I wore ill-fitting dress shirts for most of my professional life. Not terrible shirts — good brands, proper fabrics. But the neck was always slightly too tight or the shoulders sat slightly off, and pulling the collar closed at the end of a long day felt like a minor act of determination.
A colleague mentioned Proper Cloth. I was skeptical the way anyone is skeptical of “custom” anything online — convinced it would either be complicated, expensive, or produce something that fit worse than what I’d been buying at department stores.
It was none of those things. The first shirt wasn’t perfect. The second was. I’ve ordered eighteen since.
Quick Highlights
- ✅ Genuinely custom — over 50 measurements can be specified for a truly individual fit
- ✅ Hundreds of fabric options across casual, dress, formal, and performance categories
- ✅ Perfect Fit Guarantee — free remakes until the fit is right
- ✅ Two-week delivery on most orders from order to doorstep
- ✅ Customer service is human, responsive, and specifically helpful
- ✅ Named top custom shirtmaker by Modern Fellows and multiple menswear publications
- ✅ Physical showroom in New York City for in-person consultations
- ✅ Smart Size technology uses measurements from existing shirts to generate your profile
- ❌ First shirt rarely fits perfectly — two shirts are usually needed to nail the profile
- ❌ Price is real — shirts start around $89, quality fabrics run $120–$200+
- ❌ The customization depth is overwhelming at first — genuinely too many options without guidance
- ❌ Virtual fittings slightly less effective than in-person or Smart Size profile method
- ❌ Suit and blazer customization is newer and generates more mixed reviews than shirts
Best for: Professional men who struggle to find off-the-rack shirts that fit properly, anyone with a non-standard build (broad shoulders/slim waist, tall, larger neck), and anyone who’s tired of paying department store prices for shirts that almost fit.
Why Trust This Review
Based on direct personal experience ordering eighteen shirts over three years, Modern Fellows’ decade-long independent review, Trustpilot verified accounts from 649+ buyers, and Proper Cloth’s own customer review database. No commercial relationship with Proper Cloth.
About Proper Cloth
Proper Cloth was founded in 2008 in New York City by Seph Skerritt. The premise was specific: make genuinely custom shirts accessible online without requiring a local tailor relationship or a luxury price point.
The founding insight was that most men’s shirt fitting problems fall into predictable categories — shoulders too wide for the neck size, chest too tight for the arm length, waist blousing that makes a fitted shirt look shapeless — and that a good measurement system could solve most of them without an in-person appointment.
Eighteen years later, Proper Cloth has expanded from shirts into suits, trousers, outerwear, knitwear, and accessories. The shirt business remains the foundation and where the brand’s reputation is strongest. The expansion into tailored suiting is newer and the quality reviews are more varied.
The brand operates primarily online through propercloth.com with a physical showroom at 495 Broadway in New York City — genuinely worth visiting if you’re in the area, because seeing the fabric swatches in person dramatically simplifies the otherwise overwhelming online selection.
Proper Cloth Review: Full Breakdown
The Fitting System — How It Actually Works
The single most important thing to understand about Proper Cloth before spending money is how the sizing system works — and why the first shirt is almost never perfect.
There are three ways to establish your measurements. You can use Proper Cloth’s Smart Size system, which generates measurements from the size and fit of existing shirts you already own. You can take your own body measurements using their guided tool. Or you can book a virtual or in-person consultation.
Smart Size is the most reliable starting point for first-time buyers. You describe an existing shirt that fits well — brand, size, and how it fits in specific areas — and Proper Cloth translates that into a measurement profile. It’s not magic but it’s better than self-measuring and it produces a first shirt that’s closer to right.
The first shirt is still usually not perfect. This isn’t a Proper Cloth failure — it’s how made-to-measure works. You wear it, note what’s off (sleeve too long by half an inch, waist a bit loose, collar sits slightly forward), and make adjustments. The second shirt built on those adjustments is typically very close. By the third, most buyers describe having a profile that produces consistently excellent results every time they order.
The Perfect Fit Guarantee means Proper Cloth will remake any shirt that doesn’t fit correctly at no charge. The condition is that you return the original before they begin the remake — which most reviewers find reasonable, though one specific Trustpilot account notes the remake timing depends on physical receipt of the returned shirt, which can feel slow when you’re waiting.
Fabric Selection — The Overwhelming Part
Proper Cloth’s fabric selection is genuinely enormous. Hundreds of options spanning cotton poplin, Oxford cloth, chambray, flannel, linen, performance blends, dress shirting, and casual weights. They’re organized by weight, pattern, color, and application — which helps. But standing in front of three hundred fabric options as a first-time buyer is still a lot.
The practical guidance from experienced buyers: start with their curated starter fabric recommendations for whatever your primary use case is. Business dress shirts? There’s a recommended short list. Casual weekend shirts? Same. Let the Proper Cloth team narrow it down in a consultation if you’re genuinely unsure — multiple Trustpilot reviewers specifically praise the customer service team for helping narrow fabric choices when the selection feels overwhelming.
The fabric quality itself is the product’s genuine strength. One Modern Fellows reviewer who’s been ordering for over a decade described one small complaint in more than a decade of shirts. One button misalignment on one sleeve. In the context of eighteen-plus shirts, that’s exceptional quality control for a made-to-measure product at this price point.
Customization Options
Beyond the fit, Proper Cloth allows significant aesthetic customization. Collar style (sixteen options). Cuff style (fourteen options including barrel, French, convertible). Placket. Back pleat. Pocket. Monogram. Contrasting fabric on collar or cuffs. Button style. The options are detailed enough that experienced Proper Cloth buyers describe the design process as genuinely enjoyable — seeing how different collar and cuff combinations look on the digital preview before ordering.
For first-time buyers, this is another layer of potential overwhelm. The guidance: for your first shirt, choose a simple collar and barrel cuff and focus all your attention on getting the fit profile right. Explore the design options on subsequent orders once you know your measurements work.
Delivery
Two weeks from order to delivery on most shirts. For custom made-to-measure garments, this turnaround is fast. Department store custom shirt programs and traditional tailors typically run four to eight weeks. Multiple verified buyers mention this specifically as a positive surprise — expectations set for “custom” timing and delivery arriving significantly faster.
Packaging is careful. Proper Cloth wraps shirts in paper rather than plastic (switched from plastic in 2022). Collar stays are included in a small packet with the shirt. Metal stays are available as an upgrade. The unboxing is appropriately premium without being excessive.
The Suit and Blazer Category — Honest Caveat
Proper Cloth has expanded into suits, tuxedos, trousers, and outerwear. The shirt expertise doesn’t automatically transfer to tailored suiting with the same consistency.
A reviewer at TheAdultMan who ordered a suit specifically to test this category described the experience as “genuinely impressive” overall — fast, human customer service, pants that fit perfectly on the first try. The review is positive. But the suit category also generates the most critical feedback in the brand’s overall review profile — one verified buyer described paying close to $700 for a blazer that didn’t match the online presentation and comparing it unfavorably to off-the-rack options.
The honest guidance: Proper Cloth’s shirts are the product with the deepest expertise and most consistent results. For first-time buyers, start with shirts. Evaluate the fit system before committing to a suit.
Best for: Professional men who need dress shirts that fit properly at the neck, shoulders, and chest simultaneously — the three dimensions where off-the-rack consistently fails non-average builds.
Top Features:
- Genuinely custom fit built from your specific measurements — not “slim” or “classic” as proxies for fit, but your actual neck, chest, shoulder, sleeve, waist, and hip measurements
- Perfect Fit Guarantee covers free remakes until the fit is correct — removing most of the financial risk from the custom process
- Fabric quality consistently described as premium — one long-term reviewer describes shirts lasting almost a decade with regular dry cleaning
One Honest Drawback: Budget $200–$250 to do the first-shirt experience correctly — that typically means one shirt to establish the profile and one to confirm the adjustments. The experience pays off from shirt three onwards.
Verdict: The flagship product and the brand’s strongest. If you’ve struggled to find dress shirts that fit, this solves the problem in a way off-the-rack never will.
Best for: Men who want the same custom fit benefit applied to weekend and smart-casual shirts — Oxford button-downs, chambray for summer, flannel for autumn.
Top Features:
- The same measurement profile from your dress shirts applies directly — once your profile exists, casual shirts fit correctly from the first order
- Oxford cloth options specifically praised by multiple buyers for quality that holds up through regular washing without losing shape
- Fabric weights and patterns available across every casual shirt category without the dry-clean-only limitations of formal shirting
One Honest Drawback: The casual shirt fabric selection, while excellent, is slightly less extensive than the formal dress shirt range. Some specific patterns sell out seasonally.
Verdict: The natural second purchase after establishing your profile on a dress shirt. The same fit applied to casual shirts is genuinely transformative for everyday dressing.
Best for: Men who wear dress shirts in active professional environments — travel, long days, hot weather — and want custom fit without dry-clean requirements.
Top Features:
- Performance fabric blends (non-iron, stretch, moisture-wicking options) that survive machine washing and a full travel day without looking destroyed
- Same custom measurement profile as the standard shirting — the performance fabric doesn’t compromise the fit system
- Multiple verified buyers specifically describe these as travel wardrobe essentials — wash in a hotel sink, hang dry, wear the next day
One Honest Drawback: Performance fabrics don’t have quite the hand or drape of fine cotton poplin — if the tactile quality of fabric is important to you, standard cotton is the better choice.
Verdict: For frequent travelers or anyone in warm climates who needs dress shirts that survive real life — this is the category that makes Proper Cloth genuinely practical rather than just aspirational.
Best for: Men who want the made-to-measure process applied to a suit and are willing to accept that the first suit may require adjustments.
Top Features:
- The customization depth available on suits mirrors the shirt experience — lapel width, button configuration, pocket style, lining, trouser break, and dozens of additional specifications
- Customer service for suit orders has been described as fast, human, and genuinely helpful in navigating the broader set of customization decisions
- Price point undercuts traditional made-to-measure tailors significantly while offering comparable or better fit quality for most body types
One Honest Drawback: Mixed reviews more prevalent here than in shirts. A subset of buyers describes suit quality not matching the price or online presentation. The shirt expertise is more established than the suiting expertise.
Verdict: Worth considering if you’ve had a good shirt experience and want to extend the relationship. Approach with the same expectation as shirts — first order may need adjustments, and the Perfect Fit Guarantee applies here too.
Best for: Men who struggle with off-the-rack trousers the same way they struggle with shirts — thighs or seat too tight for the waist size, rise too short, hem never the right length.
Top Features:
- Custom trouser fitting solves the same proportional problems as custom shirts — seat, thigh, waist, rise, and hem all specified individually
- One reviewer at TheAdultMan with thick thighs and a longer frame specifically described trousers fitting perfectly on the first try — a specific body type where off-the-rack trouser fitting is reliably difficult
- Chino fabric options in classic and stretch weights cover the range from smart-casual to business casual
One Honest Drawback: Trouser fit is more complex than shirt fit for most buyers to self-measure accurately. The in-person NYC showroom appointment produces better first-order results than self-measurement for trousers.
Verdict: A logical expansion from the shirt profile once you’ve established trust in the process. Particularly valuable for men with proportions that standard trouser sizing consistently fails.
What Customers Actually Think
Proper Cloth’s Trustpilot score sits at five stars with 649 verified reviews. That number is smaller than consumer brands with millions of customers, but the review quality is unusually specific and detailed — which is a more reliable signal than volume alone.
The consistent themes across verified accounts: first shirts need adjustment but the process works, customer service is genuinely helpful rather than automated, and long-term ownership satisfaction is high. One buyer described purchasing thirty shirts over ten years — some lasting almost a decade with regular dry cleaning. That kind of longevity in a dress shirt is rare at any price point.
The occasional frustrations are specific: the remake process requires physically returning the shirt before the new one begins (slows the timeline), the virtual fitting is less effective than the Smart Size or in-person options, and the suit category generates more mixed feedback than the shirt category.
Real accounts paraphrased:
- “Proper Cloth solved my ‘can’t find shirts that fit my shoulders and slim down at my waist’ problem immediately. The first shirt was a revelation.”
- “I’ve been ordering for over a decade. The quality and durability are outstanding. One minor issue in ten years of shirts. That’s exceptional.”
- “Customer service is genuinely excellent. My shirt didn’t fit right and they walked me through exactly which measurements to adjust. Second shirt was perfect.”
- “The pants fit perfectly on my first try — and I have thick thighs and a long frame, which never happens off the rack.”
- “The website customization is overwhelming at first. Once you get past the initial learning curve, the process becomes genuinely enjoyable.”
- “Blazer didn’t match the online presentation at the price I paid. Would not buy suiting again — shirts are their strength.”
Is Proper Cloth Legit?
Yes. Proper Cloth has been operating since 2008, is headquartered in New York City with a physical showroom at 495 Broadway, has 649 verified Trustpilot reviews holding a five-star rating, and has been consistently named a top custom shirtmaker by Modern Fellows, The Adult Man, and multiple menswear publications for years. The Perfect Fit Guarantee is honored based on documented buyer accounts. The products ship, the quality is real, and the company stands behind what they make.
Is Proper Cloth Worth It?
For men who struggle with off-the-rack shirt fit: yes, clearly.
The price — $89 to $180 for a shirt — isn’t dramatically more than a good off-the-rack dress shirt from a department store. The difference is the fit is actually right, and once your profile is established, every subsequent shirt fits the same way without any additional work. One buyer with a decade of Proper Cloth shirts specifically described the convenience of knowing the fit works as a genuine time-saver — no more shopping trips that produce shirts that almost fit.
The entry cost is the two-shirt calibration process. Budget for it. The payoff starts from shirt three and compounds with every order after that.
For suits and tailored outerwear: start with shirts first. Establish confidence in the process. Then consider the expanded categories.
Proper Cloth vs Indochino
h brands offer made-to-measure menswear online. The differences matter.
Feature | Proper Cloth | Indochino |
Core product | ✅ Shirts — 18 years of expertise | Suits — shirt category newer |
Suit quality | Newer, more mixed reviews | ✅ More established in suiting |
Shirt quality | ✅ Consistently excellent | Decent but not the core strength |
Fabric range | ✅ More extensive | Standard selection |
Fit guarantee | ✅ Perfect Fit Guarantee | Alterations guarantee |
Customer service | ✅ Highly praised | Generally good |
Showroom locations | NYC only | Multiple US locations |
Starting price (shirts) | ~$89 | ~$79 |
Best for | Shirts, casual wear, trousers | Suits, first tailored suit experience |
Discounts and Where to Buy
propercloth.com — the only place to buy. No authorized third-party retailers carry Proper Cloth products.
10% off first order — available through various menswear editorial partnerships. Search “Proper Cloth first order discount” before buying.
Seasonal sales — Proper Cloth runs occasional promotions on specific fabric categories. Email list signup is the most reliable way to catch these.
NYC showroom — 495 Broadway, 6th Floor. Virtual and in-person consultations available, highly recommended for first-time buyers who want guidance on fabric selection and fit approach. Staff specifically praised in multiple reviews for expertise and lack of sales pressure.
FAQs
Is Proper Cloth actually custom?
Yes — genuinely custom, not “custom” as a marketing term for choosing a color. Your specific measurements go into every garment, and over fifty dimensions can be specified.
How does the first shirt experience work?
You establish a measurement profile (Smart Size recommended), order your first shirt, wear it and note what’s off, request adjustments, receive a free remake. Most buyers describe the second shirt as very close to perfect and use that profile for all subsequent orders.
How long does delivery take?
Two weeks from order to doorstep on most shirts. Custom suits take slightly longer.
What is the Perfect Fit Guarantee?
Proper Cloth will remake any garment that doesn’t fit correctly at no charge, provided the original is returned before the remake begins. Multiple buyers have used this guarantee and describe the process as straightforward.
Is Proper Cloth good for suits?
Their shirts are their strongest product. The suit and blazer category generates more mixed reviews. Start with shirts; evaluate before committing to a suit.
Can I use my measurements from an existing Proper Cloth profile for new products?
Yes — once your profile is established for shirts, Proper Cloth adapts those measurements for trousers, casual shirts, and other products with appropriate adjustments.
Does Proper Cloth have a store?
One physical showroom at 495 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York City. Virtual consultations are available for buyers outside New York.
Similar Brands Worth Knowing
Indochino — for made-to-measure suits with multiple physical showroom locations across the US. Better starting point than Proper Cloth for first-time suit buyers who want in-person assistance.
Spier & Mackay — Canadian brand with a strong off-the-rack selection of dress shirts and suits at competitive prices. Less custom, more consistent as a ready-to-wear option.
Charles Tyrwhitt — British brand with strong dress shirt quality at mid-range prices. Non-custom but well-made with occasional promotions that bring prices low. Good comparison point for understanding what you’re paying the Proper Cloth premium for.
Suitsupply — excellent made-to-measure suits and strong off-the-rack options. More suit-focused than Proper Cloth, comparable quality, multiple US locations.
Final Verdict
The “first properly fitted dress shirt of my adult life” quote from a verified Proper Cloth buyer is the review that most accurately captures what the brand does. It’s not hyperbole — it’s the specific experience most men have when clothing is actually made to their measurements rather than to a statistical average that may or may not match their body.
The process takes two shirts and some patience to get right. The customer service exists specifically to help you get it right and is consistently described as genuinely helpful. The fabric quality holds up for years rather than seasons. And once the profile is established, ordering a shirt that fits perfectly takes three minutes.
For men who’ve been accepting the limitations of off-the-rack fit because they didn’t know a better option existed at an accessible price point — Proper Cloth is that option.
Overall Rating: 8.9 / 10
Category | Score |
Shirt Quality & Fabric | 9.5 / 10 |
Fit Accuracy (after calibration) | 9.5 / 10 |
Customization Depth | 9.5 / 10 |
Customer Service | 9 / 10 |
Ordering Experience | 8 / 10 |
Value for Money | 8.5 / 10 |
Suit Category (caveat) | 7 / 10 |
Overall | 8.9 / 10 |
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