Who makes the best dress shirts?

[kcgreg]

Who makes the best ready to wear dress shirts in the industry?

Just curious! Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[coachvu]

If you also consider price, I think Ike Behar shirts are great. I don't own one, but I've heard great things about Talbott shirts, as well.

 

[JLibourel]

Charvet, maybe? I know that Alex Kabbaz, who knows infinitely more about such matters than I do, rates them highly. However, both Charvet and Kabbaz are out of the price range of a po' boy like me!

 

[Soph]

I am very fond of Barba Gold Label for RTW in the sub 200 range on sale.

 

[Vintage Gent]

Originally Posted by coachvu

If you also consider price, I think Ike Behar shirts are great.

Respectfully, I disagree. Nice fabric, generally, but horrible fit--very tent like on me, and I'm no string bean.

 

[demeis]

I really love my finamore shirt. But best is relative. I guy with a huge belly will hate Finamore but love something more generous like oxxford (?).

I really like Talbotts new Estate instock shirts at around $235.

 

[MilanoStyle]

so far, Barba, to me is the best dress shirt maker.

 

[Soph]

Originally Posted by MilanoStyle

so far, Barba, to me is the best dress shirt maker.

I would definitly say my Barba Gold Label exceed my Borrelli which exceed my finamore.
However, I do like alot of the finamore patterns. And they are all very suitable. I do like my Luciano Barbera also, lots of interesting shoulder styles.

 

[whoopee]

People seem to like Anna Matuozzo.

 

[chorse123]

The best RTW dress shirt is the one which fits you the best. Fabric, stitching, buttons, etc, matters for pretty much nothing if the shirt makes you look like a schmo. Also, I think that once you get above $200 for a dress shirt, it seems silly to go RTW.

 

[Soph]

Originally Posted by chorse123

The best RTW dress shirt is the one which fits you the best. Fabric, stitching, buttons, etc, matters for pretty much nothing if the shirt makes you look like a schmo. Also, I think that once you get above $200 for a dress shirt, it seems silly to go RTW.


True to an extent, however the materials are the basis for all looks. You can have a perfect fitting HugoBoss materials/constructed and achieved nothing. Materials, construction, fit and style are all equally important.

 

[hopkins_student]

IMO, Kabbaz is the best.

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by chorse123

The best RTW dress shirt is the one which fits you the best. Fabric, stitching, buttons, etc, matters for pretty much nothing if the shirt makes you look like a schmo. Also, I think that once you get above $200 for a dress shirt, it seems silly to go RTW.

 

[VMan]

If you're generally speaking in terms of RTW only, I think the general consensus is that Borrelli and Kiton shirts are the best.

If you take cost into consideration, I think that Carlo Franco shirts are seen as an excellent value. Also, it's pretty easy to find Borrelli shirts brand new on ebay or on the Virtual Clothes Horse site for about $110-160. Quite a savings from the $400-525 retail price.

Charvet shirts are also held in high regard, as is Barba, Finamore, etc. Though I have no personal experience with those brands.

Of course, you have to remember that fit should trump quality (assuming you can't have both), as a top of the line shirt (Kiton) that fits poorly will never look as good as a lower priced/quality (Hickey Freeman - not saying they are bad, just lower on the scale than Kiton) if it doesn't fit you well.

Also, know what details you like, and what you don't like.

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Hilditch & Key yet for quality shirts. At full price, they aren't that bad, and can be had on sale quite regularly.

 

[Thracozaag]

My stupid limited opinion, for what it's worth re: RTW shirts--(it's obviously heavily weighted towards a certain city in a certain country)

1. Anna Matuozzo
2. Attolini
2. Borrelli (from the boutique)
3. Kiton
4. Barba
5. Battistoni
6. T&A
7. H&K
8. Maffeis
9. Lorenzini

The only MTM shirt I've tried is Kiton, and of course while extremely pricey, it's an excellent shirt. Fray and Finnamore are also wonderful, but I haven't had enough experience with either to comment fully.

koji