For dress clothing - NO
For casual clothing - sometimes yes.

Thank you Jack,  they're not something I seek out or do for myself.  I actually am reminded of the gf evertime I see the monogram, which may be her point in having them done.  She is pretty much the only person who sees them besides me.  There just seems to be a lot of discussion about what is and is not trad these days.  I know it is different from ivy which is why I am asking for everyones input.

I have a monogrammed trunk - which dates from my boarding school days- it also accompanied me to university- since - it has been a neat lockable recepticle for my porn stash- not often opened now adays-since the advent of internet porn- ah well it`s something to leave the grandkids-to remember me by.

Aren`t mothers fantastic-I`ve just telephoned her to see if she can remember which manufacturer made my trunk ( no name visible) and she informed me it`s a Mossman- she bought each of us one at the same time -I being the eldest -used my fathers old trunk for the first 2 years ( us being my brother and sister as well as myself- we also had matching lockable tuckboxes by the same Manufacturer)

Last edited by The_Shooman (2007-10-15 11:14:13)

i have my computer mouse monogrammed

Sometimes if they are hand done and tongue in cheek. On a pair of gold engravable cufflinks, yours or your grandfather's imitials in a very English font, hand engraved. Someone gave me a flask with my initials engraved in a fancy script that Im not too crazy about. I engraved one myself with a verse from Kipling (Extra credit if you can guess which one).

For shirts, I can deal with them if small and hand done. On the left breast or lower part of the left side torso, just above the belt. I dont like them on collars, cuffs or elbows. Collar monograms are especially offensive to me with cuffs a close second. I think seeing them on your  elbow would simply make me wonder...why?

One exception was  a Paris custom shirt client who had two sets of cufflink holes on each cuff with the legend of a City (I think New York, Tokyo, London, Los Angeles but not positive) because he was trader who need to know what ime it was in different cities. practical, ecelctic, original and ultimately, stylish. If you're Derek Jeter and you have your player number monogrammed on your shirt, or even '96 '98 '99 '00 under each french cuff hole to denote your world series wins it's acceptable.

When visible, colors also play  a part. Subtle but still distinct from the shirt faric = good. Flashy or high contrast = bad. Matching the shirt fabric just makes the shirt look like it it damaged.

Monograms in places people cant see them are fine whether it's the leg of your boxers or the inside of your suit's lapel like Twin Six' Ginza suit. In this case, any color (s) you like.

http://www.filmnoirbuff.com/article/ginza-tailor-part-2

Tongue in cheek monograms can be OK, like me using "FNB" instead of my real initials as a conversation starter. I could even see ones monograms as hole punching on the cap tes of your brogues.

But most monograms strike me as too serious and/or defensive, as if youre telling the world you exist which is rather like a name plate on a desk.

The initial cloth you can get made up as a stripe in a suit fabric, instead of my name repeating, I would get something like "Go to Hell".

Thanks to everyone for responding.  I appreciate the input.  I think now I will recommend that any such monograms in the future be more subdued in color.  Right now they are navy on either white or blue oxford.  Maybe a medium blue would be better as mentioned above.

Sorry Jack no tats for me, they're ok but not for me.  Maybe I'll get a signet ring instead.  Something small, gold and tasteful to wear on my pinky.  Hey if Charles wears one it must be ok.