Reply With QuoteAre you wearing it with a suit jacket?
Hi,
I am looking for a crisp white shirt for a close friends wedding. I am not too keen on what I have seen so far at the regular shops - tm lewin, CT shirts, M&S.
The bespoke option is possible, but not sure I want to pay £130-180 for a shirt just yet if I can get a decent ready made one.
Also, does the source of the cloth matter - Egyptian cotton, Turkish cotton?
Opinions appreciated, thanks.
Are you wearing it with a suit jacket?
Pink dress shirts are nice.
I have a couple that I wear with the kilt.
I got mine in Selfridge's - have a look around.
Yes, I am planning to wear it with a 2-piece navy suit.Originally Posted by GMTMaster
The fabric matters. A lot. Try sea island cotton and you may end up hooked!
I suggest going bespoke. Its something you have to try at least once in life and you have the perfect excuse/reason!
Any recommendations for a bespoke shirt maker? Thanks
George @ Asda + a new PRS18Q.
Yes...just get a bag of starch powder as well to make it crisp, then the rest of the money can go on the watch!
Turnbull & Asser in London or Charvet of a preference if youre in Paris regularly.Any recommendations for a bespoke shirt maker? Thanks
Some good suggestions here:
http://www.elegant-lifestyle.com/bespok ... london.htm
Hawes and Curtis, or Eterna?
I like Eterna, and if you're of a slimmer shape the Red Line might work for you.
Best one I have is a Paul Smith Red Ear, I can even pack it in my Rapha sac & wear it in the evening, only creases where I fold it.
I even enjoy ironing it because it's so easy & looks so good afterwards.
I think you might run in to a problem with a lot of the real Jermyn St bespoke makers as I believe that your first order has to be a minimum of six. The exception that I do know of is Emma Willis as I bought a single bespoke for SWMBO and it all worked out very well. Hawes & Curtis are not the shop they used to be when T&A owned them; I'd steer well clear.
My other suggestion would be to take a trip to Jermyn St, visit all of established makers and try stuff on; they should all have a specimen in your size available and they should all have something in white. See what fits best.
Oh, bugger. I'll go by your better judgement then.
Actually, echoes what I've heard elsewhere too, confirms for the worse then. Still, at sale price, no worse than the rest of the high street.
What about Harvie and Hudson?
I just got 4 shirts from T M Lewin and I am very pleased with them
White shirts that don't make one look like an Indian waiter are difficult to find - many modern ones seem to be made out of not much more than chiffon. As an affordable option, T.M. Lewin non-iron shirts seem to be made out of a slightly thicker material than the norm.
Charles Tyrwhitt shirts, black label collection. These don't look like a waiter's shirt
Wheres your suit from?
Does the manufacture of your suit not make a shirt that you like?
Got a charles trwhitt last week for a mates wedding, the tightest cut (tailored i think) and in the right size (had to send it back as the first was too big - first class service) looks amazing. Very pleased for £20 and reckon i'd struggle to get better this side of bespoke, but maybe i'm lucky with the fit.
Great shirts. Ive had lots from them. Didn't like the sea island ones. Prefer the non iron as they stay crisp for the day. Wore one for my brothers wedding a few years ago. Just don't pay full price. They are like Dfs. Always have a sale on!
M&S Egyptian cotton are good value at around £30 at their outlets.
If you're feeling more flush - Paul Smith have some Quality shirts - I bought 2 for about £100 in the recent sale.
z
Try the bespoke option. It's a revelation to have something that fits properly, and for a classic staple item like a white shirt it's not too dear on a cost-per-wear basis.
A good tailor will give you enough extra material to have a new collar and cuffs made when the original ones start looking ratty, as well.
Yes, I made that mistake, too. I used to buy Hawes & Curtis (and Lewin) and get them tailored to fit. Now the material isn't good enough to warrant the work. Shame - mind you they only charge about £20 (corporate rate) so I'm not sure how much quality can be expected.Oh, bugger. I'll go by your better judgement then.
Actually, echoes what I've heard elsewhere too, confirms for the worse then. Still, at sale price, no worse than the rest of the high street.
I like TM Lewin for general shirts - the construction on around 50% of the double cuffs can be a pain ironing though - they are generally better than most shirts I have tried at up to 5 times the price - but never got the fully bespoke route and mentally couldn't justify it to myself.
It's just a matter of time...
If you really want to go or try bespoke and could stretch to four shirts New & Lingwood's prices start from £230 and M2M from £145.
Eton shirts are fantastic, beautifully tailored and super quality.
If you're on a budget, Austin Reed are as good as it gets, but go for the tailored fit.
Proper Armani dress shirts are superb, not the high street Armani Jeans stuff, which is also fine but from an Armani shop that sells the suits and so on. Again like one or two others mentioned not particularly cheap though. It's about all I buy these days.
http://www.armani.com/gb/armanicollezioni/men/shirts
Thanks for the suggestions.
I have considered bespoke and a few tailors offer this option -the prices vary from £100-£180, however, this is the last option.
I will look into the various suggestions and venture out next Saturday to see what Jermyn St/Armani has to offer.
Hawes and curtis tailored here. Very happy with these, and the best of the high street bunch imho.
Tailored does men just that, rather than looking silly like a slim fit. I had a tailored shirt from hugo morris in brighton. Very nice, but seems a waste if you just want a white one..
Hugo Boss, no question.
Trotter and Dean of Bury St Edmunds.
Quintessential British quality and style.
Pitch
Boss make terrible shirts, the black label stuff is far to baggy, orange and red label is a much better fit, but the quality of materials they use isn't up to scratch at all.
I do still have some Boss and Armani shirts, and I have to say the Armani material is lovely.
Take a walk down Jermyn Street, I'm sure you'll find one there. Harvey & Hudson was always my favourite, followed by Turnbull & Asser, when I was feeling flush. I would advise a heavy Oxford cloth, rather than Egyptian or Sea Island, which are very fine weaves.
Not that I've had experience of a wide range of white shirts but I have a Thomas Pink one I bought for my wedding nearly 4 years ago and it still looks sharp and crisp. Might set you back up to 80quid for one of their premium ranges but it's worth it.
Another vote for Thomas Pink. Far nicer than TML etc but a lot cheaper than bespoke.
I'd still be wearing mine if it weren't for the red wine that went down it...
Made to measure from http://www.tailorstore.co.uk - whites start at £40 and go to £75 (Egyptian cotton at 60ish) - just about any option / style you can imagine :)
Unless you're in a hurry I'd give them a try - at least you know the shirt will fit and be exactly the style you want without having to drop serious money on a bespoke on Jermyn St.
Turnbull & Asser make lovely shirts but they cost about £240 per shirt, tailor made, and they used to have a minimum first order of six.
Turnbull & Asser - best shirts I've ever owned and their off the peg range are good enough for most - they fit me perfectly anyway :lol:
Another vote for Thomas Pink, excellent quality and only about £90.
I've a few Tommy Hilfiger shirts I got in America. They are very crisp and very white - and most importantly - very easy to iron!
They Hilfiger logo is subtlety hidden inside the double cuff.
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