Adjusting the collar of a shirt

Best practice for a shirt collar

The shirt collar should close comfortably without gaping at the sides. Getting the collar size right is important even if you usually wear it open, so that the shirt drapes nicely across the shoulders and armhole.

LE CHEMISEUR® tips

🤏 Allow for shrinkage

The collar will typically shrink 1 cm. Wash your shirt 2–3 times before deciding on adjustments, or simply keep an extra + 1 cm. Our AI compensates for the natural shrinkage of each fabric.

🦍 The collar is tight / you have a thick neck

Hold the collar closed as you would like it and measure the gap between the centre of the button and the end of the buttonhole with a ruler—add that amount.

🦒 The collar is too loose / you have a slim neck

If it gapes only slightly, subtract – 1 cm. If you can pinch fabric on the side when the collar is closed, subtract – 2 to 3 cm. Don’t over-tighten: the shirt may become uncomfortable after a few hours, especially in warm weather.

How to measure the collar on a shirt

Lay the shirt flat: the collar is the distance from the centre of the button to the centre of the buttonhole.

Updated on: 08/10/2025