Fit guide
How should an oversized t-shirt fit?
What to look for in the mirror, what our sizes measure, and how to choose between two.
Written by Thomas Finn, founder, with Krisztina Maria, co-founder · Last reviewed
An oversized tee should look big on purpose: the shoulder seam drops below your shoulder, the body is boxy with room at the chest, and the hem sits around your hip. Ours are relaxed and boxy with a drop shoulder, and true to size, so between two sizes take the smaller, unless you want it bigger.
How to tell if it fits
Five points to check in the mirror. There is no single standard for oversized, so read these as a guide, not a rule.
-
Shoulder seam
On a regular tee the seam sits on the bone at the top of your arm. On an oversized tee it drops below that, onto the upper arm. That drop is part of the cut.
-
Chest
The body hangs straight down with clear room at each side. If it pulls across your chest when you reach forward, it is too small.
-
Length
The hem sits around your hip, near your belt or a little below. If it hangs to mid-thigh, it reads as a shirt that is too big.
-
Sleeve
The sleeve ends between mid upper arm and just above the elbow. It stands off the arm and does not grip it.
-
Neckline
The collar lies flat around the base of your neck. It does not choke and it does not gape. A heavy fabric and a ribbed collar help it keep that shape.
Our sizes
Every tee, the hoodie and the sweatpants, per size. Compare the numbers with a piece you own and like. Switch to inches with the button below.
| Size | Chest | Length | Shoulder | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 57 | 75 | 56.5 | 20.5 |
| M | 60 | 77 | 58.5 | 20.5 |
| L | 63 | 79 | 60.5 | 21.5 |
| XL | 66 | 81 | 62.5 | 22.5 |
Garment laid flat, in cm.
| Size | Chest | Length | Shoulder | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 55 | 68 | 54 | 22 |
| M | 57.5 | 71 | 56 | 23 |
| L | 60 | 74 | 58 | 24 |
| XL | 62.5 | 77 | 60 | 25 |
| 2XL | 65 | 80 | 62 | 26 |
Garment laid flat, in cm.
| Size | Chest | Length | Shoulder | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 64 | 70 | 60 | 58 |
| M | 66 | 72 | 62 | 59 |
| L | 68 | 74 | 64 | 60 |
| XL | 70 | 76 | 66 | 61 |
Garment laid flat, in cm.
| Size | Waist | Outseam | Hip | Leg opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 67 | 106 | 114 | 25 |
| M | 72 | 108 | 119 | 26 |
| L | 77 | 110 | 124 | 27 |
| XL | 83 | 112 | 130 | 28 |
As in the size guide on the product page, in cm.
How it fits on different builds
Our models, with their height and size. More builds are on the way.
Oversized vs boxy vs regular
How the three cuts usually differ. Brands use these words in different ways, so check the measurements too.
| Fit | Shoulder seam | Chest | Length | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | On the bone at the top of the arm | Some room, follows the body | Around the hip | Upper arm, close to the arm |
| Boxy | At the shoulder or a little below | Wide and straight, same width down to the hem | Often shorter, near the belt | Wide and shortOurs Tie-dyed tees, boxy and loose |
| Oversized | Dropped below the shoulder, on the upper arm | Clearly more room than the body | Around the hip or a little below | Longer, toward the elbowOurs Black & White tees and the hoodie |
There is no official definition of oversized or boxy. These are the common traits. The measurements above are what count for our pieces.
Keep reading
- The fabric guide: what 240 and 400 g/m² mean, and the t-shirt weight chart.
- How the fit runs, in our FAQ.
- The size guide on any product page, with Find My Size.
- Shop Black & White or Vintage & Sunfaded.
- Wrong size? Read the return policy.
About the fit
More questions before you buy? See the FAQ.
Should I size up for an oversized fit?
Not with ours. The cut is already oversized, so take your usual size. If you want it bigger still, go one size up, but check the length first: each size of the Black & White tee is about 2 cm (0.8 in) longer than the one below, and an L is 79 cm (31.1 in), laid flat.
Is The Word true to size?
Yes. Every piece is true to size. If you land between two sizes, take the smaller, unless you want it bigger. Every measurement is in the chart above, laid flat.
What if I am between two sizes?
Take the smaller one, unless you want it bigger. The cut already has room, so the smaller size still reads oversized. Compare the chest and length with a tee you own, or open the size guide and use Find My Size.
Do oversized shirts make you look bigger?
They can make your top half look wider, because the shoulder seam sits lower and the body falls straight. That is the point of the cut. Keep the hem around your hip, and pair it with straight or wider trousers, so the shape looks chosen, not borrowed.
Does an oversized tee look good on short guys?
It can. On a shorter frame, length matters most: the hem should sit near your belt or hip, not halfway down your thigh. A size S Black & White tee is 75 cm (29.5 in) long and a tie-dyed S is 68 cm (26.8 in), laid flat. Between two sizes, take the smaller.
Does an oversized tee work on skinny guys?
Yes. A heavy fabric helps, because it holds a square shape instead of clinging to the body. Our tees are 240 to 260 g/m². Take your true size. Going up on a slim frame can make the sleeves and the hem hang too long.
Why are heavyweight tees short on tall people?
Weight does not set the length, the cut does, and some boxy tees are cut short on purpose. Check the length number, not the label. Ours: the Black & White tee runs from 75 cm (29.5 in) in S to 81 cm (31.9 in) in XL. The tie-dyed tee runs from 68 cm (26.8 in) in S to 80 cm (31.5 in) in 2XL. All laid flat.
Will it shrink after washing?
Only a little, because every piece is pre-shrunk. Wash the tees cold and inside out, and hang them dry.
Can I exchange it for another size?
There is no swap, because every piece is made to order. Withdraw from the order and place a new one, or write to us and we will run both halves in one go.
Full terms are in the return policy.
How do I measure a shirt I already own?
Lay it flat on a table and smooth it out. For the chest, measure straight across from armpit to armpit. For the length, measure from the top of the shoulder, next to the collar, straight down to the hem. Compare those numbers with our chart, which is also laid flat.
Is the tie-dyed tee cut the same as the Black & White tee?
No. The tie-dyed tees are boxy and loose, and shorter in the body. In L, the tie-dyed tee is 60 cm (23.6 in) across the chest and 74 cm (29.1 in) long. The Black & White tee is 63 cm (24.8 in) and 79 cm (31.1 in). All laid flat.
How does the hoodie fit?
Oversized, with a drop shoulder, and true to size. In L it is 68 cm (26.8 in) across the chest and 74 cm (29.1 in) long, laid flat. It is 400 g/m² brushed fleece, so it holds that shape.
How do the sweatpants fit?
Oversized and tapered: roomy through the hip, narrower at the elastic cuff. In L the hip is 124 cm (48.8 in) and the leg opening is 27 cm (10.6 in), as in the size guide on the product page. True to size.
Are the tees unisex?
Yes. The tees are unisex and run S to XL, and some come in 2XL. On our photos, she is 172 cm and wears M, and he is 188 cm and wears L. If you usually buy women's sizes, compare the chest with a tee you own.
Sources
- New Mexico State University, Cooperative Extension Service, Guide C-220: Check Your Pattern for Proper Fit (revised 2015). Where a standard shoulder seam sits, and why the room in a garment varies from style to style.
Our own measurements come from the size guide on each product page.
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.Colossians 3:14
Shop every piece
