Why Shoulder Measurements Matter for clothes

1.
Why Shoulder Measurements Matter

The shoulder measurement is the cornerstone of a great‑fitting jacket. Ill‑fitting shoulders lead to sleeve misalignment, sagging backs, or pulling across the chest. As per EN‑13402 standard, “Jackets [for men] are sized primarily by chest, height, and waist” — but ensuring the shoulder width matches is the secret to a polished silhouette

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2. How to Measure Shoulder Width Accurately

What You Need:

A flexible cloth measuring tape
A mirror or a friend to assist (recommended)
A pen and notepad

Steps:

Neutral Posture: Stand straight, arms relaxed.
Identify Points: Locate the bony tip of your right shoulder (acromion). It’s where the arm and shoulder intersect.
Measure Across: Stretch the tape straight across your back to the left acromion, passing just below the base of your neck
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Record Precisely: Read the reading in cm, keeping tape flat and firm—balanced between stretched and loose.
Repeat & Average: Do it twice to ensure accuracy.

For jacket-ready accuracy, these measurements mirror those used in bespoke tailoring

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3. What Your Measurement Means

Narrow (≤ 43 cm / 17") – Great for slim-fit, Italian-style jackets.
Average (44–47 cm / 17.5–18.5") – Works with most off‑the‑peg tailored styles.
Wide (48 cm+) – Choose structured or American‑cut jackets to balance proportions.

Keep in mind sleeve length, chest, waist and height also influence the final silhouette. Shoulder alignment ensures everything else falls into place.

4. Choosing Jacket Styles for Your Body Shape

Here’s how to pair measurements with styles:

A. Ectomorph / Slim Build

Shoulders: narrow
Best styles: Tailored blazers, single‑breast, narrow lapels
Fabric: lightweight wool or blends

B. Rectangle / Even Build

Balanced shoulders & waist
Pick: Structured or semi-structured cuts
Tips: Add interest with pattern, texture, and trim

C. Inverted Triangle / Broad Shoulders, Narrow Waist

Broad shoulders, narrow waist
Styles: Single‑breast with defined waist and streamlined cut
Caution: Avoid double‑breast or padded styles—they can look oversized

D. Oval / Soft-Triangle

Rounder midsection, moderate shoulders
Go for: Single‑breast with minimal shoulder padding
Patterns & vertical elements help elongate the torso

E. Athletic or V-Shape

Broad shoulders, trim waist
Ideal: Slim-fit or modern-straight jackets
Style note: A slight taper or dart shapes the waist attractively

5. Other Crucial Measurements

A great shoulder fit isn’t enough—here’s what else to measure:

Chest Circumference: Around the widest part, below armpits
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Sleeve Length: From shoulder acromion, with arm relaxed, to wrist bone
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Jacket Length: Depends on ¾ style vs. full-length (e.g., trench vs. blazer)

These align with EN‑13402's guidelines, ensuring that each dimension is accounted for

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6. Why Standard Size Charts Fall Short

Generic size charts are inherently flawed:

Definitions of UK‑38 differ between brands
Fits vary by style: slim vs. relaxed, stretchy vs. structured, etc.
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That’s why most people test multiple sizes, waste time, and pay return fees. Standard fits frequently produce ill-fitting shoulders, misshapen backs, or closing strains at button points.

7. The Tellar.co.uk Advantage

Enter Tellar.co.uk, the UK’s leading free sizing tool — no guessing, no awkward returns.

What makes Tellar special?

Matches your shoulder, chest, waist, hip, and sleeve length to real garment measurements for over 1,500 brands
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Works across online stores in real time — not limited to one brand
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Send for their free measuring tape to measure at home
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Offers brand-specific sizing articles and notes — e.g., Principles, Our Legacy, Co
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How it works:

Request a free tape, measure your body.
Create your profile, entering key stats.
Pick a brand or style, and instantly see your perfect size.
Adjust fit preferences (e.g., tapered vs. relaxed).
Checkout confidently with real-time brand guidance.

8. Examples of Tellar in Action

🇬🇧 Principles blazers often fit narrow in shoulders—Tellar shows you whether to size up or down
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Our Legacy tops are broad at the body but tailored at the shoulders—Tellar helps you gauge silhouette and proportion
Premium womenswear brands like Co Clothing use Tellar to balance your bust, waist, hips and sleeve in real-time
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9. Fit Tips for Jackets

Shoulder seams should end at your acromion
Sleeves meet wrists, not forearms
Front buttons fasten without strain
Jacket body skims your torso—not flaring out

Tellar ensures each of these parameters is balanced for you.

10. Shoulder‑Specific Tips

Avoid padded shoulders unless you’ve wide shoulders and want definition
Slim silhouettes call for minimal structure
Vintage or relaxed styles may use dropped shoulders—ensure the shoulder seam aligns close to your real shoulder point

11. Fit Recap by Shape

Body Shape	Shoulder Type	Recommended Jacket	Tellar Tip
Ectomorph	Narrow	Italian slim	Use Tellar to confirm shoulder vs chest taper
Rectangle	Moderate	Tailored, soft structured	Measure chest, pattern adds interest
Inverted Triangle	Broad shoulders	Single-breasted, no-shoulder-pad	Increase waist fit slightly
Oval	Moderate to wide shoulders	Soft-shouldered, single-breast	Tellar suggests size that skims waist
Athletic	Broad & narrow waist	Slim-straight fit	Tellar gives balanced shoulder/chest combo

12. Getting Started: Step‑by‑Step

Go to: /
Request tape: /measuring‑tape
Create profile, input shoulders, chest, waist.
Use Store Size Lookup, type in brand: select from dropdown
Read brand notes, buy with confidence

13. More Helpful Tellar Sizing Articles

The Best Sizing Calculators and Fit Tools for Clothing in 2025 — why Tellar leads real‑time sizing
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Our Legacy sizing guide — Discover how shoulder/torso structure influences size within Tellar
Principles style guide — Blazer and coat shoulder fit advice on Tellar
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Co Clothing size guide — How Tellar maps your upper‑body measurements to Co items
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14. Stay Connected with Tellar

Follow Tellar for ongoing advice, brand updates, and sizing insights:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing
Twitter/X: @TellarSizing
Facebook: Tellar Sizing
Pinterest: TellarSizing

15. Final Thoughts

Mastering the art of jacket fit starts with accurate shoulder measurement. Combine that with chest, sleeve, waist, and height dimensions—and you’re ready to wear any style confidently.

Tellar.co.uk streamlines the process. With your measurements, it automatically matches you to the best size in any of 1,500+ brands—no guesswork, no returns.

👉 Request your free tape

👉 Create your Tellar profile now

👉 Match your body to every brand, in real time

Stop wondering. Start wearing what fits.

Try Tellar today: /