[flatline]

I have recently moved from San Diego to Washington DC. I am 6'2", 180lbs. My suits are 38L-40L, so it's hard enough to find suits and shirts, but at least a tailor can work miracles (I haven't found a tailor in the MD/DC area yet, but that's another thread). I haven't found the perfect shirt for my body yet - CT slim fits are still quite blousy, and Thomas Pink slim fits, while pretty good, are still egregiously overpriced.

However, my question today is mainly for warm weather clothing. "Normal" sized sweaters and coats simply don't fit me. The body either sags off of me, or the sleeves are practically 3/4 length. The only store that I have found that fits me well are the Medium Talls offered by Banana Republic/Gap. I would like to have a few more options, but I never have time to go to a mall and find stores that fit me.

Suggestions?

 

[srivats]

Have a look at JPress, they make some nice sweaters ... and for non-baggy shirts, look at Lands End tailored fit oxfords ... they will fit you very well.

 

[flatline]

Now that I think about it, I guess this can be updated slightly. I am biased a bit towards online shoppes - I actually rather enjoy going out and shopping, but I really never have time for it these days. I have had some luck with H&M, but I have to go to big stores to find my sizes and some of the clothes tend to fall apart frighteningly quickly.

In addition to the cold-weather clothes, other things that are difficult to find include items like pajamas and athleticwear. Would you believe that neither Adidas nor Nike offer warmup style mesh pants in long/tall sizes? I wonder how Yao Ming gets his?

I'd like to avoid a typical "Big & Tall" type store unless someone can really vouch for the quality.

 

[Mannix]

As for shirts, I would try Hawes & Curtis warwick slim fit shirts, or else they have a tapered shirt which is even slimmer than the warwick. I really like H&C shirts, and they're very affordable. As for sweaters, as you said, Banana Republic medium tall. I find that some of Ralph Lauren's sweaters are fine for me sleeve length and chest wise. I'm a 35 inch sleeve length and with a medium sweater from RL I'm fine for length but I show at least an inch and a half to two inches of cuff...just a personal thing that I do(almost forced due to sleeve length though). If you wanted the sweater to go to your wrist then it wouldn't work for you.

 

[flatline]

Thanks, I will try to visit the JPress store in DC, although from their website it doesn't look like they make tall/long sizes?

 

[Moose Maclennan]

... sweaters ... The body either sags off of me, or the sleeves are practically 3/4 length. ...
Suggestions?

John Smedley

 

[bluemagic]

Some options for you (lower prices on top, higher prices on bottom)

J. Crew (size down on sweaters, for some reason)
HickeyStyle
Band of Outsiders
Ralph Lauren Black Label
Brooks Brothers Black Fleece

 

[JohnRov]

Brands that have talls (I'm not filtering by quality, just listing ones I know have talls)

LL Bean
J Crew
Banana Republic
Eddie Bauer
Lands End

 

[mikeber]

John Smedley

What do you mean? Does JS offer tall and slim sized sweaters? I never saw any...

 

[mikeber]

Brands that have talls (I'm not filtering by quality, just listing ones I know have talls)

LL Bean
J Crew
Banana Republic
Eddie Bauer
Lands End

Among these only J Crew and BR offer slim and tall sized sweaters. Lands End and LL Bean are cut like tents: "Be a smart buyer - in the tight economy, get more shirt/ sweater for your money..."

 

[Moose Maclennan]

What do you mean? Does JS offer tall and slim sized sweaters? I never saw any...

Sorry, lazy typing. Close in the chest and longer in the arm is what I meant.
Tall, I can't help you with.

 

[flatline]

Among these only J Crew and BR offer slim and tall sized sweaters. Lands End and LL Bean are cut like tents: "Be a smart buyer - in the tight economy, get more shirt/ sweater for your money..."

Thanks for the help guys. I didn't realize that the choices were so limited for tall guys. When I was younger I just wore larges and didn't even notice the excess sweater. Seems like an opportunity some manufacturer should be capitalising on!

 

[Drainer15]

Does anyone have recommendations for jackets in the same type of size: long and slim? I'm in the market for a new coat and everything I try on in a 40L seems to be HUGE (I'm 6'4', 190). But if I size down to a 38L (where I can actually find them), the shoulders no longer fit.

I don't necessarily need a full-length overcoat, something like a slim-fitting car coat to the mid-thigh would be perfect for me. Is BR or J-Crew medium tall also the answer?

 

[StevenRocks]

I'd like to avoid a typical "Big & Tall" type store unless someone can really vouch for the quality.

But you're tall! Big & Tall stores can be uneven, to be sure, but places like Rochester Clothing actually would have things that could work for you. I don't have experience with the Washington store, but I have bought some things from the New York store in Manhattan.

Micah was really easy to work with, and though I'm not as slim as you, I do occasionally need things tapered and they can either do it in-house or suggest someone who can for a reasonable price.

JCPenney sells medium tall clothing as well through their catalog. The quality is not perfect, but the prices make up for it, especially if you need basics that fit.

 

[Jovan]

I feel for you. However, the bigger problem I have with sweaters right now are the way they're cutting costs by constructing the sleeve at a sloped angle from the body -- you can't raise your arms without the bottom pulling up. (The woman at Express offered the following unhelpful advice: "Maybe you need a size larger?")

They're doing the same with a lot of slim fit shirts and polos now. Bloody aggravating. It's near impossible to find decent fitting clothing for me now.

 

[cpac]

I'm a slim and tall guy myself (6'5" 220 - usually wear 44X-longs/ L-talls). In addition to the suggestions already made, where I find banana and LL bean to be best options, I suggest looking at Polo's long/tall sizes as well. They're generally available only online, but some of their stuff is quite nice.

 

[printemps2001us]

I have had good luck with Malo sweaters as well as RLPL. Both are reasonably slim, but not tight. For shirts, Corneliani and RLBL or Polo Custom Fit are reasonably slim. I have my tailor take them a bit more and they fit me quite well.