What ever happened to silk shirts?

[nicad2000]

So I've been reading my way through the original (Fleming) Bond books and the most consistent sartorial reference I've seen is to 007 wearing white silk shirts. Was this common back in the 50's and 60's? If so, whatever happened to them? I could imagine silk shirts draping better than the cotton we use these days but can't say that I've ever seen one.

 

[matsui]

I know personally, junior high in the early 90's killed them off for me.

 

[mr monty]

Back in the 80s and 90s, Versace (and copy cats) ran silk shirts into the ground. It's didn't help that China start making shirts for a "dime a dozen".

 

[LukeM]

Gigolos tainted them

 

[rnoldh]

Yeah, I think silk shirts peaked around 1985 - 1993 with Versace as the exemplar. You can still buy Versace Medusa and other type silk shirts on Ebay. I don't know how much they sell for these days.

And they have come down in price with many cheap Chinese imports which were not as common in the 1980s.

I don't know anyone on SF that would admit to wearing silk shirts often.

I have heard that very rich non businessman playboy types wore silk shirts back in the day when they were a real luxury. Think of Porfirio Rubirosa in the 1940s and 50s.

PS:I just thought of the Nat Nast and Tommy Bahama brands. They currently make silk shirts very often with a retro look. I think they sell well, but they are not talked about much here.

 

[acecow]

Originally Posted by rnoldh

Yeah, I think silk shirts peaked around 1985 - 1993 with Versace as the exemplar. You can still buy Versace Medusa and other type silk shirts on Ebay. I don't know how much they sell for these days.

And they have come down in price with many cheap Chinese imports which were not as common in the 1980s.

I don't know anyone on SF that would admit to wearing silk shirts often.

I have heard that very rich non businessman playboy types wore silk shirts back in the day when they were a real luxury. Think of Porfirio Rubirosa in the 1940s and 50s.

PS:I just thought of the Nat Nast and Tommy Bahama brands. They currently make silk shirts very often with a retro look. I think they sell well, but they are not talked about much here.

I bought a purple silk shirt in my early sartorial days. I still have it in my closet, it hasn't been worn once. Any idea what they sell for on ebay? It's Yohji Yamamoto FWIW.

 

[nicad2000]

I think I've seen the Tommy Bahama variety, but I was thinking more of the silk shirt to wear with a suit/tie rather than leisure wear. What's being said about China flooding the market with cheap examples makes a lot of sense.

 

[SpooPoker]

Originally Posted by rnoldh

Yeah, I think silk shirts peaked around 1985 - 1993 with Versace as the exemplar. You can still buy Versace Medusa and other type silk shirts on Ebay. I don't know how much they sell for these days.

Oh haiiiii

 

[blahman]

Originally Posted by nicad2000

I think I've seen the Tommy Bahama variety, but I was thinking more of the silk shirt to wear with a suit/tie rather than leisure wear. What's being said about China flooding the market with cheap examples makes a lot of sense.

So it fell out of favour because the social elites find that they are no longer exclusive enough?

I haven't really seen any silk shirts at all but recently I came across a cotton/silk blend shirt - I think it was a Pink - and it doesn't seem all that different from pure cotton shirts. Maybe it has just a bit smoother texture.

 

[rnoldh]

Originally Posted by nicad2000

I think I've seen the Tommy Bahama variety, but I was thinking more of the silk shirt to wear with a suit/tie rather than leisure wear. What's being said about China flooding the market with cheap examples makes a lot of sense.

I do not know of one single person that wears 100% silk shirts as dress shirts with suits and ties.

Does anyone?

PS:From a Google. We now know they exist! And with an included matching tie and pocket square. Sort of a Donald Trump look.

And here is something of a little better quality I think. I still don't see 100% silk shirts as making any sense compared to cotton shirts.

 

[HRoi]

They went the way of the Appreciation 'stache. Either that or spoo bought all of them

 

[Working Stiff]

Originally Posted by acecow

I bought a purple silk shirt in my early sartorial days. I still have it in my closet, it hasn't been worn once. Any idea what they sell for on ebay? It's Yohji Yamamoto FWIW.

You could probably do OK selling a Yohji silk shirt over at SW&D. What size is it?

 

[Klobber]

Originally Posted by rnoldh

PS:I just thought of the Nat Nast and Tommy Bahama brands. They currently make silk shirts very often with a retro look. I think they sell well, but they are not talked about much here.

I have a couple of Nat Nast short sleeves. Nice looking and good quality, but I prefer cotton. They were an impulse buy.

 

[Matt S]

Ian Fleming wrote about white and blue silk shirts like they were the standard formal and dress shirts. We're not talking about the kind of silk shirts that were popular in the 80s and 90s.

The reason I can see why silk shirts aren't as popular as cotton is because cotton breathes better. But at least silk won't wrinkle as much as cotton does and seems like a better alternative to non-iron, though I don't know what would be the most effective way to wash them.

 

[pvrhye]

wear hot and force you to live in terror of the rain?