Question:
So I’ve grown a fair bit, but I still have some shirts and polos that I still love. I like my shirts fitted (for simplicity, im going to call both shirts and polos “shirts”). Problem is, im right in-between and M and an L. Where M is border line to small and L looks like it was made for a lard azz.
So, here is my problem, I want my M shirts to fit a little bigger and my L shirts to shrink
How do you stretch a shirt well?
How to do you shrink a shirt?
Also, a question on jeans, can you make the leg length longer? I was told you could take your jeans, wash them, take them out wet and stretch them longer and leave them to dry. Anyone try this?

Answer:
Shirts will shrink, no matter what after a few washes. I have tiny shirts that would fit you because they are M and old. I wear an X and sometimes XXL. I like the baggy, lose style. I don't know of any way to stretch it. Maybe put them on hangers and clip weights to them?
Jeans, you might as well just get a longer length. There is no reason to try a stretch them when you can already buy them longer in the pant length. That is what I would do.

Answer:
Yeahm you cant lengthen jeans. AS for shirts, sure hot washing Ls will shrink them, but Id say just try different brands. I especially recommend stuff like GAP, not because its particularly cool, but because their clothes are cut for middle america mall-dwellers (read: fat). A GAP medium is bigger than an Emporio Armani or H&M large for sure.

Answer:
^ haha yea, I have a pink gap polo in size large.....dam! how big do you have to be for that to be to tight?

Answer:
Originally Posted by gator ^ haha yea, I have a pink gap polo in size large.....dam! how big do you have to be for that to be to tight? Oh my dear Canuck, I think you underestimate the girth of the American mall-dweller.

Answer:
I generally like my clothing to have a tighter fit over a loose fit. Many button down shirts now have a "modern fit." It's kind of tighter and tapers in the back a little. Generally the smaller of these versions would work for me. But the best way is to try on button down shirts. I don't really know anything about changing the proportions of the shirts, but a lot of tshirts or polos that I had for awhile fit a lot better on me now then when I bought them. The best part is that they are more vintage looking and have a really good fit.
When I buy clothing now, the style seems to indicate a tighter fit. Most of my new clothing I buy fits my frame perfectly without any need to stretch or shrink.

Answer:
Better to get the jeans long - the length will shrink when you wash it. Also, you can get them tailored and a good tailor will put the original bottom back on so you don't lose the look of the original. I doubt you'll stretch the leg length no matter what you do, short of ripping it somehow.
I've never succeeded in stretching a shirt well. Usually I end up tearing a seam or making it all lumpy and lopsided. I've certainly shrunk one or two going straight from the wash to the dryer. I agree with Joel - if you go to places made for middle America, the sizes will be bigger. On the contrary I have found BR and American Apparel to be smaller in size, so that an XL fits me like a L.

Answer:
Originally Posted by gator ^ haha yea, I have a pink gap polo in size large.....dam! how big do you have to be for that to be to tight? start buying tighter clothes, RL makes a tight polo, american apparel as well and theyre pretty cheap, 41$ i believe. or try hedi slimane if your balling like spheres

Answer:
You didn't really indicate where (what part of your body) the shirts were either too big or too small. The shoulders? The chest? The stomach? Are the sleeves too long? Those answers will indicate what you need to look for. A good tailor can alter a shirt, but you obviously don't want to have the whole thing remade each time. But take in the sides, usually not a problem. However, the most important thing in any shirt (or jacket) is for the shoulders to fit you properly in the first place. Shoulders can be very tricky to alter, but sleeves can be taken up, and sometimes a shirt can be let out a little, as long as there's enough seam allowance on the inside. Better quality clothes usually offer more seam allowance inside the item. Hope this helps.

Answer:
I find myself agreeing with czesc the newer ralph lauren polo shirt custom fit could well be your answer the original fit has way too much length and excess material around the middle for me in the large and the medium too tight around the chest and shoulders but the custom fit is about an inch and a half shorter and the fit is superb,in fact the local store i use has decided to only stock the custom fit polo shirts from now on