justifying high end shirts?

[bsyde82]

just like denim back in the day, my price limit on shirts has been steadily creeping upwards..

but its still hard for me to justify spending 150+ on a button down, let alone 200+, which is what im ridiculously considering now

was wondering how do you guys justify spending that much on shirts? for denim, i just figure u wear em so much more often, and they're so much more durable...

also, which labels are worthy or receiving your 150-200+ hard earned dollars for one of their shirts?

 

[Souper]

I have thrifted and ebay'ed all my "high end shirts." Worst case scenario is that I purchased on deep discount, < $100. Were I to spend retail price on shirts, I'd probably use the splurge money and get MTM shirts of quality fabric.

it should be added that I have had a lot of my shirts altered to fit the way I want them to, the extra investment is really worth it.

 

[jet]

The material, cut, style and details.

Everyone talks about mtm but I can't imagine my shirts fitting any better as I have been very pleased with all of mine like they were made for me. I don't want a stuffy boring shirt that looks like I just came from the office.

My shirts are 200 and up.

 

[Get Smart]

I think high end (150+) shirts are not essential

While I love my BoO (and other) shirts, there is no way I am getting $200-265 worth of shirt. The MoP buttons are nice, but I could change out plastic buttons easily for $10 and about an hour of time. The cut is great, but the way a shirt is cut doesnt cost any $. It costs the same amount to make a tent fitting shirt or a slimfit BoO shirt

Some of my best and fave shirts are Fred Perry and Ben Sherman buttondowns that cost $65-100. They fit as well as BoO shirts (which I am using as my standard for a good fitting OTR shirt most are familiar with) and actually have more details I want that BoO doesnt.

You could make your own BoO oxfords from Jantzen for $50 which include shell buttons and have them fit just as good (if not better) as BoO

I have some mainline Paul Smith shirts that retailed for $400 that use some pretty awesome fabric, buttons and fit, but you won't find me justifying the high price for any other reason than "I want it", but it's really not a good dollar/goods ratio.

 

[shoreman1782]

I have a few dress shirts from Jantzen, and I'm sure I could get a near-perfect fit from true MTM, but most of the shirts I've spent $100+ on (and it's only a few) have details/styling I would be hard-pressed to find in local, reasonable MTM.

I've paid over $100 for Steven Alan, H+K, and APC. Mostly, I just wait for these to go on sale. I've yet to break the $200 mark. In fact, I think I've only broken $200 for any item of clothing (including suits) two or three times, despite reading SF pretty regularly for 3 years.

 

[kronik]

I would love to get a shirt with the BoO fit with Brioni/Kiton-quality fabrics. Of course, they'd probably charge about 600 bucks per shirt but.. eh.

I can nearly accomplish this by getting shirts (Brioni in a 15.5" fits me perfectly - I'm a 17.5" neck) sized down.. that's the next step, isn't it? I can't wait for those posts. "How much do I size down in Borrelli?" The issue with this, of course, is the inability to wear them as dress shirts even when you want to.

 

[cocostella]

I am a firm believer in Brooks Bros. shirts on sale or thrifted and altered to BoO fit.

 

[bsyde82]

i also believe in altering cheaper shirts....as i do w/ my j.crew ones...although the j.crew ones are already pretty slim, at least the tailored fits...so i don't have to alter them that much...

but some of the higher end labels just seem to design styles that the cheaper labels dont make

i.e.

BoO's corduroy shirt (although i did see a corduroy shirt at club monaco a while back)
BoO's tux-front shirt in blue (i know j.crew used to make a white one)
oak's buffalo check shirt
steven alan workshirt in navy/red

i think those four are the top shirts on my current wishlist...if anyone knows of cheaper alternatives, please enlighten me

thx

 

[itskub]

ive never actually handled high end shirts. except some stuff at Lord and Taylor.
i just have most of my stuff altered like others have said.
id probably end up spending $150 on something 'unique', then wear it once or twice...

bsyde, mind posting pics of those?

 

[bsyde82]

Originally Posted by itskub

bsyde, mind posting pics of those?

http://www.shopjake.com/index.php?pa...roduct_ID=1922

Attachment 5347

Attachment 5348

http://www.stevenalan.com/shop/custo...18254&cat=1813

 

[NoVaguy]

I pretty much stay below $75 for RTW shirts, and most are probably in the $20-$50 range, although the suggested retail may be a lot higher.

As for alterations, I've been having a number of my shirts alterted to a normal "slim fit", but I don't go as far as a BoO type fit. If I buy a slim fit shirt, I leave it alone, and for my regular fit shirts, I've been having them tapered a bit.

 

[drizzt3117]

I would say about 60% of my shirts are &quot;high-end&quot; (Margiela, BoO, DvN, etc) and the rest are Zara which fit me pretty well after BoOization at my tailor. I've found Dries and Zara shirts fit me best.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

I would say about 60% of my shirts are "high-end" (Margiela, BoO, DvN, etc) and the rest are Zara which fit me pretty well after BoOization at my tailor. I've found Dries and Zara shirts fit me best.

No Benetton or Sisley?

Jon.

 

[drizzt3117]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

No Benetton or Sisley?

Jon.

Nope.

 

[LabelKing]

I can't imagine wearing cheap dress shirts. Even high-end dress shirts are kind of tenty so a good one--like a good man(O'Connor reference)--is hard to find.