Why Most Dress Shirts Don’t Work for Guys Who Train

By John Peters

Published: May 9, 2025

If you’re someone who hits the gym regularly, you already know the struggle: you walk into a store, grab a nice dress shirt in your size, try it on… and suddenly, it feels like a straitjacket on your arms. Not to mention, it tends to awkwardly hang around the middle. Not fun. That’s the curse of being consistent with your training. Your body looks better than ever, but you just can’t find a good dress shirt to complement your physique.

The problem is simple: Most dress shirts are not made with guys who lift in mind. They’re designed for the “average” male body shape. So, if you’re someone with broader shoulders, a bigger chest, and defined arms, chances are you’ve had more than one “Hulk moment” trying to get a shirt to fit properly.

Some brands cater to muscular men, but here we run into another problem. Most athletes go through cycles of higher and lower body fat, making this type of clothing only useful when you are in the low body fat part of your cycle.

Let’s go ahead and break down exactly why this happens and what you can do to fix it

Standard Sizing isn’t the best for Athletic Builds.

Most readily available dress shirts follow basic sizing rules: small, medium, and large. This means they assume a similar shape from chest to waist. But we know, no two bodies are the same. And while there are some who might go by neck and sleeve measurements, even then, it’s not good enough.

The issue is standard size just doesn’t fit men who have more athletic builds for the following reasons. Mainly, guys who train have chest and shoulders that are wider than average. Their arms are more muscular (which is a pain if you want to roll your sleeves up), and their waist is usually smaller compared to their top half.

Looks great, but it's terrible for fashion. Because here’s what happens if you have the above body type. You size up to fit your chest, then drown in fabric around your stomach. Or you go smaller for a better torso fit, but then the buttons pull across your chest like they’re holding on for dear life. Either way looks terrible, feels uncomfortable, and leaves you wishing you never put this shirt on for the first time.

Sleeves Are a Nightmare

Big arms + slim sleeves equals dress shirts that are awkward, tight, and really uncomfortable. Most dress shirt sleeves don’t account for muscular biceps and forearms. You either get sleeves that are tight and unflattering or baggy sleeves that just look sloppy.

And forget about rolling them up casually. They either won’t stay up or cut off your circulation.

Tapered Torsos? Forget about it

The athletic V-shape (broad shoulders, narrow waist) is great for T-shirts, but dress shirts? Not at all. Most dress shirts are boxy and straight-cut, which looks terrible on more muscular builds. It messes with your shape and makes you look bulkier than you are. This is so annoying because you train so hard to get that sought-after tapered torso, your shirt should accentuate and highlight it, not hide it under a tent.

What Should You Do About It?

Well, we’ve discussed why most dress shirts don’t look great on guys who train. The question now i, what can we do about it?

1. Look for Athletic Fit Dress Shirts
To begin with, you can start by looking for shirts specifically designed for guys who train, such as athletic fit dress shirts. These shirts are designed with more room in the chest, shoulders, and arms. They often have a taper down to the waist, fitting better to your body without feeling like it’s clinging to you like a second skin.

2. Consider Getting Shirts Tailored

When it comes to dress shirts, no matter what kind of build you have, tailoring is your best weapon. You can buy a shirt that fits your chest and shoulders, then take it to a tailor to bring in the waist.

It’s definitely an extra step and a little bit more effort. But if you want to look sharp, it’s worth it.

Conclusion

Here’s the bottom line: you’ve put in the work at the gym, and you want your body to reflect that. Your clothes need to highlight it, not hide it. Sadly, the truth is, most traditional dress shirts weren’t made for guys with muscle. But with a little bit of extra effort and a focus on athletic fit dress shirts, you can find shirts that fit your body and your style.

Now that you know what to look for, you can dress in a way that fits your body and your style.

With Flex Form Threads, ditch the baggy shirts or the ones that leave you gasping for air. Find the fit that works just as hard as you.