Printed shirts are very fashionable in the stores , but are they suitable for the City ?

[westhill]

Don't know if anyone has noticed that printed shirts are in all the best designer brand stores this summer ? I don't mean Hawaii type ones with palm trees and pineapples..I am talking about those tiny little micro-graphic prints all over the shirt that's otherwise cut exactly like a regular business shirt . I've seen them in Paul Smith for a bit, and Richard James & Mark Marengo on Savile Row as well ...so far I didn't buy..
That is until yesterday when I picked up a couple in Mark Stephen at E1 that seemed like a deal in their " swap a £20 for a smart shirt" offer . One has blue and navy fine dots, and the other is a tiny blue check with a flower scribble print in navy . My wife really loves them and thinks I could definitely wear them to work, as she says they do in Milan and Rome, but what about London in the City ..most of the guys seem to wear stripes or just plain white shirts at my bank ?

 

[Alex Dumortier]

My wife really loves them and thinks I could definitely wear them to work, as she says they do in Milan and Rome, but what about London in the City ..most of the guys seem to wear stripes or just plain white shirts at my bank ?

I think you know the answer to that question. There is nothing to be gained from being a trend-setter in sartorial terms when you work for a bank in the City, except perhaps in terms of stroking one's ego. The fact that your wife loves them is irrelevant and, as you point out, the City is not Rome or Milan.

 

[GBR]

Not at all.

Your wife should keep her opinions to herself. These will not enhance your reputation or credibility.

 

[westhill]

Dear GBR , Thank you ! As a "senior member " I feel very sure that you are in a much better position to comment on the matter than my better half and that's exactly the reason that I posted on the forum . On the basis of this I will put on these very contemporary, excellent, but not "business expedient" shirts over the coming bank holiday weekend , and well that will give me a good excuse to buy a couple more from the other 28 that are on the £20 offer at Mark Stephen ....( thankfully most are NOT printed ) ... to wear next week in the office without shame !

 

[westhill]

Alex, thank you for your advice , or should I say "alarming advice" ...that being a trend-setter may be akin to stroking one's ego. That's told me straight ! Of course its different for the ladies - where to not be on-trend in many work sectors is liable to be career suicide. Anyway I think it may have been a little August madness that overtook me ... I will keep the shirts for sure as they are great, but I will keep them away from the square mile .... Egyptian white two-fold cotton poplin will prevail !

 

[Alex Dumortier]

You're welcome. This forum can be pretty blunt with newcomers -- glad to see you taking the advice in the right spirit.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Not at all.

Your wife should keep her opinions to herself. These will not enhance your reputation or credibility.

GBR, with respect, it is one thing to say that you think his wife is wrong, it is quite another to say that she 'should keep her opinons to herself'. That makes you sound backward and misogynistic, which I am sure was not your intention...

 

[JTA]

I like printed shirts and sometimes wear them on casual Friday or under a sportscoat (solid colored and not orphaned suit coat) with jeans. Now that my work place has becoming more casual I can wear them on the weekdays with trousers or jeans.

In my view Mark Stephen Marengo quality is decent with good fit also, if you get a good bargain on their items then it'll be worth the buy.

 

[westhill]

Thanks JTA , its good to have the different perspective . Imagine its true that some workplaces are very more open to staff expressing their individuality through their choice of clothing ,such IT, recruitment, creative etc.. The City of London for sure is not so advanced in this thinking, but compare it to the olden days of tightly furled umbrellas and bowler hats and you see there has been change there as well. Probably most bowler hats are only seen now in the pages of a " Hackett "catalogue ! In reply to your second point , Yes I have discovered Mark Stephen Marengo quite recently , it seems to be a very well kept secret , but I know many of my colleagues always buy their suits there so they must definitely be doing something right. Noted your point about "not an orphaned suit coat" ... that's another tip I will take on board .... but is there anything one can do with suit coat or jacket once the trousers wear out ...seems such a waste to dump It ? That's a rhetorical question I don't expect you to reply JTA.

 

[westhill]

GUYS ! Gosh I hope I didn't open up a can of worms ... Seems I'll keep to "clothing items" next time and not mention the opinions of "significant others"
Thanks for leaping in chivalrously though Flying Monkey !

 

[JTA]



Thanks JTA , its good to have the different perspective . Imagine its true that some workplaces are very more open to staff expressing their individuality through their choice of clothing ,such IT, recruitment, creative etc.. The City of London for sure is not so advanced in this thinking, but compare it to the olden days of tightly furled umbrellas and bowler hats and you see there has been change there as well.  Probably most bowler hats are only seen now in the pages of a " Hackett "catalogue !  In reply to your second point , Yes I have discovered Mark Stephen Marengo quite recently , it seems to be a very well kept secret , but I know many of my colleagues always buy their suits there so they must definitely be doing something right. Noted your point about "not an orphaned suit coat" ... that's another tip I will take on board .... but is there anything one can do with suit coat or jacket once the trousers wear out ...seems such a waste to dump It ? That's a rhetorical question I don't expect you to reply JTA.         

No worries mate. Glad to be an assistance.

For the orphaned suit coat, if the fabric is worsted then I would probably suggest there's a little help I can offer aside of donate it to somewhere.. I've tried in the past and resigned to the fact that it didn't work out well. Having said that though, in reality not many people care about whether you wear an orphaned suit coat or a sportscoat lol. To many people it's a jacket.. Everything is in the mind..

As for the Mark Stephen Marengo, yes, the brand is pretty good and I'd his RTW blue label suit about 5 or so years ago. Yes, the coat is fused yet solidly built with flattering fitted silhouette without being too skinny. I've received many compliments when I wore that one. I think his scarlet label is semi or fully canvassed (it says in the lining that the coat is canvassed yet unsure whether it is full or not) but the bespoke is full canvassed.