Brioni,Borelli or Charvet?

[lasbar]

I went to Harrods doing some Christmas shopping with my wife and i found 2 or 3 interesting shirts....
What do you think of Brioni shirts? The price tag is around £250...

The Charvet offered there are not as nice to be fair....
Any7 advice concerning quality and value for money?

 

[Holdfast]

I've had a very similar experience browsing Harrods' selection - nice selection of Brioni, mediocre choice of Charvet. I didn't find either particularly hitting my own price/value sweet spot, esp. considering my own need to get both tailored post-purchase to fit properly.

I think towards that level of retail price, you're better off getting MTM. You're in Paris lots aren't you lasbar? Pop along to Place Vendome, see some better Charvet there and see how much their MTM is (they have a couple of tiers I think, I forget which is what).

 

[lasbar]

Brioni shirts are looking nice but i will wait and go to Charvet ,a real shirt specialist...

The choice for Charvet shirts in Harrods is limited and the models on offer are awful.

 

[Holdfast]

Originally Posted by lasbar

The choice for Charvet shirts in Harrods is limited and the models on offer are awful.

The shirt sales staff I've spoken to in Harrods don't understand what they're selling either. Last time I was there, I asked them what the sleeve length was on a particular Brioni shirt and the sales assistant opened it up, measured it and gave me the crown-cuff measure. I thanked him of course, and then asked for the measure from the centre-back as well "just for my own peace of mind". I don't know about anyone else, but when I have to do stuff like this at a full retail shop, I suddenly become very averse to spending my money there. Sure, I might just have got a bit unlucky and got an inexperienced assistant, but it's not a particularly good sign, regardless...

 

[Crooow]

Here is a question that I have had for awhile. When I was on my honeymoon in Paris, I purchased two Charvet shirts from the store in the Place Vendome. Frankly, they are my favorite shirts of all time. Putting aside questions of cut, fabric, etc., the fit on them is just perfect for me; no additional tailoring required.

Subsequently, I've purchased a few Charvets from Bergdorf Goodman; while nice, the fit is noticably "baggier" than the original shirts (which probably doesn't come as a surprise to most on this board).

My question is whether or not the shirts for sale at Harrod's (which I have checked out online) are similar/identical to the Parisian store, or to the American sizing? Intuitively, I would expect them to be consistent with the "European" sizing; what gives me pause, however, is that my Parisian Charvets simply have '42' for the size, while my other shirts show 42 / 16.5, which seems similar to what Harrod's shows.

Don't know if anyone has an answer to that, but I thought I would at least pose the question.

Thanks

 

[lasbar]

It is quite possible that Charvet is trying to adapt to differnet styles and also cultural needs...

I do know that Charvet is also offering now a more tailored option for the more fashion forward and younger customers....
You may have bought one of this new line....

Harrods sales staff are just terrible.........They do not know their ABc concerning cut or silhouette...They tend to go for young fresh faces ,most likely ready to accept an underpaid job...

 

[Sator]

I agree, Charvet would be a far better option.

My shirtmaker, Charles Nakhle, got hold of a Brioni shirt a while back which a regular customer had brought in to be altered. Charles can usually spot which mills shirting fabrics come from and this one was probably from Turkey. The workmanship was very mundane indeed. In fact, Brioni shirts are probably hardly any better than a Charles Tyrwhitt shirt. However, the Brioni name immediately causes the price to be blown up out of all proportions.

 

[Holdfast]

Originally Posted by lasbar

Harrods sales staff are just terrible.........They do not know their ABc concerning cut or silhouette...They tend to go for young fresh faces ,most likely ready to accept an underpaid job...

A good friend of mine used to work part-time in Harrods to support her way through university. Very charming & attractive girl indeed, but knew absolutely sod all about anything she was selling at the time.

 

[The_Foxx]

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS STERLING?!?!? why not call Barneys in NYC and buy a nice Kiton shirt in your size, for $425 USD ?? Jeez, with the exchange rate you'll make out like a bandit.

 

[Gus]

Originally Posted by The_Foxx

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS STERLING?!?!? why not call Barneys in NYC and buy a nice Kiton shirt in your size, for $425 USD ?? Jeez, with the exchange rate you'll make out like a bandit.

Agree! I would prefer the Kiton with a spread collar over a Charvet or Brioni any day.

 

[Recoil]

Brioini's seem to be cut for stock brokers and bankers; a little extra room for the belly. The Charvet's I have seem to be cut for a thinner crowed. Of course this is based on the limited availability I've had to try on.

 

[Cantabrigian]

Originally Posted by lasbar

I went to Harrods doing some Christmas shopping with my wife and i found 2 or 3 interesting shirts....
What do you think of Brioni shirts? The price tag is around £250...

The Charvet offered there are not as nice to be fair....
Any7 advice concerning quality and value for money?

In terms of value, I can't think of any reason whatsoever to spend that much money on a RTW shirt.

 

[leftover_salmon]

Originally Posted by LVoer

Brioini's seem to be cut for stock brokers and bankers; a little extra room for the belly. The Charvet's I have seem to be cut for a thinner crowed. Of course this is based on the limited availability I've had to try on.
Hmm, I find Brioni to be a (relatively) slim cut...certainly slimmer than Borrelli, RLPL, or Stefano Riccio. Haven't worn a Charvet so I can't compare there. I have a Brioni shirt and I think it's really nice. I like the cut; the fabric is silky-soft but doesn't feel fragile, and the collar is perfect for me (not too high-standing, a wider spread, and a perfect "V"). To pocketsquareguy: Where are you getting Kiton for only $425? I thought $600 was the least you could pay at retail.

 

[Gus]

Originally Posted by leftover_salmon

To pocketsquareguy: Where are you getting Kiton for only $425? I thought $600 was the least you could pay at retail.

You see Kiton at about $425 for plain fabrics on up to $600+. My last two white shirts were around $425-$450. I like to pick mine up on sale for about $250-$299.

 

[The_Foxx]

Originally Posted by leftover_salmon

Hmm, I find Brioni to be a (relatively) slim cut...certainly slimmer than Borrelli, RLPL, or Stefano Riccio. Haven't worn a Charvet so I can't compare there.

I have a Brioni shirt and I think it's really nice. I like the cut; the fabric is silky-soft but doesn't feel fragile, and the collar is perfect for me (not too high-standing, a wider spread, and a perfect "V").

To pocketsquareguy: Where are you getting Kiton for only $425? I thought $600 was the least you could pay at retail.

I've paid $425 for my last three Kiton shirts-- two at Barneys in NYC, one at Saks in Phoenix. All of them wonderful cottons, one french cuff the other two barrel one button cuff.

I like my Brioni shirts from www.directclothiers.com, which give me the collar style, sleeve length, and body fit that I want. Cottons look pretty high end to me, but all are well over $400.

I have never liked the Charvet shirts sold off the rack here in the USA, but I'm probably overly picky about tie space on collars, buttonholes, etc. However, were I in Europe I'd simply consider an inexpensive day trip to Paris to have two or three bespoke shirts made, which would be superb-- if you haven't seen the iPod show from mens style on Charvet, it's worth a look.