Are sure they don't have a minimum order size greater than 4? Anyway, let me know how it goes. I've been thinking about getting bespoke shirts.

I'd suggest getting as few shirts as possible the first time so you can alter the pattern if necessary.

Actually I don't know. I do know that Turnbull & Asser requires a minimum of 6 shirts the first time you use them and I think that is considered high, so I figure 4 should be ok, but.....

That's a good idea. I'm going to call them today to set up an appointment and I'll find that out.

Geneva told me their minimum order is 4 (I've read that they might be flexible on that). I'm going to see them on Monday and I'll report back.

I went to Geneva on Monday. I spoke with Eugene Athanasatos. Really nice guy and made the process easy and relaxing. I'd say he took about 12 measurements (including measuring around my watch), then we talked about how I wanted it to fit. I asked for not slim but a trim fit and I'm confident that he understood exactly what I was asking for.

From there I chose fabric, colour and pattern. Pretty easy for me since I wanted 2 whites and 2 blues. I ended up getting them all in a sea island fabric, so very basic and no texture like a twill would have. Then I chose collar and cuffs. They have some templates to choose from, but you can get whatever you what. For instance, the standard collar is 3 inches but you can get it longer or shorter. I ended up with all the collars being medium spread, 1 button barrel cuffs with rounded edges, except for one of the white shirts which I chose a square-cut French cuff. Also no front placket.

Once I'd made all the decisions about the details, I chose one of the shirts as a sample shirt. That will be the shirt they will send me first and I'll wear a wash it a few times. Then I go back to them and they will see how it fits and make adjustments accordingly. From that shirt they will then make the rest.

So far the experience has been very positive and low-pressure. I'm looking forward to getting the sample shirt and seeing what they have done.

Thanks for the update Manque. Would you mind sharing how much it costs? Also, how long until you get the sample shirt?

Speaking of this, I get most of my shirts custom done at Brooks. Because I am a tall guy with big neck and shoulders but relatively narrow waist even slim fit shirts are normally too wide. They take a bunch of measurements and you end up trying on shirt bodies for relative size. I am a 17.5" neck but wore a 16" neck slim fit shirt body. They also extended the material extra long beacause of my height so it does not look untucked on the side and added an extra button. I now have about 14 of these shirts in a variety of patterns and solids with almost all medium spread collar, pocket, button cuff with left cuff monogram. I have several of the solids in french cuff for more formal wear. The shirts are $150-$200, but most of the time there is some deal (e.g. buy four get one free, or buy three and get 25% off). Defintely worth it for someone who can't find shirts that fit.

I also just ordered a custom charcoal two button suit. Very solid Super 120's wool. Cut a bit more "European' in style with side vents and slightly narrower lapels and a much more form fitting suit around the midsection. I got three slanted pockets, one of which is a ticket pocket for something a little different. Flat front pants with full break and cuffs. The suit should be cut and assembled in three weeks or so and I am pretty excited. Ran just over $1000 from Tom Jones.

M, Sounds like a great experience. I really like that he makes one shirt first and lets you wash several times. I've been thinking about switching to Geneva for a little while and this has probably tipped the scale for me.

J, You work with Tom Jackson? I just ordered a couple of button down collar shirts from him. No one else makes that soft roll. FWIW, I used to get MTM shirts next door at PS and I Frank, their MTM guy, is top notch.

I'm not yet at the point where I'm buying custom made shirts and suits, but Jcrew has an extra 20% off the sale stuff using code EXTRA20. I picked up a couple blazers, some khakis and a shirt.

It was $245 per shirt. The sample shirt should arrive 2 weeks from Monday


The sample shirt was a nice surprise. I went in there thinking I might ask them to lower the minimum, but when he told me about doing a sample shirt I was happy to do 4.

It was a great experience. It's definitely not like walking into Ascot Chang. Geneva really is a factory. On the left side you see the women sewing all the shirts and the office where you get measured and choose the fabrics is as bare bones as it gets. The nice thing about Eugene is that he is as unpretentious as the office. Very helpful and pleasant too.

PSA: Barney's is having a 40% off sale Monday.

anyone got recs for a white sneaker to be worn with shorts over the summer? i have usually gone with the Adidas Superstar but they arent all that comfy. How are the Lascost sneakers? Kswiss classicns seem worthy of a shot also. how about golas, etc etc etc?

recently got these. yum.

of course if you get them i will have to kill you.

How about suggestions for casual shoes to be worn with jeans.

I'm ruling out sneakers, because some bars/lounges can be picky on that. I'm also thinking black for a color, just to make it more flexible with the shirts I'll wear.

Ideas?

monkstraps
Dress Boots
Some random slipons are sweet

Black is way lame as well. Lighter Brown >>> Choc Brown >>>>>>>>>>>> Black

Hmm... just seems that black is more practical for times that I'm wearing a black coat or shirt. No?

Post some pictures of your favorite shows here.

Try reading the thread.

Ya, I read the thread. There didn't seem to be a lot of discussion on shoes outside of either the monk-straps or sneakers.

The monk-straps always looked a little formal to wear with just jeans + a button down shirt. Should I really be wearing a sport coat to dress it up?

Another general shoe question- I have some "cap toe" style shoes for work. Are these too formal for a workplace where I'm typically just wearing slacks + collared dress shirt (but no tie or suit)?

Basically, something like this:

yes

Those are by no means too formal for slacks, I am not sure what Manque is talking about if he is talking to you. The standard Black captoe is the best shoe you can own, you can wear it with or without a suit/tie, and even polish it up to wear with a Tux. Don't hesitate to wear the captoe to work at all, should look very nice.

Just got these on sale from Grapevinehill.com. Their Ralph Lauren shoes are 25% off and they were already on sale, so $136 shipped.

Manque's Iron Rule of Dressing. If it's appropriate to wear with black tie, it is sure as hell not gonna work with slacks and a shirt.

Gilt Groupe is having a designer denim sale today. (See my invite earlier in the thread.) The Earnest Sewn jeans I bought at Barney's 40% off for $110 are $78.

lol at people saying button down collars universally suck.



From glimpsing though this thread it's clear most of you think very conservatively & favor looks that are just a slightly nicer version of how everyone else looks.

My thoughts on this question without even considering boots which, in my opinion, are way more badass.

These were just 40% off a week ago.

http://www.barneys.com/Plain%20Toe%2...efault,pd.html

A few others I like

http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/paul-smit...productId=8255

http://www.resoul.com/Store/pc/viewP...&idproduct=896

http://www.ssense.com/Common_Project...&keyword=10912

http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/paul-smit...roductId=15624

does anyone rock pf flyers or tretorn for sneakers? i have several of each.

as for button downs, i tend to only wear them when i'm really casual, and i'll usually not button the damn things. i hate them that much. i never wear them to work (usually a suit or shirt/trousers (and yes, they're trousers not slacks, ugh)).

as for anything else, there are no rules. if you feel comfortable in something, it'll show. i've seen some pretty crazy looks that people pulled off, and someone's confidence makes all the difference in the world. for example, check out some of the tom ford ads you'll see in magazines where they mix and match all kinds of stripes, checks and window pane patterns. theoretically it shouldn't work like that, but it's just about the entire look, so it does.

i work with a bunch of conservative stiffs that always deride me about things i go for, like the tan lace-ups i bought for the spring. whenever they comment, i know i'm doing something right because all they wear is white ralph lauren button downs and ferragamo loafers. good look, just not for me.