Did I read somewhere that the Ivy shop people disliked them, at least at first?
I've had a few, US made, and a couple made in Turkey. JS says they're now being made in Italy. The shop seems to offer plenty, but I'm becoming increasingly dubious, thinking about swinging back to vintage Brooks.
Any thoughts?
I don't know current status, but I did own a BD Baggies shirt in college in the late 80s. Dreadful quality back then.
BD baggies-marginal but great when thrifted for 2$
Given the choice I'd go Brooks.
It was the double row of stitching on the collar which Ian at the Ivy Shop thought wrong (John Gall informed). He also disliked the placket on the Geofrey Scott BD for being too stiff. When asked who made a good shirt then he gave me a look and just said 'Brooks'.
They seem pretty variable, Jim, to be truthful. I've never had one out of the shop, only on the net because they're inexpensive. The first, pale blue, I get on with well; and the denim job isn't too bad, either. But the couple I've just had, made in Turkey, I just know are inferior to anything else I've got, including Brooks. My instinct is that Ian was right and that I won't be buying any more.
Ian was/is great.
Ask about a shirt & he'd say Brooks.
Ask about Jazz & he'd say Miles Davis.
I feel that we're getting to the heart of this - and possibly several other - matters(s).
John, Jeff, Ken, Ian, John Gall - your mates, RS.
The Society for the Protection and Furtherance of UK Ivy: respect the past, look to the future.
Intelligent people are capable of changing their minds.
I'd go along with the Malaysian, certainly. The only shirt I bought in Regent Street, a day or two after they opened. The staff were hopeless, but the shirt remains excellent.
Had a good laugh at the notion that they can simply be taken from the line and chucked on without ironing. Well, yes, they can, but they'll look more than nicely crumpled, they'll look like shit. You might get away with the old stuff, like Lion of Troy, but not these Turkish-made striped cotton jobs.
I still puzzle a little over this brand: still on offer at Chiltern Street. I had one for nothing off Dennis Shamrock years ago. No-one was interested. Now £2.99 on Ebay, here in the UK. I bloody well bought it, too. Nice enough shirt, like the softened Gant Nordic Twill I'm wearing now, for knocking about the house/going to the chippie/supermarket.
I'm fairly sure I saw one with a starting bid of £60 about a fortnight ago. Odd.
Don't know what the future is for BD Baggies but I had a few back in the late 80s that I think we're quite good. My Gant shirts were better but Baggies a good shirt for the office. I find it strange that some people think that if JS sells items then they must be good. He used to sell products that he didn't rate himself.
Like the Harrington? That's interesting. Any definite examples?
I too bought a couple of BD's in the 80's, still have them, made in the USA back then. I think this may have been another brand the Italians bought, either that or their European base was based there.
I have a BD Baggie bought from Chiltern Street. Nice cloth in a thick blue butcher stripe. No complaints from me.
I bought out of necessity a blue ocbd Bd’s on a business trip to Canada early 90’s, good shirt, I had a fantastic brown/blue ( for want of a better description) pow plaid poplin from the Ivy Shop ‘ 94’ish,USA made, a few signs of wear and I outed it, another shirt I outed too soon, white ocbd last week of Russell St, and I bought the ‘Miles’ green 3/4 years ago, the fabric is stretchy, ok but I wouldn’t bother with BD’s again, just remembered JS told me in Russel St around early 2000’s that a guy had bought a dozen BD’s from him in one purchase as ‘ they don’t make shirts like this anymore ‘, I always thought those Haggarshirts in RS look rubbish and more suited to Milletts, that’s my 2 bobsworth, hehe
This thread is exactly why I joined Talk Ivy.
I really appreciate when you guys have a buying history with brand or article of clothing.Takes away expensive mistakes.
I purchased my first and only BDB earlier in the year. As the JSA Ivy shirt collar is too long for my face (imagine Harry Hill) I wanted to try another brand that was readily available.
FIRST IMPRESSION: I was surprised that I had to size up in a regular fit.
I can't see two rows of stitching on the collar - like Gitman – but the button down collar is more like a spread than a traditional pointed button down.
I'd love to know opinions on the current collar design.
Quality wise it's OK. I have some better and some worse
That chetmiles was quite a guy. Wonder what happened to him. Probably servicing dusky maidens in some exotic locale.
Mr. Singer, I for one am glad you're here and that you're enjoying yourself.
I meant to mention about the collars, yes like a spread collar as you say AS, I have a ‘60’s vintage h/s that tbh has a similar collar, but it’s batik print, ‘ very rare ‘ as JS’s tags often say on their one-off items ..... ! My forearms look ok in a h/s I reckon, hairs ok’ish , not sure about the other, hehe
Some quite like Haggar as a brand. They pop up in charity shops at about a fiver (if that) a time and tend to look rather off-putting. Their chinos are probably the worst I've ever owned.
I bought a 'Legend' about three and a half weeks ago for the price of a portion of chips on Ebay. Usual pointless collar but the material itself is halfway decent. It's a kind of micro-gingham. Last Baggie before that, the USA-made denim, is seeing plenty of action. Some gob-open journalist once saw Johnny Simons doing his denim shirt unbuttoned with chinos look - almost wet himself when he clocked Paul Weller having a nose round. Probably treated himself to one of those 'Rodney' jackets he'd heard so much about.