Shirt armholes...

[Jovan]

Were they generally snug fitting as well? I ask because a lot of the shirts I see from back in the day are rather blousey in fit, and if they're that way throughout must have been hard to get a jacket on.

 

[Mike K.]

Hmmm....
Good question. Just how is a "properly fitting" shirt supposed to be?

 

[Jovan]

*ka-bump*

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Dress shirts from 1900 to the '40s had high, snug armholes. Some (but not all) casual shirts had lower armholes.

.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

And the overall volume? And sack or tailored/waisted?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

And the overall volume? And sack or tailored/waisted?

Overall volume of the armholes? Even for me, that's too arcane a question.


1930s dress shirts were made in both blousy and fitted versions. Brooks Brothers shirts were very blousy; Arrow shirts were less so. On the fitted end of things, here's an extreme 1938 example by "Oviatt's." Note the rows of darts at the yoke and the waist:

-------

 

[Jovan]

Thank you, Mr. Chevalier.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Sheriff and police uniform shirts still have high arm holes. I tried one on and it fit snug. I suppose it's because they need their arms to be more movable when on duty.