Brooks also offers the locker loop or "fag tag" for BD collared shirts. I don't remember that that feature was every a part of a Brooks shirt though. Was it?
I say no.
A dissenting voice; Mr. Davis at 346 Mad. Av. helped me with some oxford cloth shirts that fit quite well and are also wearing quite well. The price for the other fabrics is out of line with the quality of the cloth; but for oxford cloth to wear with tweed jackets, they are well worth the money.
I received a Brooks MTM shirt that I had made up. Unlined collar. Very nice. And the "Heritage" pink Oxford cloth is really nice stuff. I haven't compared it to the RTW offerings -- don't know if the shade is what is being currently offered for those shirts or not.
One tweak needed and then I'll probably have some more done up.
They can put a monogram anywhere you want.
They'll do a locker loop if you want.
I forgot to ask if the "third" button behind the collar was a possibility or not.
I didn't examine the shirt too closely but I'm not sure if they did the tail as "deeply" (and cut as high) as the old model shirt.
I liked the really old style clear plastic buttons better than the buttons that are now on the shirt. But I'm probably the only one that does.
They had that lighter blue in the Heritage cloth that is one from the archives. One of the key guys at 346 said that it's possible that there's talk of their introducing another color from the archive soon. Maybe peach. But I'm hoping for the green, which I always thought was the right shade of green to wear, if you were going to go that route.
Horace,
How much did Brooks charge for this shirt?
Regards,
Steven
Steven, I haven't been charged but I think it's about $150 -- that includes the price of the monogram. I don't know if that charge is a flat charge or if it reflects that fact that I had them do some special things (unlined collar), and different cut to the tail.
I'm not sure that I'm going to like the unlined collar as much as a "minimal" collar lining, which checking against a 70's Brooks shirt I have in broadcloth BD, is minimally lined. I was told that they can do various gauges of lining, by the way.
Fairly expensive, I know, but if I like it, it might well be worth it to me, as I really like the cloth. And the measurements are pretty good, as I'm in between sleeve sizes on RTW (but not noticeably so that it bothers me).
Horace,
My only MTM experience with an unlined button down collar resulted in a shirt with minimal roll, but I can't imagine that you'll have this problem at Brooks.
I've been tempted to get at least one blue Supima button-down made up at Brooks just for sentimental reasons (no pocket-maybe a monogram where the pocket should go). I wonder if the Heritage cloth is a reasonable facsimile of the supima that Brooks used long ago. And I agree that, if you want Brooks, the plastic buttons are authentic. Now if I can find a Chipp striped tie that isn't too narrow and a navy surcingle belt I'll be back.
Regards,
Steven
I just got my shirt. It's good. If you want little details different (pocket, unlined collar, etc) or like the "Heritage" Oxford cloth or want different size collar/cuff openings/shirt lengths, body size, etc. go with MTM. If not, off-the-peg. I think the guy who fits you makes a difference unless you really know what you like and what you're doing. I was impressed with the 346 location's people. Los Angeles people are either very very good, or indifferent/full-of-some-shit. I don't want to bad-mouth it, because I got what I wanted, but I could see how you wouldn't if you didn't know what was what.
What I did discover is that there are quite a few options available for measurements and tweaks. This is contrary to what has been previously reported amongst the denizens of the fora. Which means that BB's policies have changed, or more likely, that a few of those guys who were commenting on the "services" or lack thereof, were talking out of their ass and didn't actually get anything MTM. Which is more likely, since I've come to see that a good number of people who sound off on stuff don't have experience or are just repeating what they have read previously.
More to follow.
Horace,
I'm glad you're happy with your shirt. On my last short trip to New York, I never did get to 346 to see Tom Davis or to compare the Heritage swatches to my memories of the grayish blue supima of the '60s but instead bought a couple slim-fit RTW Brooks supima on 5th Avenue. Brooks is discontinuing the slim fit supima that is made in U.S.A. so that all slim fits will be Malaysian. On another note, I was surprised to hear that Bergdorf no longer stocks Luciano Barbera (after having done so for 20 years), so I didn't go there either. The new J Press store looks small and antiseptic, but the location at 47th has more foot traffic than 44th Street. I hope they do well.
Regards,
Steven
Last edited by rsmeyer (2007-08-16 18:32:36)
Horace, I'm glad yours worked out.
I got mine at West Hartford last year, I think I've discussed it before.
I thought the construction and quality were fine.
Sleeves, at 34, seemed a tad shorter than anyone else's 34. I think you've said the same happened to you. Mercer's 34 is perfect on me. It's really weird.
Also, it was about 2 weeks later than they claimed it would be in coming.
It seems what you get varies, from the three accounts here.