move more suavely. This goes a long way towards keeping everything in order. When I need to adjust, I try to do so with a gesture that -- as others have wisely mentioned -- looks smooth, rather than a self-conscious jerk. I believe it's called "shooting the cuffs" and there is a bit of an art to it.