Let's get straight to it — here's what actually matters on this one.

• Formal shirting fabric (often poplin or twill with a tight weave) is chosen for a crisp look, which trades off some flexibility and breathability.
• Heavy starching — done at home or by a dry cleaner — adds significant stiffness; asking for light or no starch solves this immediately.
• New formal shirts often feel stiffer than they will after a few washes, as finishing chemicals and sizing agents wash out over time.
• A slim, structured fit with stiff fabric multiplies discomfort — sizing slightly looser in stiffer fabrics restores some ease of movement.

The fit-and-fabric-health takeaway: Stiffness is a fabric-finish issue as much as a fiber issue — a wash or two, and less starch, often fixes what feels like a fit problem.

Next up: check out our guide on how to fix a trouser waistband that digs in.