Shirt article

[MK]

I just read an article in a Departures magazine that was sent to me. Most of the mag was not of interest but the article on dress shirts caught me eye. It was called A Great White. It was a search for the perfect white dress shirt.

The companies reviewed were Charvet, Prada, Helmut Lang, Brooks Brothers, Banna Republic, Ralph Lauren and Jil Sander.

I couldn't believe the price of the shirts. They ranged from $225-$370!

Only Banna Republic was anywhere near my ball park at $68.

How good can a shirt be? If these $300 shirts are that good, why doesn't the guys who sell shirts for $20-30 just copy the cut?

I don't get it.

 

[Jsoftz]

I don't understand what makes shirts like that so expensive. What are the things that make a shirt good and what styles were prevalent in the 30's and 40's?

 

[PrettyBigGuy]

I find more often then not that what makes clothing so expensive these days is not the quality so much as it is what designer's name is on the tag.
PBG

 

[Odysseus]

I don't know if the article mentioned whether these shirts were off the rack, but many high end shirts are tailor made much as a suit would be. Could this be the case?

 

[MK]

I will have to look, but I got the impression these were the standard shirts from these companies. They are a bargain though compared to the $30,000 piece of luggage that I saw listed.

 

[kent]

I think they'd have to be bulletproof and wrinkleproof for me to pay $370 for it. If not, it better iron itself and repel spaghetti sauce. It never fails, you'll wear a white shirt when you eat something with marinara.

There's also the point of the only name I want on a suit is mine, and/or the talor who made it.

 

[BD Jones]

It probably has to do with the combination of fabric quality, workmanship, and name. I have many Polo oxford shirts that usually run $55 - $65 a piece that have worn better than cheaper shirts. Some look just as good now as when I bought them four or five years ago. But, $300? Were these shirts custom made or even custom fitted? I don't think I've ever seen a dress shirt cost more than $150 (except a custom fitted and that was only $175).

 

[Renderking Fisk]

I'll get kicked for saying this:

Someone?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s going to kick me in the fanny for writing this?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ but right now I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m wearing the best shirt I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve ever owned in over?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ you got the picture.

It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s the L.L. Bean Chamois shirt. It has no special cut, it has no special fabric other then the usual L.L. Bean chamois clothe and it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s under 40 bucks. I have THREE of them and 9 months out of the year when I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m not at work they?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re the only shirts I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll wear.

It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s like getting a hug from my wife for 8 hours at a time. [In the case of the dark red one?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ the one she bought me JUST CAUSE it is a hug from my wife all day long]

As far as why shirts are exspensive?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ besides the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìStatus?¢‚Ǩ? lable? Its for folks who have too much time and money on their hands and they just want to be able to say the shirt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s that expensive. When your rich enough to buy anything you want and do so?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ life might get boring after a while.

 

[PrettyBigGuy]

Just stay away from open flame RK. Those chamois shirts, @ least ones that I bought from Gander Mountain and Cabelas are flamable! Look @ the underside of the "care" tag

 

[Renderking Fisk]

Another reason not to take up smoking again!

 

[Pyroxene]

What kind of fabric are they made out of and what kind of weave? I have found that's what made the price of my shrit vary.

However, the makers you mentioned, the prices seem rather high. I would expect the prices to be about half of what you quoted or they were just quoting the MSRP.

My custom Indy was $189. It has been the most comfortable shirt in my wardrobe. L.L. Bean comes close too. I like how you can select sleeve length and neck sizes.

 

[nice hat dude!]

I don't mind paying $70-$90 bucks for a shirt but $300,if I do the math and divide 300 even by as much as 100that's 3 you prove to me that the $300 shirt will outlast 3 other shirts I'd buy one tomorrow.Just a thought.