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Best fabric for white dress shirt?

odoreater

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What is the best fabric for a white dress shirt. Basically, I'm looking for something that strikes a nice balance between quality and feel, and not being able to completely see through the damn thing.
 

whoopee

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Broadcloths aren't too see through, but if that doesn't work, herringbones are quite nice, too. Oxford cloth, I suppose, should be mentioned, too. Less formal though.
 

capnpyro

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I got the 100% sea island cotton when I ordered a white dress shirt from Jantzen. It's got a very nice feel to it, and it's opaque enough to wear without an undershirt. Mind you I've never tried on a borrelli shirt or comporable shirt, but the cotton of the jantzen is the crispest and nicest feeling I've ever had on. It keeps it's shape while still being soft, very nice.
 

kcgreg

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Herringbone and Sea Island Cotton - you can't go wrong with either.
tongue.gif
 

Tomasso

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I like Royal Oxford.
 

Cantabrigian

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Originally Posted by Tomasso
I like Royal Oxford.

I second that - the texture is beautiful and it's rather sort without looking wrinkly.
 

Shirtmaven

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80/2 pinpoint oxford is a true workhorse of a fabric. It can be made with a spread collar to dress it up instead of a button down.

Royal oxfords can sometimes be a bit heavy. Higher thread coun royal oxfords are quite nice. There is a Thomas Mason 140/2 that is great.

Real Sea Island cotton is very expensive.

I doubt the shirt from Jantzen was real SEa Island cotton. Not at $42.00.
The fabric alone would cost more then that.

BRoadcloth's vary in opaqueness(is that a word) It depends on the construction
the 200/2 fabric gets quite dense and is amazing. Of course i is quite expensive as well.

Carl


www.cego.com
 

Alexander Kabbaz

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Best compromise between 'see-thru' and 'quality feel':

Albini's Thomas Mason "Clarence" 2x2 140's Broadcloth.



If you want slightly thicker:

Albini's Thomas Mason "Byron-Kent" 2x2 120's Broadcloth



Slightly more hedonistic ... but also more translucent:

Alumo's "Soyella" 2x2 170's Broadcloth
 

tiger02

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Originally Posted by Alexander Kabbaz
Slightly more hedonistic ... but also more translucent:

Alumo's "Soyella" 2x2 170's Broadcloth

Sounds like a good choice for attending the Bacchinalian orgy Esquire is teaching me to throw
teacha.gif
 

Alexander Kabbaz

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Originally Posted by tiger02
Sounds like a good choice for attending the Bacchinalian orgy Esquire is teaching me to throw
teacha.gif

Not really. Alumo's experimental 220's would be a better bet. It may be available by the time you're done with Esquire.
 

Ali Kebab

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Originally Posted by odoreater
What is the best fabric for a white dress shirt. Basically, I'm looking for something that strikes a nice balance between quality and feel, and not being able to completely see through the damn thing.

2x2 100's plain poplin.
 

johnapril

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toga
 

GQgeek

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I'm currently in the process of addressing the very same problem right now. I really like a fine herringbone (5mm) or fine twill because of the extra sheen, but I wonder if Alumo's 170x2 broadcloth isn't a more versatile choice while I build-up my shirt rotation.

I was actually quite surprised in that it didn't have as nice a hand as I would have imagined. Then again, I'm comparing it to their 170x2 Zephir, which has an incredible hand but probably isn't as durable. And don't even get me started on voile!

What's everyone's impression of a medium-fine twill? Does that go with just about everything or should I stick with broadcloth for my first white shirt?
 

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How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 45 40.5%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 44 39.6%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 5 4.5%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 18 16.2%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 25 22.5%

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