bjornb17
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- Sep 10, 2010
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Budget Jermyn Street Shirt Shootout (<$50 Price Range)
I recently decided to try out some Jermyn Street-branded shirts and checked out the budget brands, Charles Tyrwhitt (CT) and TM Lewin (TML), which are about equal in cost and often compared to one another here on SF and elsewhere. I ordered a few of the non-iron slim fit shirts from both companies and gave them all a try.
I was surprised by how much better than CT shirts are, in my opinion. I also have some Brooks Brothers and JAB shirts, and the CT shirts are better than both of those as well. My understanding is that TM Lewin just recently re-introduced this non-iron line, and they don’t seem to be very good. The CT shirts just feel a whole lot more refined.
I understand that none of these brands are of the same quality as some of the more expensive ones touted here, but I hope that this is beneficial to people like me who are more budget-oriented (probably mostly includes younger people with less money – I’m 26.)
In my mind, CT is to shirts as Allen Edmonds is to shoes – That is, being the cheapest brand you can buy while still getting a high-quality product in return, a baseline from which to start at.
Below are my opinions of the pros and cons of both brands:
CT Non-Iron Slim Fit
Price paid: $36 to $50 and free shipping to US
Pros:
Multiple weaves: Poplin, Hairline, Puppytooth, Twill, Basketweave, among others
Collars: Spread, Cutaway
Cuffs: Single and Double Cuff (both now offered with either collar type)
Brass Collar Stays
Higher armholes (Sleeves begin at end of top of shoulder)
Extremely responsive and accommodating customer service
Free shipping on returns and exchanges
Good selection of tasteful patterns that is updated seasonally
Non-Iron fabric still feels pretty crisp on most weaves
Shirts do not shrink (if hang dried. Using a drier is a different story)
I’ve had a couple of the shirts for a few months, have worn them 10+ times and they still look like new.
Cons:
Some weaves slightly transparent
Plastic buttons (but nicer than the TML buttons)
Non-Iron shirts still require ironing (I iron all my shirts regardless so no big deal)
Pattern matching is hit-or-miss (about 50% luck with this)
TML Non-Iron Slim Fit
Price paid: $47 and free shipping to US
Pros:
Some neat, bold patterns. But they look much better on the website than in person.
Cons:
Only one weave: Twill
Top of sleeve hangs about 3 inches off each shoulder
No attempt at pattern matching (especially obvious with the bolder stripes)
Fabric is very thick, waxy, and shiny, but still somewhat transparent
Only one cuff type: Double Cuff
Only one collar type: Spread
Overly thick fabric causes the cuffs and collar to look very clunky and unrefined
Slits in cuffs for cufflinks are too large, combined with thick fabric makes silk knots pop out
Plastic buttons are very thin
Customer service is making me pay shipping to UK to return the shirts and basically said tough luck
Many loose stitches
Sleeve length only offered in 1.5” increments
Shirts generally just feel kind of cheap
I recently decided to try out some Jermyn Street-branded shirts and checked out the budget brands, Charles Tyrwhitt (CT) and TM Lewin (TML), which are about equal in cost and often compared to one another here on SF and elsewhere. I ordered a few of the non-iron slim fit shirts from both companies and gave them all a try.
I was surprised by how much better than CT shirts are, in my opinion. I also have some Brooks Brothers and JAB shirts, and the CT shirts are better than both of those as well. My understanding is that TM Lewin just recently re-introduced this non-iron line, and they don’t seem to be very good. The CT shirts just feel a whole lot more refined.
I understand that none of these brands are of the same quality as some of the more expensive ones touted here, but I hope that this is beneficial to people like me who are more budget-oriented (probably mostly includes younger people with less money – I’m 26.)
In my mind, CT is to shirts as Allen Edmonds is to shoes – That is, being the cheapest brand you can buy while still getting a high-quality product in return, a baseline from which to start at.
Below are my opinions of the pros and cons of both brands:
CT Non-Iron Slim Fit
Price paid: $36 to $50 and free shipping to US
Pros:
Multiple weaves: Poplin, Hairline, Puppytooth, Twill, Basketweave, among others
Collars: Spread, Cutaway
Cuffs: Single and Double Cuff (both now offered with either collar type)
Brass Collar Stays
Higher armholes (Sleeves begin at end of top of shoulder)
Extremely responsive and accommodating customer service
Free shipping on returns and exchanges
Good selection of tasteful patterns that is updated seasonally
Non-Iron fabric still feels pretty crisp on most weaves
Shirts do not shrink (if hang dried. Using a drier is a different story)
I’ve had a couple of the shirts for a few months, have worn them 10+ times and they still look like new.
Cons:
Some weaves slightly transparent
Plastic buttons (but nicer than the TML buttons)
Non-Iron shirts still require ironing (I iron all my shirts regardless so no big deal)
Pattern matching is hit-or-miss (about 50% luck with this)
TML Non-Iron Slim Fit
Price paid: $47 and free shipping to US
Pros:
Some neat, bold patterns. But they look much better on the website than in person.
Cons:
Only one weave: Twill
Top of sleeve hangs about 3 inches off each shoulder
No attempt at pattern matching (especially obvious with the bolder stripes)
Fabric is very thick, waxy, and shiny, but still somewhat transparent
Only one cuff type: Double Cuff
Only one collar type: Spread
Overly thick fabric causes the cuffs and collar to look very clunky and unrefined
Slits in cuffs for cufflinks are too large, combined with thick fabric makes silk knots pop out
Plastic buttons are very thin
Customer service is making me pay shipping to UK to return the shirts and basically said tough luck
Many loose stitches
Sleeve length only offered in 1.5” increments
Shirts generally just feel kind of cheap