Made to measure shirts in London - recommendations, please!

[eml1909]

Quote: PS I didn't mean fittings as such. However, some places do prepare a "trial shirt" and then modify, if necessary, when they make the actual shirt. I'm not sure how common that is, however.

 

[WhippingBoy]

Another one to try is Gary McCarthy
He works out of John Rushton Shoes, he has made John's shirts for years

http://www.mccarthyshirts.co.uk/

Another point. Make sure all those who you go too will happily replace the collar and cuffs when they fray.

 

[Putonghua73]



The obvious next step is M2M shirts.  I've bought a couple from Cad and the Dandy and one from Stephen Haroutunian - I liked them, but I wasn't blown away.

I was also thinking of Stephen Haroutunian probably for casual shirts (although my idea of casual is similar to dress shirts) in terms of colour - light lilac and lavender hues - and fabric.

Did you try RTW shirts? If so, which makers and what was the comparison in terms of fit, quality and fabric compared to your MTM experience?

I'm willing to try MTM for casual because I want a choice of colour, fabric and shirt collar style, but am unsure whether the difference between Charles Tyrwhitt £25-30 poplin shirts (point collar) in light blues / turquoise and light lilacs is worth the price differential.

For now, I'll stick to CT to build up base colours, Drakes for ties and explore Stephen Haroutunian for casual shirts that work with a dark olive sports coat and dark brown / grey flannel trousers.

I'll keep an eye on this thread.

 

[AMG1]

Turnbull and Asser is always worth a try although more expensive.

 

[eml1909]

I was also thinking of Stephen Haroutunian probably for casual shirts (although my idea of casual is similar to dress shirts) in terms of colour - light lilac and lavender hues - and fabric.
Did you try RTW shirts? If so, which makers and what was the comparison in terms of fit, quality and fabric compared to your MTM experience?
I'm willing to try MTM for casual because I want a choice of colour, fabric and shirt collar style, but am unsure whether the difference between Charles Tyrwhitt £25-30 poplin shirts (point collar) in light blues / turquoise and light lilacs is worth the price differential.
For now, I'll stick to CT to build up base colours, Drakes for ties and explore Stephen Haroutunian for casual shirts that work with a dark olive sports coat and dark brown / grey flannel trousers.
I'll keep an eye on this thread.

The problem with RTW shirts, which I really ought to have realised a LONG time ago, is that they measure the neck size and guess the rest! I am a 15 3/4" neck, but I'm on the small side (in terms of height) - so I either have to get a 15.5 (which is tight on the body) or a 16 (which swamps me). I don't like fitted shirts because I am a bit stocky - so 16" fitted shirts do not look great either. I tend to buy TM Lewin because at least I can get shorter arms (although they are still too big!) So then the penny dropped ... buy MTM or bespoke and the shirt might just fit me!

I bought my first Drake tie last week. It's nice, but - tbh - I'm not sure it was worth the money. I'm not sure what makes it worth £100. It's one of their wider ties, but it's still a bit on the narrow side. I find it a little bit flimsy/lightweight.

My Stephen Haroutunian shirt will arrive this week. It was only £85, so I'm not expecting too much. At least it will fit properly compared to my RTW shirts. But their selection of fabrics was not great. I'm no expert, but even I could tell that the fabrics were not a great quality. It will be vastly superior to my TM Lewin shirts, but I don't think it will be anything special.

I've been in touch with
www.charlescampbellbespoke.co.uk

One of the owners posted on this thread (see above). I'm definitely going to give them a go - they seem very good quality (based on the website!) and the price is more reasonable (£125). I need about 7 or 8 shirts in total, so I'll buy a few and, if I like them, they can have the rest of my business!

Does anyone else have any experience of them?

 

[eml1909]

I'm new on here, so please be kind!


I've just discovered the world of made-to-measure suits and can't quite believe that it took me as long as this! I've bought a couple so far and I'm really pleased with the results.

The obvious next step is M2M shirts. I've bought a couple from Cad and the Dandy and one from Stephen Haroutunian - I liked them, but I wasn't blown away.

Incidentally, I bought a suit from Cad and the Dandy which I really love and I hope to buy more from them in the future. (I deal with one of the owners, James, who is a really nice guy and very helpful.)

I do like the CATD shirt, I just wasn't blown away and I fancy trying out one of the specialist shirt-makers just to compare.

 

[Marcus Stade]

One of the owners posted on this thread (see above). I'm definitely going to give them a go - they seem very good quality (based on the website!) and the price is more reasonable (£125). I need about 7 or 8 shirts in total, so I'll buy a few and, if I like them, they can have the rest of my business!

How did it go? I have the same problem as you, I'm a 16" neck but no RTW will ever fit. Only shirts I like are these in size S, but the neck is just an inch too small to let me button up top. Other than that, they are virtually perfect. They seem to last forever, fit perfectly and are super comfortable. Because they are so cheap, I don't even have any t-shirts anymore, just a bunch of these white shirts. However, having to fly to Sweden to pick some up is obviously not worth it (unless you're there on other business, which I often am) so I've been looking to find someone that could make shirts that are more or less exactly like these, just with a wider neck and an agreeable price tag.

Would love to hear about your experience.

 

[tangleman]



I gave them a call ... bespoke shirts start at £225 (minimum order of 4 shirts), so a bit more than I was hoping to spend, unfortunately.

Harvie and Hudson also do MTM shirts, at a price closer to your target range (maybe £175?). I'm a long-time, satisfied customer of their MTM shirts, and I have a similar neck/body size disparity.

 

[Geezer]



Harvie and Hudson also do MTM shirts, at a price closer to your target range (maybe £175?). I'm a long-time, satisfied customer of their MTM shirts, and I have a similar neck/body size disparity.

I think it's £170, a little more for some cloths. I ought to know as I had some of them about a year or so ago (and have on and off,, since the mid 90s), but can't recall the exact amount. Minimum order three. Very happy with them.

Though, that said, I think some pretty fine bespoke (Sean O'Flynn) is still under £200/shirt, though I stand to be corrected.

 

[Noremedy]

Does anyone know what T&A are charging these days? I know it's 6 minimum order, but what is the price p/shirt.

 

[kraftar]



You might also want to try Frank Foster

http://www.frankfostershirts.com/

Does anybody know if Frank Foster is still open? Email address and phone numbers no longer work. Probably means their gone but want to be sure.

 

[kraftar]

I'll assume that they're closed for good....

 

[Big Texas]

You should clarify your expectations a bit. You keep saying that you "weren't blown away" by the makers you tried, but specifically what about their shirts did you find wanting?

If you're expecting highest-end fabrics and bespoke-quality construction in the price range you specify, especially in London, you are going to be disappointed. London is a very mature market, and the price/quality ratio tends to be pretty neatly stratified (with some exceptions amongst those specific Jermyn St makers who've lowered quality in an effort to extend their brands internationally).

Given your intended range, I would second the Harvie & Hudson recommendation made elsewhere in this thread. You won't get a top of the line shirt through their MTM program in your price tier, but you'll get very good quality for the money, and you'll be able to pick from a fairly wide array of options.

 

[phildi]

Hi,
bumping this thread because I saw that "Harris and Zei" in London have an offer on Groupon for bespoke shirts at 89 pounds (normal retail price 225).
Has anybody ever used them? According to their website, "Each garment from Harris and Zei is designed with our signature flair and modern style, then handmade in London by our savvy team of tailors and designers".

I'm tempted to give them a try.

Thanks

 

[chrisfield]

i agree, true bespoke comes at a price!