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Adjusting the shoulder width of a shirt

The ideal shoulder width of a shirt

The top of the sleeve should meet the tip of the shoulder bone. Correct shoulder placement reduces folds around the armhole while preserving freedom of movement.

LE CHEMISEUR® tips

✨ Achieving a clean drape

Shoulder width matters a lot for a smooth armhole. To reduce folds, try – 1 cm; that is usually enough.

↕ Linked to sleeve length

Changing the shoulder width automatically changes the sleeve length. For instance, moving the shoulder seam up by 1 cm shortens the sleeves by 1 cm. Remember to add that centimetre back to the sleeve length.

How to measure the shoulder on a shirt

Measure along the seam that joins the top of the sleeve to the collar base.

Updated on: 08/10/2025