I've been making clothes for myself for a long time. At least, since I was 17, so I know what I like and how I like to look. Being mid-sized, some clothing options are available to me in stores, but I find there are a lot that don't bother to carry a size above an XL. So I was aware how noninclusive a lot of brands and stores can be when it comes to anything outside the typical sizing. Upon my first shopping trip with my boyfriend, I realized this of course extends to those who wear "masculine" clothes as well.
Any time we'd find a shirt that he liked, the store didn't carry his size, or his size was sold out. I found it a frustrating experience to say the least, but he was still chipper after we walked out of the mall with nothing. Perhaps it's because he likes saving money. In addition, a lot of the clothing we were looking at was on the pricier side, as anything other than standardized sizing tends to be.
At some point I got fed up with not finding anything for him, and offered to make a shirt. I bought a McCalls shirt pattern, M6044, and let him know that anytime we find some nice material for him, he can ask for it to be turned into his own personal garment. However, I warned him that this was my first time making a collared, button-down shirt.
There was a 90's themed birthday party coming up for a friend of his, and he was able to pick up some material more than a week beforehand. Plenty of time to put it together. My boyfriend likes really interesting and funky patterns, so I wasn't too surprised when he picked this one out:
