Formal Shirt

[ArrowCollarMan]

I'm looking for a formal shirt (detachable collar enabled) with a stiff front like this one:

Does anyone know where I might find one?

 

[The Wingnut]

Same here! I've been digging around for nearly a year with no success.

 

[vonwotan]

I assume you both have already seen the selection at The Vintage Shirt Company?

http://www.vintageshirt.co.uk/

They have a few with bib front (more square that your picture) and detachable collars. I am still looking because the do not carry my size.

There used to be a shop in the building behing Brooks Brothers (44th St., NYC) that had shirts and detachable collars. I assume they must have closed as I can no longer find anyone in NYC who carries detachable collars, much less shirts and collars that fit.

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

Is there a place in America that might sell them?

 

[The Wingnut]

...and at something (considerably ) more economic than $98 + VAT and shipping? I've paid far less than that for two vintage suits!

 

[Orgetorix]

...and at something (considerably ) more economic than $98 + VAT and shipping? I've paid far less than that for two vintage suits!

If you live in the US, you shouldn't have to pay VAT (unless I'm mistaken).

At any rate, Denny's uniform company in the UK might be an option: http://www.dennys.co.uk/Catalogue.asp?PrGrp=40

 

[Fletch]

What's the deal with this Amazon Dry Goods outfit offering "Linene" collars? They're supposedly made to a 19th century process involving cotton laminated to paperboard. They cost about $3 each. Are these throwaways or can they be laundered?

Their high wing collar looks very 1930s from the picture.

 

[Orgetorix]

What's the deal with this Amazon Dry Goods outfit offering "Linene" collars? They're supposedly made to a 19th century process involving cotton laminated to paperboard. They cost about $3 each. Are these throwaways or can they be laundered?

Their high wing collar looks very 1930s from the picture.

They're disposable. I wore one in my wedding last month. You can wear them a couple of times before they fall apart. The stand-up collars and wing collars are a bit sturdier than the turndown collars because they have cotton on both sides of the paper, while the turndown collars are cotton on one side only.

I don't know of any US companies still selling the real cotton/linen detachable collar. Paper and plastic seeem to be the only domestic options, and you have to order from the UK (Luke Eyres, New & Lingwood, Hackett, etc.) to get the real deal.

 

[Fletch]

They're disposable. I wore one in my wedding last month.

May your love last as long as the life of your collar was short.

Paper and plastic seeem to be the only domestic options

You remind me of a grocery clerk.

Wonder if anybody could make me a collar off that High Wing pattern.

 

[Orgetorix]

You remind me of a grocery clerk.

Wonder if anybody could make me a collar off that High Wing pattern.

Thank you sir, come again!

Luke Eyres has a collar that's 1/4" higher, the Grafton, though the wings aren't as large.

I've heard Budd shirtmakers in London will do bespoke collars. They don't have a website, to my knowledge. Last I heard, though, they charge £25 per, minimum order of 6. Not exactly economical.

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

You remind me of a grocery clerk.

Wonder if anybody could make me a collar off that High Wing pattern.

Wow, thats exactly what is happening in my life. I'm a grocery clerk and I'm getting my friend to make me a cloth based collar off of a paper collar I got from Amazon. That's odd. Cool, but odd.

I wasn't at all impressed with the paper collars. They only last a few wears and they start to hurt after a while. I actually wore one to work. One of my managers got a really big kick out of it.

Thank you sir, come again!

I just say: "Have a good day!"

 

[Veronica Parra]

As late as the end of the '80s, Brooks Brothers in downtown Los Angeles sold detachable wing collars and collarless bib front shirts. The collars and shirts were imported from England. Marc says he paid about $18 per collar. I wonder if Brooks Brothers still sells them?

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

My dad bought one of those Brooks bib shirts and collars years ago and ended up giving to me. I haven't seen anything like it in any Brooks store today, even at 346 Madison Avenue.

 

[scotrace]

I have one in about a 17X34 I might be able to spare.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

*bump*

I know this thread was originally asking for the detachable collar kind of formal shirt.

But I did want to throw out some new info, for those looking for a good new formal (tuxedo) shirt with an attached collar. It can certainly work for any vintage theme formal events.

I found an excellent quality wing collar tuxedo shirt with an unpleated pique fabric bib front and pique french cuffs at Jos. A. Bank online -they have stores too, however this shirt was only available online. The price is not inexpensive, however they have good sales online, and at the holidays I was able to get the studs and cuff link set and a self tie bow for free with the order of the shirt.

 

[Troglodyte]

The staff at Darcy Clothing is a joy to work with:

http://www.darcyclothing.com/shop/

I use one of their collars with my Brooks Brothers shirt, as the collar that came with it is too low.

Best,
Trog

 

[Tomasso]

as the collar that came with it is too low.

That's the problem with virtually all OTR wing collar shirts. And nothing looks worse than a skimpy wing collar.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

That's the problem with virtually all OTR wing collar shirts. And nothing looks worse than a skimpy wing collar.

Yep ... unless the wearer has a short neck, in which case a low collar would be better.

 

[fluteplayer07]

Where can a formal stiff fronted shirt be laundered? Do I request a regular dry cleaning and then a starch, or is there a special procedure involved that requires a specialist like Barker's in England?

 

[Qirrel]

No magic happens at Barker's that you can't replicate at home. Their real advantage is that they, as opposed to pretty much any other cleaner, know how to prepare the correct starch solutions, and have special pressing devices for the collars which makes the process a lot quicker than if you were to do it at home. To get the proper stiffness, the starch solution should be mixed with a solution of gum arabic.