Shirt Collars

Most off-the-rack shirts have a collar that is straight along its bottom edge. This causes the collar to sit erect accross the top of the shoulders along the neck. When the collar is designed this way, it can create a point of pressure at the top of the collar where the hard fusible meets the carotid body of the neck. This especially is true for individuals with large or well built trapezius muscles because the additional bulk can push the collar further upward. Even after even a few hours of wearing a shirt designed with a straight collar, the pressure can cause headaches and neck soreness in such a subtle way that you may never suspect it to be caused by your shirt.

Solution

Buy a shirt that “scoops the neck.” This refers to the lower edge of the collar that sits around the top of the shoulders. A scoop is a rounded cut in the lower edge that will allow the collar to lay down lower atop the shoulders. This should prevent unnecessary digging into the neck along the top edge of the collar. Any good custom tailor should be able to incorporate this feature into your shirts if you need it.

Vests

It’s difficult for the wearer to determine if a vest fits their body properly. It should appear to lie flat, but at the same time not constrict you. A quarter of an inch of lacking material can make a huge difference in how you feel all day, especially if you're sitting down. If there is even a slight constriction of the chest, there will be a subsequent constriction of your breathing. If your vest is even slightly too snug, you may wonder why you’re so tired when lunch time rolls around. Your tiredness is the effect of a subtle lack of oxygen over the course of the day.

Solution

Heres a test: The vest will fit if you can lift it upward from the shoulders while you are wearing it, and the vest falls back down onto your shoulders by itself. If you lift it upward and the vest doesn’t settle back down, the vest is too tight.

The same principle of constriction is true for a suit. Consider the measurements that go into a coat; shoulders, chest, waist, seat, posture and collar height.

If the coat fits you well in most dimensions, but is even half an inch too snug in the chest, you are fighting that half inch all day long.

These are just some interesting things to consider. Most people would never suspect that their clothing can be the cause of physical stressors.