Robbie- that’s a relief you’re replacement will be a Jakes and you’re not going back for that charity shop Ben Sherman, worse still would be a Brutus !
White OCBD’s - I have one from the Bureau in Belfast from about 7-10 years ago, from the shirt details I think it was made by Individualized Shirts in NYC, excellent shirt probably the best collar roll on any Ivy shirt I’ve owned in the last 20 years and that includes some NOS shirts from O’Connells, to me it feels like a Hathaway from back in the day, but I reckon I’ve worn the shirt less than a dozen times, if it had been blue it’d be worn out by now, Individualized Shirts use to make some excellent shirts, last time I looked there was nothing Ivy , modern short collar slim fit shirts,

Thanks for the offer FlatSixC. It sounds like a real bargain but I've set my heart on getting a Jake shirt. I have a plan of slowly replacing my old shirts with Jake ones and I want him to stay in business.

From Dick’s sale: a shirt by The Original Madras Trading Company who make the best madras shirts,  bar none, that I’ve ever had.
However this is what OMTC  call Madras Winter weight brushed cotton. It’s like a madras cloth but in a lighter weight flannel. The two prints they have are quite subdued rather the flashy madras colours of summer. I’m very pleased, it looks good under a crew neck sweater and will look good with a plain tweed or cord jacket.

Last edited by FlatSixC (2024-02-06 10:21:48)

Colin

I hope you love the pink uni stripe shirt.

Possibly one of the most versatile things I own. Great in the Summer months with chinos or under a navy cotton suit. In the winter works equally well under a green shetland with jeans.

I've got a Mercer one and it's one of my favourites of theirs.

I love an unusual uni stripe....green, burgundy, yellow...always find them 'easier' to wear than solid oxford cotton shirts, which sometimes seem a bit flat.

To be honest, the quality of the Gant repro shirt isn't great - the fabric just doesn't compare to Kamakura, John Simons etc.....but it cost me £20 so I'm not complaining.

Was mostly intended to be worn under shetlands, but the collar good enough to wear on its own, actually

Colin - that sounds like a bargain if it works out size-wise, fingers crossed, I had a quick look at the new JS overcoats, some nice looking cloths, but they seem to increase in price by £100 each year, I bought mine 2 years ago , I think it was £595,

I agree with your statement about £200 shirts.

My CD player packed and I was amazed at the price of a replacement - even in Richer Sounds which used to be 'pile em high, sell em cheap'.

Inflation, 'the lower end market for CD players is not there' and 'we have expanded into higher end kit' were the various responses. I will get my player repaired. It was a well regarded and common model. So parts should not be an issue. Most of my kit is holding up well. Cassette deck is failing. Mini disc still works but does not get used.

Interesting point about the CD player - they are regrowing in popularity at a modest level as the young discover them, but they buy up old boom boxes from vintage shops.

DVD players are going the other way - there are huge premium priced ones, but you can get a Sony or Panasonic 4K HDR region free model now for less than £300.  It's a time to mop up blu-rays and 4Ks before they all disappear for the same reason as CD then we're all at the mercy of things disappearing from streaming services or the price of them shooting up - which they will.

Amazon has removed its 4K tier to behind a paywall. Others will follow.

We are all being ripped off hugely right now - think about the logic of a £200+ shirt to a £50 one. Are they really making the difference up in first world wages?  Unless I see specific traceability, no they really aren't. A lot of the work is re-outsourced from USA to Free Zones such as El Salvador that pay 3rd world wages but are still able to claim USA manufacture status. Union made is a helpful certification, but take care outside that. USA made.... does not mean USA made unless they are specific where.

Just because a shirt is made in USA doesn't mean it is hand sewn, it's where the same machines are located. Cloth travels all over the world and often back again, by top brands charging premium prices. Take any kind of look into it and there is cost cutting, price gouging going off while making the consumer feel they are buying a local, premium product.

Someone who is a small scale artisan like Jakes or operating in a specific community like Community Clothing, I absolutely get it. A mass manufacture company selling all over the world... come on.  It's what I admire about Grenfell, made in UK, make their own cloth, have not kept putting their prices up. The same with Magee or Gloverall too. They aren't perfect, no doubt their cloth travels globally and other points. But a Grenfell harrington or a Gloverall wool coat, are what they always are at relatively modest prices (compared to Drakes, Private White and above levels). Same with Cordings too. When the mid-tier they represent goes, it will never return.

I've worked at board level in VC/Private Equity 'backed' companies - a lot of consumer money is going to servicing debt and achieving the Power of 40 and other similar metrics.  Go look at any shoes made in Northampton right now - the prices are up in the £500-£1000 range, often by default.  The pair of Church's I bought in 2019 at £400 is now £940.

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2024-10-11 08:06:23)

My amazing wife amazed me again during a routine visit to JS yesterday afternoon. After many years of flirting with the idea, then deciding not to, she suddenly equipped *herself with one of their in-house raglan sleeve tweed overcoats.
This could be the start of a whole new trend at FlatSix Towers as we step out as an Ivy couple. Although she has yet to succumb to the charms of a Paraboot Michael.

Last edited by FlatSixC (2024-10-14 05:25:24)

Cripes Unseen .. I’m even happier to be retired now!
Thanks for that explanation.

Also received a heavyweight olive cord Hardy and Johnson sack, as a trade for a smaller size. Love the fabric but just too big so will be selling on...

I've sold off a few items (couple of wonderful vintage sack jackets, and some shetlands etc) and have used some of the money to buy some cords.

I'm lucky to be pretty slim and still find NOS items in my size – Recently acquired a pair of olive Lee Leesure 8 whale olive trousers with perfect rise and slim taper to cuffed hem. I am currently waiting delivery of a pair of Levi's Mk1 Continentals also in olive, which have the iconic McQueen loopless waistband, which also have the original full rise and taper to a clean non cuffed hem.

Roll on autumn