SPIER & MACKAY Custom Shirts Review: Finally a Shirt That Fits My Wide Neck
The Problem: My Freakishly Wide Neck
I am going to start off by saying I have a super wide neck. 16.5 inches wide.
Otherwise I weigh 160lb and stand 5'7", so fairly average for a Chinese Canadian I'd say.
But based on my neck size, finding a shirt that looks right at the collar — not even buttoned up — without the sleeves, width and length being way too big is impossible. If it fits my big neck, North American sizing naturally means everything else is big or too long.
Why I Keep Coming Back to SPIER & MACKAY
I've been a long time customer of SPIER & MACKACY, a Canadian menswear brand, and it started with their custom made-to-order shirts. I tried my first 3 custom shirts with them well over a decade ago, and have never looked back.
I'd rather have a few good shirts — an OCBD (Oxford Cloth Button Down), Gingham, a textured dress shirt — that fit me right:
I can button up at the neck, or at least the proportion looks right around my collar
Proper sleeve length (34"), chest (39.5") and waist (35.5") width, overall length (29") — especially important for tucking and untucking
Fabric that actually feels premium
You can check the photos at the bottom of this post for the exact dimensions of my OCBD, because you simply can't find a shirt in those dimensions off the rack. And best yet, the price is reasonable — custom shirts start from $98 CAD (~$73 USD).
What the Custom Fitting Process Actually Looks Like
Here's how my first order went. Things may have changed since then, so check their FAQ on custom shirts to confirm the current process.
After I placed my order online with my specific dimensions, they sent me the first shirt — this takes about 4-6 weeks.
Because I live close to their store, I went in for a fitting where they noted changes to improve the fit. They tweaked details like wrist size (my left wrist is larger because that's where I wear my watch) and the armhole for better movement. The person helping me genuinely added a lot of value.
They sent the shirt back after tweaks, then followed up by email to confirm I was happy with it. I was.
Then after another 4-6 weeks, the other 2 shirts arrived — fitting exactly like the first one.
The Variety is Genuinely Impressive
Over a dozen custom shirts later, what still stands out is the variety.
Different fabrics (thick oxford, twill, linen), a wide range of patterns and styles, and plenty of custom options — collar styles, cuffs, plackets, pockets, stitching and more.
I especially like being able to choose different collar styles depending on the look I'm going for.
Their quality has stayed consistent across all of them. I personally always order the thicker fabric — it doesn't cost more, but it just feels more premium.
How I Actually Wear These Shirts
The beauty of a well-fitting button shirt is how versatile it is.
Casual night out with friends? I reach for my light blue OCBD — the one pictured here, I’ve had it for more years than I should 😊
Date night? A textured dark-coloured spread collar shirt does the job perfectly.
Business formal? A crisp white shirt, or if you want to stand out, a blue stripe shirt with contrast white collar and cuffs.
Most importantly, the shirt just fits well — and that alone beats buying something that costs 4x more but hangs off you wrong.
If you've ever stood in a change room frustrated that a shirt fits everywhere except the collar (or vice versa), you'll understand the moment that first custom shirt arrives.
Try it. And you may never look back, like me.
For those that are wondering what to go with this OCBD, check this out for a more business casual look.
