High quality buttondown shirts?

[rocks]

Originally Posted by jet

Let me know when you find some.

Btw I'm looking for a smart, attractive girl who is down to earth with a great personality and makes a lot of money.

 

[greatfire]

Originally Posted by jet

Let me know when you find some.

Btw I'm looking for a smart, attractive girl who is down to earth with a great personality and makes a lot of money.
I must be missing something here..

What am I missing?

I don't get it.

 

[ghulkhan]

Originally Posted by greatfire

I must be missing something here..

What am I missing?

I don't get it.

that you won't find high quality button down shirts for less than 100 or even 2-3 hundred....

 

[PG2G]

$100 puts you right around banana republic territory, not really a place you want to be in.

IMO, you either do it cheap and get crappy/average quality but decent fit at a place like Zara/H&M, or you go big and get it all. I stick to the cheap because I don't think quality on a button down is as obvious as say... shoes, sweaters, etc...

 

[greatfire]

Ok, so another question: what makes a buttondown quality?

I've been paying like $33.00 for Express shirts, so this $200-$300 is a shocker! What makes high quality shirts such high quality? Also, do high quality shirts fit perfectly, and do they stretch?

 

[SWB]

This might be slightly off-topic but I just bought a Margiela shirt that is by far the best fitting button down I've ever owned. At retail their prices are astronomical, but as always, great deals come with patience.

My strategy (as a student with almost no expendable income) has been to slowly build a wardrobe of high quality shirts through relentless bargain-hunting, with a few splurges here and there. While I don't own any extremely top-tier brands, I'd much prefer a short supply of Margiela, BoO, Prada, etc. than a bounty of Banana Republic. Unless you plan on wearing them hard, such a strategy might be advisable.

Basically, never buy new unless you absolutely have to. SF Buying & Selling and the SuFu Supermarket are your friends, and more often than not you'll end up with something worn for only 2 minutes and in perfect condition.

 

[jet]

^smart man

 

[keykoo]

Really, Express shirts are fine and if you're not happy with the fit just get it tailored. You're probably not going to get a huge jump in quality in the sub hundred dollar range.

But since people are suggesting BoO and Margiela, let me throw in my rec for Jil Sander/Raf Simons shirts.

 

[academe]

For ~US$100 I would suggest Thomas Pink on sale or Charles Tyrwhitt. I know that they're mostly billed as "dress shirts," but they do have a nice range of striped and patterned shirts in a veritable rainbow of colours. You could probably pair a slim-fit Pink or CT shirt with jeans; but probably not untucked. I think CT are having a sale right now; don't own any of their shirts myself, but I understand from other members on the board that their higher-end slim fit shirts are quite well cut and well-made. I own a few Thomas Pink shirts that I really enjoy. Again, go for the slim fit, as the others tend to be a bit more blousy.

 

[dusty]

Originally Posted by ghulkhan

http://www.16sur20.com/

they make pretty good shirts

if your going to be tucking them in band of outsiders might not be the best route...

Are they ever going to relaunch their website? They sell through Refinery but Refinery only has Troglodyte Homunculus, not Seize sur Vingt.

 

[Concepts_BLC]

I have always been a fan of the classic button downs... Ralph Lauren Purple Label is always a good look, or if you are really trying to stunt http://www.thomaspink.com/fcp/categoryhome/men/ will work too.

 

[alliswell]

Originally Posted by ghulkhan

that you won't find high quality button down shirts for less than 100 or even 2-3 hundred....

Black Fleece from BB were available on sale at $95, and will be again in June/July. They're relatively slim fitting and pretty bullet-proof in fabric.

 

[1969]

No matter what quality of shirt you buy, I suggest hand washing in cold water with woolite or Dr. Bronner's. Roll in a towel, then hang to drip dry. This will extend the life of the shirt a lot. I never tuck a shirt unless paired with a sweater or blazer, so I get mine hemmed to hit a couple inches below the belt. If buying retail $20-30 at JCrew and $10 for a tailor. I also scored 8 Jantzen shirts in my exact size off the buy sell board. And some APC sales.