Short-Sleeved Shirts
Tailoring isn’t only for winter and weddings. A short-sleeved shirt cut to you, in linen or cotton with a relaxed collar, is the summer piece most men buy badly off the rack.
★ 4.7 · 150+ Google reviews · First appointment free & no-obligation
Are short-sleeve shirts worth having made?
If off-the-rack short sleeves catch you at the wrong point on the arm, yes. The sleeve is cut to your actual arm and the body to your chest, from the same kept pattern as your dress shirts. Two to three weeks.
Off-the-rack short-sleeved shirts are cut like boxes: too wide in the body, wrong in the shoulder, sleeves that flare at the arm. Made to measure, a summer shirt skims you: a clean shoulder, a sleeve that ends where it should, a body with shape but room to breathe.
Camp (open) collar or a soft button-down, in breathable linen or cotton, for the cottage, the patio, the destination wedding, or a Toronto July that means it. Casual, but cut properly.
Made to your specification.
Camp or button-down collar
An open camp collar for easy summer style, or a soft button-down for a tidier look.
Linen & light cotton
Breathable weaves that keep their cool through the humid months.
Cut with shape
A clean shoulder and a body that follows you, not the tent most short-sleeves settle for.
Off your existing pattern
Already have a shirt pattern with Sam? A summer shirt starts right from it.
Irish and Italian linens, linen-cotton blends and light cottons in solids, stripes and a few restrained patterns, chosen for a warm day, not a boardroom. Explore the fabric library →
No guessing at the number.
- To make Three to four weeks. Twelve days if it is urgent and the fabric is in.
- Payment Half when the fabric is chosen, half on delivery.
- Alterations Part of the price, not a line item at the end.
- Reorders Your measurements are kept, so the next one is a phone call.
You get one firm price before anything is cut, and the first consultation costs nothing.
What people actually said.
“I had my wedding and reception suits made by Sam, and also ordered a three-piece suit and shirts for my dad. The prices were reasonable — a pleasant surprise given the exceptional quality and flawless construction. After I lost some weight, he graciously resized everything for a perfect fit. If you want top-notch custom suits, Sam is your guy.
Google reviewer · ★ Google
“Always bought my suits off the rack and always struggled with getting a quality suit that fit. A friend recommended I try Sam and I don't think I'll ever switch back. Sam has an extremely wide selection of fabrics and the detail he puts in every suit is truly remarkable. From the fit to choosing my fabric and design, Sam will be my go-to.
Rafi Habs · ★ Google
“Sam is an amazing tailor and helped me pick out a wicked suit. He's very friendly and will help you step by step.
Alexander Ferrier · ★ Google
Good to know.
Who are short-sleeve shirts actually for?
Men whose summers are spent outside an air-conditioned office, and men whose arms are a difficult length off the rack. If your ready-to-wear short sleeve either grips the bicep or hangs to the elbow, having one cut is the fix.
Where should the sleeve end?
Roughly mid-bicep, and cut close enough not to flap but not so close that it grips. That point is different on every arm, which is precisely why the ready-to-wear version so rarely looks right.
What fabric is best for summer?
Something with air in it. A linen or a linen and cotton blend for the hottest weeks, an oxford or a lighter twill if you want it to hold a shape. Sam will steer you by whether you want it to look crisp or to feel cool, because you rarely get both.
Can I wear one under a jacket?
Sam will make it, but he will also tell you not to. A short sleeve under a jacket leaves nothing at the cuff and the jacket sleeve rides on bare arm. If you need a jacket, have a long-sleeve shirt in a light fabric instead.
Is it the same pattern as my dress shirts?
It starts from the same one: same neck, same chest, same body. Only the sleeve and often the collar change, which is why it can be added to an existing order without another fitting.
How long do they take?
Two to three weeks, the same as any shirt. Order in spring rather than in the first week of July, when everyone else remembers at once.
Can you make short-sleeved shirts to measure?
Yes. Camp-collar and short-sleeved summer shirts in linen and light cotton, cut with a clean shoulder and a body that follows you instead of the boxy cut most rack short-sleeves settle for.
What fabric is best for a summer shirt?
Linen and linen-cotton blends breathe best through a humid Toronto summer; light cottons press crisper. I'll show you weaves chosen for a warm day, not a boardroom.
Can you use my existing shirt pattern for a summer shirt?
If you already have a shirt pattern with me, a short-sleeved shirt starts right from it. No new measuring needed.
Have short-sleeved shirts made for you.
The first appointment costs nothing, and it happens at the Vaughan studio: one client in the room, and the whole hour is yours.