Robbie - you're right about hangovers in later life.... JS Mingus - I exchanged messages with Paul this week and he said it should be with me next week, I told him if he wants to he can take photos and put them on his FB page, if he doesn't I can email you photos, the only thing is it's navy and that doesn't show up too well in photos,
Alvey - spot on about DNA but I can't help admire what he does, his enthusiasm for the products, apparently does everything himself, competitive pricing, one item that might appeal are his penny loafers, made in Spain, ( like a lot of his stuff),

Kingstonian - a couple of months on from your comment about Kamakura shirts, did you go ahead and buy one from  All Blues ? If so what's your take on it ? I ask as I've seen what appears to be a very nice green madras on the Kamakura website, ( not available on the AB's website), it'd be easier if AB's stocked this one as (obviously) returns to Yorkshire are much easier than Japan, if anyone else has any experience of Kamakura shirts I'd be interested to hear, Thanks,

I started buying their shirts when the Vintage Ivy collection was launched.

I had trouble getting the right size and my first two attempts - a black watch shirt and a lovely regimental stripe half sleeve - were returned.

I ended up visiting their now sadly gone New York store and was blown away with the quality and choice of materials available. At the time the shirts were way under £100 due to the favourable exchange rate.

Thankfully now they have rationalised their sizing as you used to have either a NY fit or Tokyo fit.

To review their shirts I would say they're very good quality, feature all the Ivy details we all like and are updated regularly to offer a choice of materials. Value for money is a subjective issue - but I would say they're very good in this aspect.

Now for the BUT ( you knew it was coming)..... sizing is an issue. Don't take your regular size. I am a 15.5 or M but to get the shoulders to fit I take a 16.5 or L and therefore the collar is slightly roomier than I would like. 

I haven't bought the green madras as I already own a number of madras shirts but this year I opted for the gingham check and the navy pull-over shirt. I'm delighted with both.

Kingstonian , Alvey - thank you both for your detailed feedback, you've both basically endorsed my thoughts about the shirts, I think I'm going to pass on the green madras direct from Japan as if it doesn't work for me it's a ball ache to return to Japan and expensive, I know for some the Brooks 6 button placket is something of a ' holy grail', but I'm not convinced, I always wear the 2nd button of a regular 7 button undone, I'm sure I would get the famous 'sideways look' from my Mrs if I wore a 6 button with just the top button undone, been wracking my brains to think whether any of the shirts I had from the IS back in the day were 6 button, I don't think they were, moving on I've seen a few nice looking madras shirts from the Original Madras Co. just need to hold my nerve for a couple of weeks to see if the price comes down in the sales ! Cheers,

Kingston1an- ‘ I did not have a size issue on the Vintage Ivy, Graham Marsh shirt, size 17. Six  button front could do with an extra button or wider spacing between the existing six.’

I used to take a 16.5 when they made the New York fit, but now they have rationalised the New York/Tokyo fits. So I checked the size charts for the Vintage Ivy shirts on the Kamakura site and the chest measurements don’t sound right e.g. a Size 16 is said to have a Pit to Pit of 22 inches which to me means a literal 44 inches chest, however in the next column the Chest measurement is given as 47.5 inches. - Can anyone shed any light on this?    Kingy?

^F6C
Dig around on the site and I'm sure there's an old to new conversion chart somewhere

I think the only downside of the shirts are they're Japanese fits.

If you get the chest right the collar is slightly too large compared to the equivalent UK/USA fit

Also, as six buttons placket they tend to rise up from the trouser waist as there's no buttoning lower down.

I plan on getting an additional button added.

For the money though they are a lot better made than others. The materials used are very good and they obviously have all the correct details.

Remember sun lovers Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide.

Dicks Edinburgh was where I got my last Keydge wool jacket (quite a few years ago now). I had forgotten about them.
I agree Stax re non BDs. For years I would only wear BD shirts but recently I've dug out plain collared shirts. I need to wear long sleeved shirts (skin cancer) and I have a couple of Jaeger shirts from the 90s that fit the bill.
I'm currently waiting for a shirt from Jake's but he has hit a few problems after his move so it's a long wait.

HaHa-not sure I want to get involved in collecting Dick points. I did have a good look at the site and spotted a few items that I liked. Luckily I'm away for 3 weeks so no purchases for me.

An Original Madras Trading Company madras shirt purchased at sale price during a personal visit to Dicks of Edinburgh. The quality is excellent, probably the best madras shirt I’ve seen.

https://dicks-edinburgh.co.uk/search?q=Madras

...take it back, it's a keeper. Think I'm starting to get my head around the making of a natural shoulder jacket, at least for my shoulders!