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And I no longer have any presentable formal shirts to go with my suit for my daughter's wedding.
When. I had to dress up proper for work I liked Van Heusen, Hilditch and Key, Austin Reed. At least two of which no longer exist. But those were the days when you could walk into a tailor's shop and a guy would size you up by eye and show you to something that fitted from those slim wooden drawers they had on the wall full of shirts.
I don't think that sort of shop exists in Cardiff. So if I want to be picky about fabric type and collar style (I think only white will be acceptable colour-wise unfortunately, I am fond of pale pastel shades myself), how do I go about buying such a garment these days?
Moss Bros ?
MArks and spencers?
Slaters. Just checked and you have one in Cardiff.
You’ll need to slip by the polyester offerings, but they definitely also cater for a bit more old school/better quality and have staff that will advise properly. It’s a couple of years since I’ve been in one, but that’s my recommendation.
Primark - just don't stand too near a fire. Or rub your shoes on a carpet.
Now, this was a couple of years ago, but i needed a suit, well actually the whole lot, shoes up…i am not a suit wearer…
went into Slaters and explained what i wanted and my budget. Very quick measure and a couple of options for the (not at all polyester) suit were presented, both of which fitted pretty much perfectly.
i was then passed to the shirt expert who also sorted tie, socks and pocket square. Then the shoe expert came along..
the whole process took about 45 mins. Pretty much everything presented fitted straight away, it was down to my preference what i had, however they were vey good with the advice and actually talked me out of a fairly expensive suit which wasn’t quite right for me.
As shopping goes it was a very pleasant experience
TL.DR go to slaters… they do seem to know what they are doing..!
Wall of shirts, wooden drawers, different collars...tick, tick and tick. And usually a man w a tape measure...
https://www.hawesandcurtis.co.uk/stores/cardiff
Just go to M&S and be done with it.
I used to think M&S was for old gits, and nothing fitted well. Now, with the passing of a few decades, it seems they have updated the fit and all is well. Amazing how that happens.
Has it been thrown right back in your face?
I thought your thread title was a line I missed hearing on Blue Suede Shoes seeing as yesterday Elvis would have been 90
Feels like he's been dead for a very long time
+1 that M&S shirts are pretty decent these days
https://www.hawkesbespoke.com/
Not a huge selection of shirts, but worth a try if you are looking for a 'tailor' style experience.
Charles Trywhitt
Came here to say this.
I've always had a problem buying shirts (not least because I hate the things but) because I was a bit of an odd shape, in so far as I was a skinny runt with a bull neck thanks to years of abuse in rock clubs. If I buy a shirt that fits, there's no hope of fastening the top button; if I buy shirts by collar size (which is a singularly stupid metric) they look like marquee tents.
Charles Tyrwhitt actually do "fits" which account for such deformities. The shirt I got married in was the first one I've ever owned which actually fitted properly. Two downsides though, they ship via Yodel with no capacity to pay extra for a less useless courier (I asked) so I damn near had to get married in a tee-shirt, and you'll be spammed to death with catalogues for evermore.
i was then passed to the shirt expert who also sorted tie, socks and pocket square. Then the shoe expert came along..
Wedding again, I had this. Might've been Slaters, I honestly can't remember now. Shopping for shoes, they send for the shoe guy. He asks me "what size are you?" I reply 8, he looks at my feet and goes "no you aren't." Brought me a pair of size 7 which were a perfect fit. That's a hell of a party trick.
New horizons in sound now as Roger plays a solo on the electric shirt collar...
Cardiff? Slaters, which you've already said. Speak to the staff, they're usually great and very knowledgeable.
Failing that, you've got a John Lewis, again, great staff and range.
Ah, I thought this was going to be a Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band tread!
Yes, the problem of shirts. The kind of…um, you know, are they necessary?
I thought your thread title was a line I missed hearing on Blue Suede Shoes seeing as yesterday Elvis would have been 90
Feels like he’s been dead for a very long time
TBF he died pretty young at 42 in 1977 in a galaxy far far away 🙂
I'm more for the short shirt. The old types old fashioned. Gotta be a bit modern these days guvnor, aint ya?
Charles Trywhitt is the correct answer. I struggled to get shirts that fit and these do. They'll measure you up and get you sorted.
And once you're sorted you can buy them cheaper online.
Nothing in M&S really tickled my fancy. I demand double cuffs, pointy collar not the modern cut away trend and a luxurious and slightly textured fabric. Got to distinguish myself from all the other old dudes.
Daughter is also suggesting buying matching ties for all the blokes. I mean, it's going to be polyester isn't it? Difficult conversation ahead.
Blimey, you wouldn't think I was a clothes snob looking at how I normally dress, but it appears I am.
Feels like he’s been dead for a very long time
He died the day my A-level results came out.
As for the shirt question, when I was still working Charles Tyrwhitt and T.M.Lewin generally got my business.