Current opinions on Dege/Whittaker bespoke shirts

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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The beauty of getting shirts made in Naples is that you're guaranteed to have several extra pounds on you at the time.

Matt- were you able to do those two fittings in the same trip? How far apart?

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

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Matt- were you able to do those two fittings in the same trip? How far apart?

If I recall, a two or three days apart. Of course, I scheduled in advance.

Originally Posted by rnoldh

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Does Steed have a recommended shirtmaker?

Steed offer MTM shirts...and he likes Budd.

I want a bespoke shirt, though. Budd do not travel.


- B

I never criticized Kabbaz for his price. I criticized him for refusing to explain what he offers for that price that other shirtmakers don't (apparently, his shirts are 'incomparable' and any potential client of his wouldn't talk about 'value').

Why would you bet Kabbaz provides 10x more service? Unless you've dealt with my shirtmaker, I don't see how you could possibly judge that.

Also, part of the context you are leaving out is that Matuozzo's shirts are nearly completely hand-stitched while Kabbaz shirts are completely done by machine, except for the buttonholes. We all know that good hand-stitching is rare and takes a lot of time and labor.

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So, wait, just to clarify...

Do you think 600-700 euros is a good value for a Matuozzo shirt? $800-1000 for the same thing you were getting for almost half the price two years ago?

Are you really going to make that argument?

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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With local options skyrocketing in price, Paris and Italy seem incredibly attractive these days.

They do...but London even more, if we are just talking about price.

At any rate, the price for experimenting with Dege doesn't seem like a lot, so I think that I'll just plunge in and see the results for myself.


- B

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

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They do...but London even more, if we are just talking about price.

At any rate, the price for experimenting with Dege doesn't seem like a lot, so I think that I'll just plunge in and see the results for myself.


- B

If you do that, please keep us posted. You're a great source of information for all of us!

Originally Posted by kngrimm

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So, wait, just to clarify...

Do you think 600-700 euros is a good value for a Matuozzo shirt? $800-1000 for the same thing you were getting for almost half the price two years ago?

Are you really going to make that argument?

I think you're completely missing what I'm saying.

First of all, I'm not arguing that 600-700 euros isn't a lot of money. Second, I'm not questioning Kabbaz's right to charge his prices or criticizing the quality of his product (which I know little to nothing about). I have criticized him for denigrating lower-priced shirtmakers while refusing to discuss what makes his shirts better. The stupid thing is that this all started because he misunderstood a question of mine about value when I asked what a client would get from him that he wouldn't get from CEGO for a fraction of the price. He went off on how his clients don't ask questions like that because they are so wealthy that money doesn't matter to them.

I don't care how great his shirts might be, they could not possibly be worth dealing with such an egotistical blowhard. Incidentally, I do think he's full of it. I know for a fact that if you buy enough socks (five pairs will do the trick), he'll offer you a "deal" to buy one bespoke shirt (instead of whatever ridiculous minimum he supposedly imposes on his super-wealthy universe-ruling clients) at a 20% discount.

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

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Steed offer MTM shirts...

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

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At any rate, the price for experimenting with Dege doesn't seem like a lot, so I think that I'll just plunge in and see the results for myself.

It would also be an interesting experiment to do a couple MTM shirts with Steed, since you already have such a rapport with Edwin, and also go the bespoke route with Dege; then compare the two experiences & products.

Originally Posted by binge

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It would also be an interesting experiment to do a couple MTM shirts with Steed, since you already have such a rapport with Edwin, and also go the bespoke route with Dege; then compare the two experiences & products.

I don't want to break the bespoke spell with Edwin. It's not worth it.

I can that all of you guys are f*cking with my mind, with none except one having any substantive to say about Whittaker.



- B

Is that a blanket on the horse? Is that how he got the downtown hottie?

--Andre

I ordered some shirts from Whittaker while they were on tour this past spring. The fit was spot on; not "tentish" at all.

Turn-around time was a bit unreasonable in my opinion, however, and the stitching on one of the shirt plackets came undone after one wash. I returned it a few weeks ago for repairs, and will be picking it up from Whittaker while they are in D.C. later this week. I understand they've been at capacity filling a contract with a Mid East country, which likely accounts for the delay.

I haven't tried any shirtmakers state-side (athough I plan on stopping by CEGO next week while I'm in New York), so I can't compare quality. I will say that the construction appears to be better than what I've seen from H&H, and the fit is considerably better.

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

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I can that all of you guys are f*cking with my mind, with none except one having any substantive to say about Whittaker.

Wrong cultural reference. I think Doc can back me up on this one...

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Originally Posted by Mr. Moo

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I don't like that collar on their website. Too DKNY.

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

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all of you guys are f*cking with my mind

Sorry, Vox, I have nothing relevant to contribute, but I do really like the collars on your current Borellis. Just sayin'.

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

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But, getting back to my main question: is anyone using Whittaker now, and if so, would you be willing to share your thoughts on what the Dege shop is putting out today?


- B

sorry vox just saw this thread and replying quickly. I used Dege about 6-7 years ago and had good results with them. Shirts were nice and I was fitted at Dege in London but they were quite expensive well over $250 for me at the time. However, fit and construction wise they are nothing that Geneva NYC can't do. If you like the typical British-y shirt... you know high stiff collar in rather bolder fabrics, you would not be disappointed but for me they were nothing special. Good but nothing exceptional so I stopped. I don't care for those turnbull like fabrics in neon stripes pretty much 98% of thomas mason suff.

There was a rather impersonal feel in the air with Dege all in all. Not saying it was or is 100% the case but for me the exprience seemed slightly cold.

Again, good fit on the shirts but nothing that NYC shirtmakers cannot do. However, for my two cents I would put them well over Turnbull. My experience with T&A was certainly not good in terms of fit and quality.

At Dege and Turnbull they showed my pattern to me once but at the time I didn't understood pattern making so wasn't able to see a whole lot. If only I could see them now... oh well!

anyways, this still doesn't answer you question about Dege shirts now.

Originally Posted by tutee

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If you like the typical British-y shirt... you know high stiff collar in rather bolder fabrics, you would not be disappointed but for me they were nothing special. Good but nothing exceptional so I stopped. I don't care for those turnbull like fabrics in neon stripes pretty much 98% of thomas mason suff.

Getting back to my rascal questions. Vox, will you be primarily looking for colors/patterns that add to your existing wardrobe, or replacing shirts that you already have?