I used to think nice shirts were same as cheap ones!

cu3ed · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:02

maccapacca said:
I wear eterna shirts, £75 a pop and once I've worn down the elbow I have them turned up to short sleeved till my stubble wears the collar to shreds.

Really? these have gone down terrible in quality over the years, maybe ten years ago, but wouldn't touch them now, but them next to Egyptian cotton based cuts. The Eternia ones frayed so easily around the cuffs it was daft for their price. Also shop around, you shouldnt be paying more than £50 for them.

balky12 · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:03

zegna said:
TM lewin are terrible, especially if you don't get non-iron.. I don't know why they have this reputation as if they are the gold standard.

Impossible to iron if you dont get non-iron (literally impossible.. creases dont get out)..Poor quality stitching.. Plain front shrivels up and folds after a few washes so you can't wear it without a tie.. collars curl quickly.. frackly a crap shirt even at 5 for £100.

I don't think they are that bad to iron? Collars curling quickly is one thing I have to agree with.

[FnG]magnolia · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:08

I wouldn't worry too much about zegna's opinions on things. If he were pulling the 12 grand a month he claimed in that other thread then I'm sure he could afford better shirts than the ones he is saying are not so good

balky12 · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:12

[FnG]magnolia;26687272 said:
I wouldn't worry too much about zegna's opinions on things. If he were pulling the 12 grand a month he claimed in that other thread then I'm sure he could afford better shirts than the ones he is saying are not so good

Is that pre or post tax? If it was pre-tax I could understand him having to squeeze the pennies. its only £144k a year... :rolleyes:

postbox · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:13

TM Lewin fully fitted (either the London or John Francomb range) are absolutely fine for me - they all iron very easy as well
Pink are the only shirts where I've had to replace due to the cotton ripping where the front buttons are, very odd - Their ties are very nice though.

Deep · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:14

If you buy TM Lewin make sure you buy the Luxury fit and not the Lewin 100 they are made of a far nicer material and iron brilliantly.

[FnG]magnolia · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:20

As with all things sartorial, it's generally best to find something that works for you. This will include cost, fit, care, and longevity. All of the brands mentioned in this post will tick most boxes for most people. Try some shirts on, see what you think, then try some other shirts on and see what you think of them. Buy the stuff that you like the most. It's really not hard, even though we try to make it so.

For the little it's worth, I'd recommend getting a tailor to measure you properly and make you up 5 work shirts, one for each day. Buy more as needed.

flame696 · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:47

I'll let you guys in on a secret. I worked for TV Lewin, Charles tyrwhitt, Hawes & Curtis and Thomas Pink. I was a manager for all and the only shirt that is a quality shirt is Thomas Pink. It's an expensive shirt at £89 but will outlast all the above by a good year.

The other brands work towards cost so they use cheap cotton, cheap manufacturing process etc etc.

Basically you get what you pay for a shirt that will last about 2 washes and it's finished.

postbox · 31 Jul 2014 at 11:55

flame696 said:
I'll let you guys in on a secret. I worked for TV Lewin, Charles tyrwhitt, Hawes & Curtis and Thomas Pink. I was a manager for all and the only shirt that is a quality shirt is Thomas Pink. It's an expensive shirt at £89 but will outlast all the above by a good year.

The other brands work towards cost so they use cheap cotton, cheap manufacturing process etc etc.

Basically you get what you pay for a shirt that will last about 2 washes and it's finished.

And yet, out of the hundreds of washes I've given my shirts, the only shirts that didn't stand the test of time were the Pink ones. Unless you're washing your shirts on old rusty washing board, 2 washes and they're finished is nonsense.

flame696 · 31 Jul 2014 at 12:03

Just to make it clear I don't work for Pink anymore so it's not like I'm trying to get them business, I'm just telling you how it is, if you don't want to belive it that's your choice but I thought I'll give you guys some info seeing as I have spent the best part of my 34 year life in these companies (been working in retail since 1996)

daz · 31 Jul 2014 at 12:15

flame696 said:
It's an expensive shirt at £89 but will outlast all the above by a good year.

At £89 you'd expect it to - that's the same price as 4/5 shirts!

It's obvious you get what you pay for, but I think that Charles Tyrwhitt etc are being mentioned as high street alternatives to the likes of Next, TopMan and so on which are priced similarly.

Thomas Pink is more of a 'luxury brand' (and that seems to be where they want to take it as well).

postbox · 31 Jul 2014 at 12:17

flame696 said:
Just to make it clear I don't work for Pink anymore so it's not like I'm trying to get them business, I'm just telling you how it is, if you don't want to belive it that's your choice but I thought I'll give you guys some info seeing as I have spent the best part of my 34 year life in these companies (been working in retail since 1996)

It's not about believing you, it's about matching up what you've stated as a fact to what I've experienced in real life, I've bought, worn and washed over 100 shirts from pretty much all the brands named here. Pink have a very good fit but to say their superior just doesn't match up with the reality of day to day use. TM Lewin are the only shirts which I've bothered to pass onto charity, as they lasted so long I just got bored of them. As you'll be aware Pink are not exactly at the top of luxury / cost anyway.

Tunney · 31 Jul 2014 at 15:53

I don't see the point of spending £89 for an off-the-peg shirt when you can get a decent tailored shirt for less. Maybe I'm an odd size though.

Lopéz · 31 Jul 2014 at 18:17

flame696 said:
Basically you get what you pay for a shirt that will last about 2 washes and it's finished.

I've got some CT shirts that I've worn and washed at least 150 times and they still look and feel like they did when I bought them. What are you washing them with, an angle grinder?

Belly · 31 Jul 2014 at 18:34

Joseph Turner Shirts for me.

http://www.josephturner.co.uk/customer/pages/about/perfect_shirt

I much prefer shirts with a four piece yoke (horizontal panel across the shoulder) I find them much more comfortable. The longer tail helps stop the annoyance of shirts pulling out of trousers waistbands.

I buy their country shirts, currently on sale/special offer too.

Good customer service, well packaged etc

http://www.josephturner.co.uk/mens/country_shirts_28

Forgot to mention: Their shirts have different sleeve length too

Regy53 · 31 Jul 2014 at 18:45

not shirts but I started to buy Under armour polo shirts for work and boy do they make a difference to the usual. £25 quid a pop but well worth it.

zegna · 31 Jul 2014 at 19:09

[FnG]magnolia;26687272 said:
I wouldn't worry too much about zegna's opinions on things. If he were pulling the 12 grand a month he claimed in that other thread then I'm sure he could afford better shirts than the ones he is saying are not so good

ha! as mentioned in the threads you're referring to - it's not that much for London.. so is there really a need to bring it up in a discussion about shirts? :rolleyes:

Neoni · 31 Jul 2014 at 21:26

I manufacture tshirts, for the brand i own, and the quality of shirts, is in the details, the shape of the cut, the wash, the material, buy cheap get cheap.

Turkey is where my factory is

anything I don't mind · 31 Jul 2014 at 22:15

I bought some £35 shirts from tm lewin and they broke far quicker than a 3 for £27 white shirt pack from M&S. If you work in IT and have to do some what manual work buying expensive shirt is waste of money because they will tear on the elbows.