This article is also available in:

Should you add darts to your shirt ?

Shirt without darts	Shirt with darts

Darts are seams in the back that help absorb excess fabric to better fit the shape of the back. Our darts have a depth of about 1.5 cm.

Darts and waist taper are independent. They only help position the side seams; the finished width stays the same. Example : for a 50 cm waist with darts we cut 53 cm, add the darts, and finish at 50 cm.

LE CHEMISEUR® tips

🏋 V-shaped or athletic builds

Add darts to avoid the hour-glass look by moving the side seams back. We generally recommend darts as soon as the chest – waist difference exceeds 6 cm.

🛝 Hollow back / rounded stomach

Darts help the fabric hug the small of your back. From collar size 48 upwards you automatically switch to our Big & Tall pattern. In that case darts are not needed because the entire shape of the shirt is better suited for you body shape, with side seams moved backwards.

💖 Personal preference

Choose according to taste. Some clients avoid darts on thick fabrics (e.g. velvet) or on casual fabrics such as linen shirts.

Updated on: 08/10/2025