Alternatives to Brooks Brothers Shirts?

[screwdriver]

Hey, guys. I recently lost some weight, and the Brooks Brothers slim fit shirts I used to buy are baggy in the sleeves, midsection, and back now. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm never going to find an OTR shirt that fits me well (7" drop), but I'm still evaluating my options for new shirts.

Is there a better quality/better fitting shirt in a similar price range? Also, should I be considering MTM instead of OTR+tailor?

 

[velvel87]

I'm guessing a lot of people also look at Charles Tyrwhitt and TM Lewin. Brooks also makes an extra slim fit shirt, if you haven't seen it.

 

[screwdriver]

I'm guessing a lot of people also look at Charles Tyrwhitt and TM Lewin. Brooks also makes an extra slim fit shirt, if you haven't seen it.

I tried an extra slim from Brooks, and it's way too tight in the chest. There's still no taper - it's just slimmer overall.

Also, from reading around here, I learned that Charles Tyrwhitt and TM Lewin weren't very good quality for the price. I just learned about ModernTailor.com, so I may try that route... but there's so many choices on there...

 

[12345Michael54321]



Also, from reading around here, I learned that Charles Tyrwhitt and TM Lewin weren't very good quality for the price

I can't speak to TM Lewin's quality.

As for Charles Tyrwhitt, they're not good quality for the price if one pays the full price of, like, $160 per shirt. But it's dead easy to buy C.T. shirts for a fraction of that price (due to frequent sales, coupons, clearances, etc.), and at $30-60 per shirt the quality is perfectly reasonable.

 

[screwdriver]

and at $30-60 per shirt the quality is perfectly reasonable.

I'd prefer to spend a little more to get a better quality shirt. However, I don't want to be spending $200 per tailored shirt, just in case my size changes again soon. They're all going to be dress shirts for work ("business casual").

 

[archibaldleach]

How might your shape change going forward? If you're thinking of bulking up and adding significantly more muscle mass in your upper body, I'd hold off on getting shirts made up. If it's more likely that you're going to lose a bit of weight and maybe slim down in the waist, this is less of a concern. Frankly, losing or gaining an inch or so in your chest or waist isn't really cause for too much concern with custom clothing as there should be enough allowance that the fit is still good.

Luxire is a decent option for cheaper MTM. Try a test shirt (measure your BB shirt and make adjustments for how you'd like it to fit) and you'll probably end up with something with a decent fit. It may take a couple iterations to really nail the fit but the test shirts are cheap enough (or you could even order a relatively inexpensive fabric).

Your other option is to find something that fits you okay in the chest, shoulders and arms and get it taken in at the waist.

 

[Pliny]

Hey, guys. I recently lost some weight, and the Brooks Brothers slim fit shirts I used to buy are baggy in the sleeves, midsection, and back now. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm never going to find an OTR shirt that fits me well (7" drop), but I'm still evaluating my options for new shirts.

Is there a better quality/better fitting shirt in a similar price range? Also, should I be considering MTM instead of OTR+tailor?

Kamakura- Tokyo Slim is slimmer than BB Extra slim fit

 

[screwdriver]

If you're thinking of bulking up and adding significantly more muscle mass in your upper body, I'd hold off on getting shirts made up. If it's more likely that you're going to lose a bit of weight and maybe slim down in the waist, this is less of a concern. Frankly, losing or gaining an inch or so in your chest or waist isn't really cause for too much concern with custom clothing as there should be enough allowance that the fit is still good.

Luxire is a decent option for cheaper MTM. Try a test shirt (measure your BB shirt and make adjustments for how you'd like it to fit) and you'll probably end up with something with a decent fit. It may take a couple iterations to really nail the fit but the test shirts are cheap enough (or you could even order a relatively inexpensive fabric).

Your other option is to find something that fits you okay in the chest, shoulders and arms and get it taken in at the waist.

Yep - I'm definitely planning on bulking up. I lost about half an inch to an inch on my neck size, so I'm trying to work out a bit harder now. All of this will probably take some time, so I just didn't want to continue wearing baggy clothing until then. What would you guys suggest?

Kamakura- Tokyo Slim is slimmer than BB Extra slim fit

I'm not sure what their sizing chart means (http://shop.kamakurashirts.com/content_en_USD_8.html), but I was trying to avoid shirts with darts, if possible.

 

[wsumarine]

Epaulet. More expensive than BB, but worth it.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Kamakura- Tokyo Slim is slimmer than BB Extra slim fit

Seconded. And if you are going to bulk up as you claim, then the New York slim fit would do fine. IMHO the quality is higher than Brooks Brothers and the collar roll on the OCBDs is more like the classic Ivy look than BB are these days (they are also cheaper if you buy them from out here in Japan where they are the equivalent of $50 each! Plus sleeve adjustments are free unlike CT and others - not sure if that applies to order from the USA)...

As for sizing, I just ignore the slightly odd fitting advice they give about buying bigger, and get my normal collar size and they are perfect.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Why not try MTM shirt? It would fit you better.

Not if he's about to try to change his body-shape - that would be the worst time to go MTM.

 

[screwdriver]

Thanks, guys. I ended up getting a couple of the Brooks Luxury shirts during their winter sale. I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'm going to have to get every shirt I wear tailored, so I'm just going to find a slim fit I like & take it to my tailor. I can have him leave a little extra room in the upper body, just in case.

I'll definitely check out the recommendations in the thread, though. Thanks again!