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Charles Tyrwhitt vs. Brooks Brothers

post #1 of 33
9/27/11 at 1:42pm
Thread Starter 

Which shirts do you prefer? And how do the slim fits from CT compare with the slim fits from BB?

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post #2 of 33
9/27/11 at 2:57pm
212

You really should try to go to a definitive source before asking strangers on the internet.

I found CT shirts (regular material, not their higher end line) to shrink more than my BB shirts. I also like the BB collars and cuffs more, except when I'm ironing them.
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post #3 of 33
9/27/11 at 3:02pm
I own both, almost exclusively. Brooks are generally better.
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post #4 of 33
9/27/11 at 3:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobst View Post

212

I found CT shirts (regular material, not their higher end line) to shrink more than my BB shirts.

I have seen thrifted CT shirts which had shrunk as much as 3/4 of an inch in the neck.
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post #5 of 33
9/27/11 at 5:58pm
I've got both and actually like the CT shirts better. Part of this evaluation though is that it just so happens that their tailored fit line seems to just fit me like a glove, and when you get them on special they are in the $36-38 range. Hard to go wrong with that...
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post #6 of 33
9/27/11 at 6:43pm
Thread Starter 

Are CT casual shirts short enough to go untucked?

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post #7 of 33
9/27/11 at 7:11pm
I find that the fabric of my Brooks Brothers shirts is markedly nicer than CT. I have 4 different CT shirts, all for less than $40 each. The fabric on all 4 feels overly slick and wrinkles like crazy. I can only recommend CT because of their spread collars and Tailored Fit. Don't buy CT thinking you are getting a super high quality shirt for $39. Buy CT because it fits well for an OTR $39 shirt.
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post #8 of 33
9/28/11 at 7:39am
Thread Starter 

Bump, has anyone tried CT casual shirts untucked? How are they?

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post #9 of 33
9/28/11 at 8:09am
I think you will find that most people in this forum tuck their shirts in as a rule.
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post #10 of 33
9/28/11 at 8:15am
I've had 4 or 5 CT shirts and quite a few dress shirts from Brooks Brothers. I will agree with the rest of the posters here that my Brooks Brothers shirts seem to have much nicer fabric. The one thing I used to like about CT was that they seemed to have a lot more options and colors for gingham, checks, and windowpanes than Brooks especially if you are looking for something a bit brighter or more bold.
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post #11 of 33
9/28/11 at 9:01am

I'm not sure I am expert enough to comment on fabric quality, but I prefer the variety that CT offers, although they do rather too many blues and not enough browns, yellows or reds IMHO. The really good thing is the simple custom sleeve service, which is essential for me. I take a 14H collar, and although BB shirts of that collar are nearer to my 30" arm requirement, they are not quite, which means I would still have to get them altered for a perfect fit. The CT slimfit shirts are also still too roomy for my liking, but their more recently introduced tailored fit is much better. CT offers excellent value overall - whether that's 'better' than BB though - I guess it depends on your wallet.

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post #12 of 33
9/28/11 at 1:08pm
Have a number of both. I find that the CTs are definitely slimmer fitting, which is good, but same comment on the feel of the fabric - more fun patterns I like (particularly checks), but the fabric doesn't feel as soft or nice. Both are pretty good deals on sale, though.
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post #13 of 33
9/28/11 at 1:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aspasp View Post

Are CT casual shirts short enough to go untucked?


I'd say no. I've only got one and it's as long as their other shirts. It's not very slim fit either.

Their sizing is pretty wack. I've had to get one size smaller to get something that fits decently but still is a bit too large even though it's supposedly slim fit. TM. Lewin seems to have the right size collars but everything else is larger so they don't fit on me either and I don't feel I have a strange body measurements at all.
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post #14 of 33
9/28/11 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kasakka View Post

I'd say no. I've only got one and it's as long as their other shirts. It's not very slim fit either.
Their sizing is pretty wack. I've had to get one size smaller to get something that fits decently but still is a bit too large even though it's supposedly slim fit. TM. Lewin seems to have the right size collars but everything else is larger so they don't fit on me either and I don't feel I have a strange body measurements at all.

The Tailored Fit is what you are looking for. Those are slimmer than the Slim Fit.
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post #15 of 33
9/28/11 at 1:42pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by kasakka View Post


I'd say no. I've only got one and it's as long as their other shirts. It's not very slim fit either.
Their sizing is pretty wack. I've had to get one size smaller to get something that fits decently but still is a bit too large even though it's supposedly slim fit. TM. Lewin seems to have the right size collars but everything else is larger so they don't fit on me either and I don't feel I have a strange body measurements at all.


British dress shirts traditionally have generally been much roomier than French or Italian shirts. I guess many of the US makers adopted more continental European norms, and even the London shirtmakers are now starting to change. I have noticed on here that there is a lot of emphasis on 'fit' of shirts which tends to indicate the predominance of such a norm, but which doesn't really seem to appreciate that tighter fitting shirts are not necessarily the be all and end all, and that the classic British shirt cut is much looser and that this is just as acceptable in gentlemen's clothing. While I generally go for the tailored fit, I am wearing such a 'classic' British cut shirt today, and very comfortable it is too.

 

Incidentally, go back in time a little and this is even more obvious. I have some shirts made to 1920s standards that are much longer and roomier. They didn't tend to tailor the length of the arms then either and instead used metal sprung 'sleeve garters' of which I happen to have a pair in my desk drawer.

 

Photo on 2011-09-28 at 16.39.jpg

 

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