Drop Tail
Garment — one of 28 in the glossary
A hem cut longer at the back than at the front, usually with a curve between the two. On a shirt meant to be tucked it keeps the back in place when the wearer bends or reaches; on a streetwear tee it is a styling choice that lengthens the silhouette and is meant to be worn untucked.
Two different reasons for the same shape
On a dress or work shirt, the longer back is functional. Reaching forward pulls a shirt up out of the waistband from the back first, so extra length there is what keeps it tucked.
On a tee or a hoodie, the same shape is fashion. It is worn untucked, and the curve at the side reads as a longer, leaner line.
Same construction, opposite intent, which is why the amount of drop varies so much between styles.
How much drop, and why it matters
Spec sheets rarely publish both front and back lengths, so the drop is often invisible in the numbers. Where a sheet gives one body length, it is usually the back.
That matters if you are comparing a drop-tail style against a straight-hem one on paper: you may be comparing the drop-tail's longest point against the other shirt's only point.
If the fit matters, measure a sample front and back rather than working from the chart.
Print placement
A front print positioned from the hem will sit differently from a back print positioned the same way, because the two hems are not at the same height. Position both from the shoulder instead.
The curved side hem also means a full-width back print can run closer to the hem at the centre than at the sides. On a large design that is visible.
Most decorators know this; it is worth stating in the brief anyway, because it is exactly the sort of thing that gets found after the run.
Common questions
- What is a drop tail shirt?
- One whose hem is cut longer at the back than the front, usually with a curve between. On tucked shirts it keeps the back in place; on tees and hoodies it is a styling choice worn untucked.
- Why is the back of my shirt longer than the front?
- It is a drop tail. Reaching forward pulls a shirt out of the waistband from the back first, so the extra length is there to keep it tucked.
- Does a drop tail affect where a print goes?
- Yes. Front and back hems are at different heights, so artwork positioned from the hem will not match front to back. Position from the shoulder instead.
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