English manufactured BD shirts never accomplished the essential cut and roll of the collar that was the hallmark of US shirt companies like Wren, Sero, Lion of Troy, Fruit of the Loom, etc. The weave and the colours were dull as well. 
Best take a US original from your wardrobe and see if your English handmade shirt Co. could derive an accurate pattern from it whilst you source some tasty Oxford cloth for them to work with. Now, I've thought about doing this for some time but I've never got around to it.  Has anyone else?

Last edited by 1966 (2010-07-08 14:10:57)

Mm hmm.

One or two points:

I do hope Uncle Jimmy will feel fit enough to explore the Anglo roots in some detail.

It's becoming plain enough, from wandering around in the sun, that I'm not going to see too much in the way of heavier jackets, overcoats etc. until maybe next month.  Then I can perhaps review the situation.

English outerwear with American shirts seems a distinct possibility, so long as the outerwear is suitably proportioned.  Obviously we're looking at shoulders and width of lapel here, vents, pockets, buttons etc.  It could look pleasingly 'square', hence mildly subversive.  I was tempted by an excellent Dunn and Co. tweed suit, but I have one from Brooks that is a little like it (aside from the obvious detailing). 

Gibson Gardens led me to consider this, based upon a late John Simons look.  But I think I'm narrowing down my base of operations near home.  I'm only coming away with maybe two or three decent items each time, but better that than zilch.  It's not going to be Saville Row standard, but hopefully good stuff from the 50s and 60s, without a hint of Carnaby Street.

I have a navy Grenfell field coat and also worry that people will think it is a Barbour.  Excellent coat although the optional lining doesn't stay fastened very well......

On the theme of mixing in a few bits of decent english clothing:

It's alright to bang on about Saville Row but how many people can afford to have stuff made there?  At the risk of howls of derision; these days the larger M&S branches seem to be carrying the odd quality bit of english gear amongst all the 'collezione' crap. I was in the Kingston store the other day and for 129 quid I was sorely tempted by a dark green herringbone jacket which was labelled as yorkshire tweed. It was good quality, nicely made, the shoulders weren't too stupid and it was versatile as it would look great with, jeans, chinos or cords and most shirts. I didn't buy it because I had a sensible Woofboxer head on that day which told me I've got too many jackets already.

It was 2 button, twin vent so wouldn't appeal to some for that reason alone, but then we're not in uniform are we?

It's a question of accessibility as much as anything, isn't it?  Rubbing cloth between your fingers is the ideal; colour and cut; smell; examining labels.  Ebay can pose risks, certainly.