This article is also available in:

Adjusting the waist of a shirt

You already own a LE CHEMISEUR® shirt and want to adjust the waist? This page is for you.

Best practice for the waist

The waist taper of a shirt is the half-circumference at stomach level measured on the shirt (not on the body). It should let you sit and relax your belly without pulling on the button, while avoiding excessive billowing. Standing with your stomach relaxed, you should be able to pinch about 2 cm of fabric on each side.

LE CHEMISEUR® tips

👔 Plus size

Don’t go too loose! You can go up to a straight cut (waist = chest or chest + 1 cm maxium) but avoid the “baggy” effect, to keep a nice shirt silhouette.

🏋 Athletic V builds or very slim builds

Avoid excessive tapering—it can create an hour-glass look. Keep the chest – waist difference under 8 to 10 cm and the hip – waist under 6 to 8 cm. If the chest – waist drop exceeds 5 or 6 cm, consider adding back darts to move the side seams back and soften the visual taper.

⚖ Planning to lose weight

Order a shirt that fits you now! Adding back darts later can easily slim the waist by 2–4 cm and is easy.

Measuring the waist taper on a shirt

Button the shirt, lay it flat and measure the full width at the narrowest point, edge to edge without stopping at the seams.

Updated on: 13/05/2025