Mens shirts (for suits)

looking4advice

I want to buy some good quality work shirts(around the €50-€75 mark) and would like advice on where to get them. I usually buy in Marks and Spencers which are fine but I'd like to get some really nice ones. Presumably buying online would work out cheaper so what brands can people recommend?

p.s. I think "Charvet" alas Mr. Haughey are out of budget!

mikemac

TK Maxx for all your expensive shirts at knock down prices.

I've picked up plenty there, it's great.

OldGoat

Henry Jermyn
T.M. Lewins
Thomas Pink

That should get you started. Enjoy.

eviltimeban

Pink might be outside your price range as they tend to be around the 90 euro mark for a shirt. Lewin could be good as would Jermyn, but be sure you buy the slim fit shirts as the Lewin especially tend to be very baggy around the sleeves and the body. Presuming you have a good enough physique, slim fit shirts will always look better.

For slightly cheaper, I've always like the shirts in Zara - they are nicely fitted, good material, well made. They'll do you for more short term / heavy wearing suits (shirts won't survive many washes so your really expensive Charvet shirt will eventually deteriorate). Sometimes you'll get a dodgy collar but most of the time the shirts are grand.

Its worth going into Pink when the sales are on as they do make great shirts and sometimes you'll get a good deal. Be warned though - the cheap ones in the shop are usually ones they couldn't sell so will be either horrible patterns, bad design or rough material caused by the particular dye used.

One other tip: If you are buying a white shirt, go cheaper - it will never again be as white as the day you bought it. So expensive white shirts will never hold their 'value'.

OldGoat

+1 on the white shirt tip.
I prefer the larger fit of the Lewins shirts. It's an older more traditional cut. And the baggy sleeves give me the oppertunity to wearing arm garters.
And remember that you can also recycle your worn and freyed shirts into GF/Wifey nightwear.

EDIT: Just remembered to tell you that it is important to learn how to launder and iron your shirts properly if you want them to keep looking good and to last longer. There are numerous sartorial sites that will give guidance.

Deflector

It is also important to know that, like a suit, the fit of a shirt matters much more than the fabric or the name tag hanging off the sleeve. Extremely few men wear shirts that actually fit - achieving this alone will make you stand out, never mind chucking €70 left, right and centre on an ill-fitting sack of expensive material.

Baggly

Get my shirts in Next. Might be a nice little alternative for ya instead of M&S

OldGoat

Deflector wrote: »

few men wear shirts that actually fit -

True indeed. Luckly most shirtmakers will measure you. The neck measurment is the most vital one to make. If you are going to wear a tie for 8 hours then you better be comfortable. Too tight and you'll end up red-faced and jowelly, too loose and you look...just wrong (I'll edit in a good simile when I think of one)

Learn the anatomy of the shirt. What collar styles are available, in fashion or suit the jacket you are wearing. Spread collar, pointed collar, rounded collar? Cuffs, single, barrel or french? Placket, hidden or visible buttons? Darts on the back, one or two or none? Hemline round or traditional? Pocket or not and if so on which side should you wear it. Should you get monograms?

Then we get to cufflinks. Where to start with those little devils! Should you wear something conservative or something quirky? Should it be bold statement gold or modernist knots of silk? Silver bars or something vintage from Ebay.

Finally, when everything is almost in place you get to the tie. Phew, theres a trial and a half. A quality tie will set you back about €50. (Note: €12.50 in TK Maxx if you select carefully). One tie is never enough. A tie needs to 'rest' to regain it's shape so you should have as many as you can get. Every christmas and birthday tell...TELL... people WHERE to buy your ties. That way you can always return them for one of your own choosing.

Learn the four basic tie knots (bow, four in hand, half windsor and full windsor). Even if you never ever wear a bow tie you will learn how the cloth of the tie works with the knot and how it drapes and this will help you tie a better knot for yourself. Different knots will fit different collar types, wide or narrow gapes.

Shirt porn. I'm getting goosebumps.

dudara

OldGoat wrote: »

EDIT: Just remembered to tell you that it is important to learn how to launder and iron your shirts properly if you want them to keep looking good and to last longer. There are numerous satorial sites that will give guidance.

Best tip here. Take good care of your shirts once you get them. Otherwise the collars and cuffs will start to fade quickly.

MIN2511

I will definitely say TM Lewin, they have a shop of Grafton st.
Prices are 3 for €120, which makes a whole lotta sense

cotwold

I recomend Zara you'll get really nice work shirts in there for between 40 and 50. Plus they do a really nice fitted cut so they never look 'old man'.

OldGoat

cotwold wrote: »

you'll get really nice work ****s in there

Freudian slip?

cotwold

OldGoat wrote: »

Freudian slip?

Whoops, thank you Mr. OldGoat.

jbl123

If you ever get to the States or UK (or don't mind ordering online,) Charles Tyrwhitt and Brooks Brothers are both decent and in the price range you stated.

SK1979

cotwold wrote: »

Plus they do a really nice fitted cut so they never look 'old man'.

I've only noticed this thread, I've just started working again in an office environment after a number of years out of it, and would like to purchase some nice fitted shirts for it, will Zara have enough to do me or should I look elsewhere (around €50 max price for the shirt)? Most of my current shirts are old and feel flabby and messy etc.

Note: No tie is required in the new job, simply a shirt.

MIN2511

SK1979 wrote: »

I've only noticed this thread, I've just started working again in an office environment after a number of years out of it, and would like to purchase some nice fitted shirts for it, will Zara have enough to do me or should I look elsewhere (around €50 max price for the shirt)? Most of my current shirts are old and feel flabby and messy etc.

Note: No tie is required in the new job, simply a shirt.

If you don't need a tie with on for work, can i suggest TM Lewin again(no i do not work for them). I find that the colours they have are very nice and different. They are well tailored and very affordable

cotwold

SK1979 wrote: »

I've only noticed this thread, I've just started working again in an office environment after a number of years out of it, and would like to purchase some nice fitted shirts for it, will Zara have enough to do me or should I look elsewhere (around €50 max price for the shirt)? Most of my current shirts are old and feel flabby and messy etc.

Note: No tie is required in the new job, simply a shirt.

Yeah you see an odd shirt that's more expensive but 50 is my budget as well so i know their stock pretty well:D Yeah they always have a good selection. I've shopped around a lot and imo they strike the best balance between price/quality/style. A few friends buy from topman but its not my thing. Try out Zara, you might be pleasantly surprised.

OldGoat

jbl123 wrote: »

If you ever get to the States or UK (or don't mind ordering online,) Charles Tyrwhitt and Brooks Brothers are both decent and in the price range you stated.

I really like Tyrwhitt shirts exept that I find then a tad short. You nearly always find then with stainles steel collar stiffeners and they also have that weird double cufflink hole in the inner sections of their french cuffs that I've never figured out a reason for. Very nice shirts.

dingbat

OldGoat wrote: »

I really like Tyrwhitt shirts exept that I find then a tad short. You nearly always find then with stainles steel collar stiffeners and they also have that weird double cufflink hole in the inner sections of their french cuffs that I've never figured out a reason for. Very nice shirts.

Re. the double holes in the shirt cuffs, a number of traditional British shirtmakers do this. When working at a desk, the edges of the cuffs get dirty very quickly. Later in the day, say, if one was leaving work to go for an evening out, one could roll up the cuff that extra 1/2 inch using that 2nd set of holes. Voila, a clean cuff edge.

It's an old-fashioned thing; I've used it myself precisely once.

dingbat

looking4advice wrote: »

I want to buy some good quality work shirts(around the €50-€75 mark) and would like advice on where to get them. I usually buy in Marks and Spencers which are fine but I'd like to get some really nice ones. Presumably buying online would work out cheaper so what brands can people recommend?

p.s. I think "Charvet" alas Mr. Haughey are out of budget!

I'm currently writing an article about this very subject

OldGoat

dingbat wrote: »

Re. the double holes in the shirt cuffs, a number of traditional British shirtmakers do this. When working at a desk, the edges of the cuffs get dirty very quickly. Later in the day, say, if one was leaving work to go for an evening out, one could roll up the cuff that extra 1/2 inch using that 2nd set of holes. Voila, a clean cuff edge.

It's an old-fashioned thing; I've used it myself precisely once.

Perfect explanation. Thank you.

dingbat wrote: »

I'm currently writing an article about this very subject

Sounds interesting. Is that on Haughy or Charvet?

uberwolf

MIN2511 wrote: »

I will definitely say TM Lewin, they have a shop of Grafton st.
Prices are 3 for €120, which makes a whole lotta sense

I have found their shirts impossible to iron.

Now I haven't reviewed the 'how to care for your shirts' sites, which I now will, but I found Jermyn shirts to be a step up in ease of care.

OldGoat

A lot of shirtmakers manufacture 'Non-iron' shirts that tend to wrinkle less and can just be hung up and they require minimum if any ironing. However pressing a traditional shirt is easy enough.

Best tip is to iron them when they are slightly damp.

The difficult part of ironing (for me) is the colar & cuffs. Because of the way they are manufactures there is a slight excess of material on one side to allow for the curve of the collar around your neck. This means that wrinkles are often ironed into the collar. Start from the tips of the collar (of cuff) and work to the middle pushing the ridge of excess material before the iron, then do the same from the other side.

dingbat

OldGoat wrote: »

Sounds interesting. Is that on Haughy or Charvet?

Neither. Just shirts, specifically, those that could be bought by the average Irish bloke for very little money if he only knew how.

dingbat

uberwolf wrote: »

I have found their shirts impossible to iron.

Now I haven't reviewed the 'how to care for your shirts' sites, which I now will, but I found Jermyn shirts to be a step up in ease of care.

Which bits specifically? TML shirts have a "soft" collar and cuffs which indeed makes it a tiny bit trickier when ironing. Is this the bit that causes trouble?

getz

looking4advice wrote: »

I want to buy some good quality work shirts(around the €50-€75 mark) and would like advice on where to get them. I usually buy in Marks and Spencers which are fine but I'd like to get some really nice ones. Presumably buying online would work out cheaper so what brands can people recommend?

p.s. I think "Charvet" alas Mr. Haughey are out of budget!

i was told a numder of years ago by a top male modal and film star that the best shirts are double two--check out there web site --www.double two.co.uk

MIN2511

uberwolf wrote: »

I have found their shirts impossible to iron.

Now I haven't reviewed the 'how to care for your shirts' sites, which I now will, but I found Jermyn shirts to be a step up in ease of care.

Hmm, never noticed it as i never wash my shirts-always go to the cleaners "shirts service" works out at €2 per shirt.

I can't iron

dingbat

getz wrote: »

i was told a numder of years ago by a top male modal and film star that the best shirts are double two--check out there web site --www.double two.co.uk

I would be very, very surprised if that was the case. The most glaring sign would be that most of their shirts are poly-cotton blends.

I suggest that you, or he, may be mistaken about the particular company name, or that perhaps "Double Two" used to be very good but have since reduced in quality significantly.

getz

dingbat wrote: »

I would be very, very surprised if that was the case. The most glaring sign would be that most of their shirts are poly-cotton blends.

I suggest that you, or he, may be mistaken about the particular company name, or that perhaps "Double Two" used to be very good but have since reduced in quality significantly.

just checking this advert in this newspaper and i quote;shirts, rodgers improved corazza shirts 31s6d and 42s the half dozen, important improvements have been made in these celebrated shirts, gentlemen are respectfully solicited to suspend their orders untill they have seen them the address is, rodgers and co improved shirtmakers59 saint martins lane,charing cross wc. now lets check the date of this newspaper, its the illustrated london news saturday september 18, 1858. now the question is ,is it still open ?