Shirts for Short Men | Under 510 Review
Sigh. Is there a brand you can rely on for a great fit for shorter men off the rack? And can it be affordable? It seems like being short isn't only vertically challenging, but financially challenging too, having to pay a tailor to shorten shirt sleeves, or having to shell out some big money to buy custom.
Notice the modern slim fit and the appropriate length of the shirt as it falls mid crotch!
In struts Under 510 chest held high, with a refreshingly obvious brand name that flags down anyone under average height (Yes, 5”10 is average height). So let’s take a closer look at their shirts and see if they can live up to the tall task at hand!
Sizing
Their sizing spans from XS - XXL but you will have to calculate your size through their unique sizing system. I’d recommend basing your size upon your collar size (see featured size chart). This will be the key measurement that will almost always lend itself to the correct proportions for the rest of the shirt.
MAKE SURE TO ORDER YOUR PERFECT SIZE! IT WILL FOR ONCE PROBABLY NOT BE A SMALL!
What allows Under 510’s fit to be so accurate is that is that there is only slight variations between sizes compared to what you would typically see off the rack. This means you can really pinpoint a size that will fit you perfectly every time.
Fit
The main determiner of Under 510’s success will be the fit of their shirts. Granted that the sleeve length, chest, collar, and armhole width are all true to size, I want to highlight my favorite adaptations that make this shirt so incredible: the waist width and the overall length.
Just look at how that silhouette bows from the shoulder, in towards the waist, and out toward the hem!
They have clearly done their homework to develop their unique sizing pattern because the shirt tapers beautifully from the armhole to the midsection, where it hugs the waistline making for a modern, masculine shape. But, from the waist down to the hem the shirt curves back outward making for a phenomenal drape. I can’t stress enough how important it is for the bottom of the shirt to open up nicely allowing for a clean drape and range of movement. My personal pet peeve is when the bottom button of the shirt pulls because the shirt is too “slim.”
The length is a major contributor to a correct fit and they’ve nailed it. On a shorter man, it will fall between the bottom of the crotch and the top button of your pants, the sweet spot. This will allow for a great untucked look.
(Worth noting is that they have the same lengths on their dress shirts and on their casual shirts. I’d like to see them eventually add an inch to the dress shirts so they stay tucked in more securely. )
Fabric
My favorite mid-weight flannel - A smooth flannel ready for a weekend getaway or tucked in for the office.
It is really difficult to distinguish exactly how high quality any shirt fabric is without knowing its detailed DNA. However, having spoken to the guys behind the scenes, I can tell you they do NOT cut corners regarding what fabrics they use. I’ll point to the eclectic selection they have curated thus far as a testament to their stubbornness for quality. They’ve got hefty flannels, smooth twills, tight poplins and resilient oxfords that will compete with any quality-centered brand in this price range. If you want to see for yourself, my top recommendations are the pink plaid, green plaid, red plaid, and blue check dress shirt. Of course, you can never go wrong with a classic white spread collar twill dress shirt.
Details
In terms of details, there is not much to point out- which i’d argue is a good thing. They have kept the branding and logos to a minimum, sticking with their simple logo tag on the inside of the neck.
The proper spread collar is a modern must! Match it with a tie and blazer!
But among things I have noticed are their appropriately styled collars. The casual shirts, which includes their flannels, have a versatile semi spread. For an oxford cloth shirts, this is an interesting adaptation to a classic which usually features a button down collar. But their semi-dress twill shirts feature a nice slim version of the button-down collar, which I personally love. Finally, their dress feature a modern, wide, spread collar that looks great with a tie, or unbuttoned with a blazer.
My only knock is on the casual collars, whose collars do get a bit “curly” after a bit of wear. I prefer the button down collar, but some people disagree.
Pairing the shirt here with a J. Crew knit tie and a Gant Rugger blazer.
Customer Service
Because they are a local New York brand, I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to really pick the brains of the guys behind the brand. I know that they are absolutely committed to their customers’ satisfaction- this starts with free shipping and free returns. For me, this makes each purchase risk-free because you can easily send the stuff back if you need a different size or color. Of course, I always taking full advantage of this kind of service by ordering multiple sizes and colors and then keeping your favorites.
Under 510 is also well on the way to making their store a one stop shop for men under average height, and told me they plan on getting more tee shirts, polo shirts, jeans, and trousers stocked in the coming months. I always recommend sliding into a company’s DM’s on Instagram and getting a conversation going - especially for a brand like Under 510 that is so eager to hear from their customers.
VALUE
Pricing on their shirts is currently $40, and with their current year-end clearance sale, shirts are just $25! For a specialty item that is bringing a massive convenience and service to an underrepresented demographic, this is more than a great value. On top of being great fitting, the fabrics and raw materials compete with any brand in this market that won’t fit you as well.
Just look at the options Under 510 brings in shirting for shorter guys!
If you are a shorter guy who has been looking for shirts that fit off the rack, I highly suggest you check them out, no doubt about it. If you don’t like them, you can always return your shirts free of charge!
(Also, just so you know, competitors in this market charge $100 for their shirts, and I don’t want to get ahead of myself but, you may have just found the key to your entire wardrobe!)
Thanks for reading this post, I really appreciate you stopping by! I’m also on Instagram and always post looks and deals there, in addition to going live and connecting with you guys daily through DM’s! Feel free to stop by!
