The Mystery Behind Shirts That Constantly Ride Up

That shirt looked flawless in the store, fitting perfectly—almost like it was tailor-made. But now, in real-world settings, it keeps riding up in all the wrong places. This issue isn’t exclusive to shirts; it spans across all types of clothing, including undergarments, and stems from various causes.

The Fit

Unsurprisingly, ill-fitting clothes are a primary reason for garments riding up. Many shoppers focus on their usual size, ignoring the fact that sizing differs across brands and styles. Salvador Perez, a renowned costume designer for projects like the "Pitch Perfect" series and "The Mindy Project," suggests ignoring the label size. "Focus on what fits you best, as sizes vary between brands," he advises via email. He emphasizes that clothes should be fitted, not tight, as there’s a significant distinction between the two.

The Fabric

Materials such as spandex and jersey knits are often to blame for clothes riding up. "Stretchy fabrics are more prone to this issue," explains Diane Pollack, a stylist at Stylempower, via email. "These fabrics stretch to fit but tend to revert to their original shape when not positioned correctly or during movement."

Pollack recommends trying on multiple sizes and testing the garment’s flexibility by moving around during the fitting process. She highlights that knits with spandex are especially prone to riding up due to their elasticity. However, woven fabrics with a small percentage of spandex are more stable. "Wovens are naturally firmer and maintain their shape better," she adds.

The Design

With such diversity in body shapes globally, no single design can fit everyone perfectly. Many brands focus on specific body types, creating clothing tailored to those shapes. This is why shoppers often gravitate toward brands that consistently suit their body type.

"Garments are typically designed and fitted on a single fit model," says Mariana Leung, a fashion expert from Ms. Fabulous Media. "However, since people of all body types purchase these clothes, variations in shape can cause the clothing to ride up if the wearer differs from the model." For instance, Leung notes that individuals with fuller figures may cause a T-shirt hem to rise higher than those with slimmer builds, even if their measurements are otherwise similar, disrupting the shirt's fit.

In some cases, designers adjust mass-produced items to address these issues. For example, Bensly, a luxury menswear brand, noticed that boxer shorts often bunch up regardless of fabric. "To solve this for all leg shapes and sizes, we redesigned the fabric patterns," explains Miguel Madrid, the brand's founder.

"We extended the legs to an 8-inch inseam and tapered them toward the opening, creating a cone-like shape," he explains. "This design wraps around the leg at its narrowest point, gripping the quadriceps with a soft, stretchy blend of our Elite Series Tencel fabric, preventing ride-up."

Redesigning intricate garments like tops and skirts to accommodate diverse body shapes is challenging. Many shoppers turn to tailors for adjustments, such as adding darts or removing excess fabric. Perez recommends this approach: "Purchase clothes that fit the largest part of your body and tailor them to your proportions. A little alteration can make a world of difference."