[Closed] Thomas Pink shirts, are they really worth it? Other suggestions?

the best place in london for off the peg or bespoke shirts is emma willis on jermyn street. she has a website as well, lovely stuff.

http://www.emmawillis.com/

I like TM Lewin - decent quality for the price and their slim fit is good on me (but I'm tall and lanky so the opposite of you). A lot cheaper than Pink.

There is definityely a difference between a £99 Pink and a £40 M&S, yes.

However, T M Lewin are doing 3 for £75 at present, and they are generally passable for a fair few washes anyway and definitely a bit nicer than M & S.

The key point is whether it fits you. Are you sure you couldn't get something cut? I have found Ede & Ravenscroft very good for my suits. I think they offered me 3 semi-bespoke shirts for £250 last time I asked.

Pinks are utter pish, avoid.

Emma Willis are decent, but at the moment, I am rather liking my Roderick Charles shirts (Also Jermyn St).

Of the "chains", Lewins are the best bet for overall quality, but M&S are surprisingly good, actually!

go to emma willis. explain what you're after and for what. they'll sort you right out, you'll be the talk of the town. 🙂

Ive found that TMLewin dont iron very well post-first wash.

Reiss [u]formal[/u] (not their casual trout!) shirts are spot on. They are fitted at the rear and very flattering.

hora, have you explained to your gentleman's gentleman that they should be ironed while slightly damp?

Second TM Lewin. Better quality and cheaper than Thomas Pink. I've had some Thomas Pink shirts and all the buttons came off!

+1 on TM Lewins and you can get 3 shirts for £50 from one of the shops near lime street - Pink shirts done seem to last me much more than 6 months before they start fraying or elbow splitting...

I tend to go for [url= http://www.ctshirts.co.uk/ ]CT Shirts[/url] as they seem well priced, fit me and have a collar shape that I like (unlike Lewin). Jermyn Street is worth a vist if you are in London as there are several different shirtmakers along there and IIRC there was a thread on here sometime ago which went well over 100 posts on people's favourite shirts. Each to their own and all that

New I could rely upon the sartorial style of STW for some advice 😀

Emma Willis stuff looks nice, but even more expensive...

It does vary enormously doesn't it?

Roderick Charles (Chancery Lane) were responsible for the single most appalling piece of tailoring I have ever had the misfortune to be caught up in. A suit that, after their delicate ministrations just screams "out on licence". 🙂

well they've got off the peg shirts on their site that are less than the £85 you mentioned.

They must have seen you coming, BD! My latest (non-bespoke) suit was from Roderick Charles on Jermyn St. Very impressed, they even got my raffish turnups the right length!

Recession, what recession?

Should I take my suit in with me when I buy a shirt? Will they turn up their nose at my 'cheap' bespoke tailoring (ie will I insult them by turning up with a suit from another tailor?)

if you're talking about emma willis then they'll be as nice to you with whatever suit you take in as they would to the nearest oil rich arab who's gone in for a diamond stitched shirt to match his monday ferrari.

Another vote for TM Lewins, had about a dozen over the last few years.

im all for men looking good but this is turning into metrosexualtrackworld

there was me thinking that the mtb world was all cool and alternative, turns out its just full of middle class suits

now this is a cool (t)shirt im wearing mine today, so far only 2 people actually know what it means 🙂

[img] [/img]

i've seen alien as well, don't worry 🙂

edit - but you're right, that [i]is[/i] a cool t-shirt!

take a look at new and lingwood if you are on Jermyn street although a lot depends on how you like your collar and cuffs.

Don't get me wrong, I much prefer a good T-shirt 😀 Big fan of Ringspun, Replay, Chunk, Goi Goi etc..

But my sister has decreed that I must wear a suit and tie, so I'm buying my first outfit (at 32yrs old 🙂 )

If you're a funny shape, like specific types of collar/cuffs/pockets etc and don't want to spend a fortune then I'd recommend [url= http://www.marksandspencer-madetomeasure.com/ms.asp ]this[/url].

And yes, it does work (well, for me anyway).

That would've been a good option, but I don't have the time unfortunately (I fly out next week). Maybe I'll splash the cash for a Emma Willis, though the good folk of Townsville, North Queensland won't have a clue that it's a £100 shirt!! OR care for that matter 😀

Personally I wouldn't go for Thomas Pink or TM Lewin at their price ranges. As mentioned, for that sort of cash you're better off going to Jermyn Street and buying off the peg from any of the established shirt-makers. They'll run a measure over you and get you something better fitting and of decent cotton.

For a little more you could go bespoke but generally you'll have to fulfill a minimum order (usually 3). I got mine made by Budd Brothers - I think it worked out at around £130 a shirt in the end. The oldest ones are still going strong. Personally I can't recommend bespoke highly enough - they fit like a glove and my eldest are now coming up for 8 years old and still going strong. SHould they wear out at the collar / cuff then you'll get replacements easily enough without binning the whole shirt. You don't get that at T.Pink.

If you want to do the highstreet then the shirtmaker who fitted me out recommended Marks and Spencer and Next (which surprised me no end). The quality of the materials, especially at M&S is very good for money apparently. You just need to find the size that fits you best.

CFH - you seem to be taken with R. Charles right now. I shall investigate (n/w/standing the pauper's salary they keep us on in the provinces, I am in need of some more decent suits and shirts and I'm not sure I always want to be off-the-peg G&H).

To answer the OP - Pinks I find to be awful, both in terms of cut and quality. I don't rate Lewins that much higher, but they aren't as bad as Pinks.

Some good recs on here, and Jermyn Street is the place to shop for shirts. My next shirts, however, will be Frank Rostron in Manchester.

There is nothing cool with that T Shirt apart from having short sleeves will keep you cool in warm weather.
As mentioned above I'd stay away from Thomas Pink, I've had a few of their shirts and they have all worn really poorly - One's now a duster and another I use to decorate in. T M Lewin, Hugo Boss and Paul Smith are all excellent choices for off the peg shirts

Oddly, now is a very good time to look at suits and shirts, what with all this recession kerfuffle a lot of the shops are douing some superb deals to tempt you out of your hard earned!

I totally disagree with Hora re the Lewins ironing. I am the ironer in our house and all the lewins shirts we own are a pleasure to iron.

Although am about to iron my new Hawkes & Curtis shirt so will be interesting to see how it compares.

What a sad cow I am 😯 😀

MrsF, don't suppose you fancy doing mine as well? 😉

For a fee Captain, I will.

I find Uniqlo ones pretty good...

...but seriously... you don't wear shirts/suits very much (or at all) and you're really thinking about spending £100 on shirt! Even if I had to wear them every day I don't think I could justify more than about £25 each!

*Gives thanks for being able to wear uniform/scrubs to work.

[i]a pleasure to iron[/i]

Eh? Germaine Greer to the front desk, please - advice needed. 😉

you're really thinking about spending £100 on shirt!

well... I've spent £350+ (a small fortune for me!) on a suit so may as well get the whole outfit to match 😀

Duchamp have 30% off some of their collection at the moment, get yourself a good tie along with your shirt

mrsflash, I need to be shown the correct way 😀

TM Lewin again here - get the 100 count cotton ones, not the heavier weight stuff, really come into their own after a few washes...mmm. comfy.
4 shirts for 100notes in this neck of the woods...

noteeth, I'm sure if you have read my recent rants on the topic of riding with women you will agree that I don't really need to chat with the lovely Ms Greer.

However, ironing needs doing and I'd rather iron a shirt that responds well to it.

[thinks this is probably not the place to start talking about the inordinate amount of pleasure hanging washing on the line gives me]

I like the look of the Duchamp stuff... bit of a fan of flash and colour. might pop down there and see what's what 😀

[thinks this is probably not the place to start talking about the inordinate amount of pleasure hanging washing on the line gives me]

MrsF, seen here in a recent portrait

[img] [/img]

Good Man

over my head, sorry. ❓

I hate buying shirts, i have a 13.5" collar and i've found nowhere except Gap and Ralph Lauren boys makes off the peg ones that fit.

Kryton (sp?) - he does all the cleaning, ironing etc on Starbug in red dwarf

[i]probably not the place to start talking about the inordinate amount of pleasure hanging washing on the line gives me[/i]

[img] [/img]

😀

utter random one - TK Maxx - they get a load of v.nice italian stuff in - sadly for this fat lad, they never seem to go beyond a never over a 16" collar.....

thanks hora.

😆 notheeth

I quite like the look of this design:

[img] [/img]

what do ya'll think?

i have a 13.5" collar

Do you often find yourself being asked if you've "been ill recently"?

Either that, or you write very well for an eight year old...

😉

[i]inordinate amount of pleasure[/i]* that is to be had in the smell of line dried washing, full stop.....

*not gay or owt 😉 only recently got access to outdoor drying again following months of poor weather / building works.........

what do ya'll think?

You're trolling or have a degenerative eye disease....

psychle, that shirt's very, erm, well it's very.....

No. Just no.

now this is a cool (t)shirt im wearing mine today, so far only 2 people actually know what it means

Passe. Loads of them down here in That London's famous London.

And the fact that you think it's cool, makes it instantly uncool. You've decided to wear it because it's 'cool', but it is not. FAIL.

Cool is something that can only be achieved without trying. Any deliberate act to appear cool, is uncool.

Cool is something that can only be defined by others. I buy stuff that I like, and feels comfy, not stuff I think is 'cool'. If other people decide that it is cool, then it is cool. Thus, my Newham Sure Start t-shirt (freebie nicked off my old flatmate) is cool, whereas my Bench 'Chopper' T-shirt is not. Nice T-shirt though.

As for 'proper' shirts, I'm the last person to ask. But (and I'll probbly be met with horror and howls of derision over this) I bought a nice shirt from Ted Baker about 12 years ago; very nice cut, fit me really well, good quality material, well made, nice. Several people have remarked on what a nice shirt it is (it must be cool, then!). I've still got it (I'm not a regular shirt wearer), and it's had a good few washes, although it's sightly tired looking now.

I think it was about £60-80 or so. Spensive, for me.

Go and try a few on, get one you like. Don't be worried about what label it is.

Really? I quite like it 🙁 honestly. I don't have to wear it for work, so I'd rather have something interesting than business like...

what do ya'll think?

Wedding photos have a nasty habbit of hanging around for a long time.

Well, maybe not the tie then, but the shirt is nice no?

what about this black version?

[img] [/img]

that shirt and tie combination is very llewelyn bowen

in the smell of line dried washing

If you're going to spend a lot of cash, may as well get something you will be able to use more often. There's nothing quite like a superb quality, heavy plain white shirt, IMO. That tie would then look superb!

Christ Almighty; you [i]want[/i] to look like a ponce?

TM Lewin def a good one and hit those outlet places. Cheshire Oaks, Bicester for posh stuff (Paul Smith, Gieves and Hawkes, etc)

Other option is the bargain hunting in TK Maxx. Definately worth a look, got a Calvin Klein suit for £100. Single button dark blue.

Christ Almighty; you want to look like a ponce?

That's a bit harsh RB ain't it? thought you were an opened minded sort of chap 😀

psychle - how is that suit? I've wondered how these tailored numbers are - I know they are a step up from OTP but I went full bespoke for my last one. Well worth it.

If anyone is in the Midlands area and in need of a proper suit, I can recommend Coleman and Sons in Leicester. Great price and superlative tailoring and service.

just need the jacket to go with.....
[img] http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40568000/jpg/_40568909_changing_rooms203.jp g" target="_blank">http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40568000/jpg/_40568909_changing_rooms203.jp g"/> [/img]

Oh - the tie with that blue shirt is great - the shirt is shocking. The tie would look great with a plain shirt.

Don't try too hard - it just looks like you tried too hard - not cool or anything alse. Plain shirt, splendid tie, good shoes, dark socks. Sorted.

The suit is full bespoke, if you go in to get measured up (or you can do your own measurements). Suit is excellent, just a couple of small issues to sort out and I'll be happy (sleeves are cut a little too short for my liking, though apparently this is so you show your cuff and cufflinks off? And I'd prefer it a little tighter on the hips than it currently is, like to show off my broad shoulders 😆 )

That's a bit harsh RB ain't it? thought you were an opened minded sort of chap

I am, until it comes to issues of poncification. ask yourself; what kind of person would wear a shirt like that?

See? You now know why you mussunt ever wear anything like that.

You want advice on style? You come to me, son. Forget all these poncy fops on here. Most of 'em woon't know style if the V+A museum got up and kicked 'em in the nuts.

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever get a matching shirt and tie combo. These should be used only to identify and humiliate wrong-doers in society. Anyone who willingly wears such a criminally unholy alliance is a wrongun anyway, in my book.

ask yourself; what kind of person would wear a shirt like that?

This guy?

[img] [/img]

he's the company director of Duchamp... 😀

Psychle

If you think that's a nice shirt, I dread to think what the suit looks like. Got any photos..?

Well, my point exactly. He's a ponce.

FAIL. A very dark shirt will look rubbish in photos and in a year's time (now) look as out of date as flares.

Get something very plain and then go for a serious tie. Also next time you have to wear the suit, but a new tie and everyone will think you have totally new gear

suit is a standard single breast model in plain dark/midnight blue (fabric is kid mohair wool). The only ostentation is the gold paisley lining 😀

I like CT, the slim-fit cut is nice and they're one of the few that do that cut in non-iron fabric (I am both lazy and travel a lot).

As said though, if you're in London then browse along Jermyn Street, there's loads along there.

The only place;

[url] http://www.turnbullandasser.com/ ][/url]

Not being picky here but I can't not mention it

[i]The suit is full bespoke, if you go in to get measured up (or you can do your own measurements).[/i]

The suit is tailor made for you, not bespoke. The measurements were sent to a workshop in Nepal where the suit was made to those measurements and sent back to the UK.
Bespoke is fully hand cut and made on the premises and would also require several fittings before the finished atricle was fit to wear.
I just don't want you thinking that is bespoke when bespoke is something very different.

suit is a standard single breast model in plain dark/midnight blue (fabric is kid mohair wool).

OK, shirt is either white or pastel blue or - if your colouring takes it - pink. Tie to go with - but not "match" - shirt.

Socks to have a colour in them picked out in the tie.

Shoes are black: English, Italian or French.

Cufflinks are "chain", not "t-bar".

Enjoy being well dressed..!

OMITN, a couple of notes;

Shoes should be English, nothing else. Duckers in Oxford make mine, smashing place
Socks - Not sure about colour in socks with a formal suit, myself.
Cufflinks - I am actually rather a fan of Turk's Head knots, as they can add to/compliment both shirt and tie. Other than that, I have a collection of lovely old ones inherited from my grandfather.

after all this, you'll need to post pictures of you in the whole outfit so we can [s]take the piss [/s] say how nice you look.