Spear point collar shirts

[Tommy-VF51]

I'm trying to find a soft spearpoint collar shirt, more casual and unlikely to be worn with a tie. Been watching a few documentaries and short films about post war cycling and a lot of these about in Europe in the 30s to 40s.

Looking for something that can be worn for camping, gentle cycle touring and hiking. Maybe a brushed or slubby cotton and certainly a light plain colour. Something that doesn't need much ironing.

I've got several Chester Cordite, which are superb for formal wear, but they don't make anything quite suitable. SJC have their long sleeve polo's with the standard placket, but they've only a red right now and also I find their darker colours tend to fade a little.

https://www.darcyclothing.com/colle...t-collar-shirts-sh190h?variant=31625417719905

This is the only thing that looks about right, but does anyone know how much the shirts shrink with wear and how generous the collars are? I'm somewhere between a 16 and 16.5.

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

Have a look here,
https://www.revivalvintage.co.uk/category/mens-vintage-shirts/
I've not had any of their shirts but i have had some trousers from them which i was pleased with. Their service was excellent and the delivery was fast.

 

[Tommy-VF51]

Those are nicer than I remembered, but are dress shirts, even when the fabric isn't necessarily suited to that.

 

[GHT]

I'm trying to find a soft spearpoint collar shirt, more casual and unlikely to be worn with a tie. Been watching a few documentaries and short films about post war cycling and a lot of these about in Europe in the 30s to 40s.

Looking for something that can be worn for camping, gentle cycle touring and hiking. Maybe a brushed or slubby cotton and certainly a light plain colour. Something that doesn't need much ironing.

If you scroll back to #665, you will see my Darcy spearpoint shirt. The photo shows me wearing a neck tie with the shirt but with the Darcy it can have that slightly Bohemian look to it without a tie. That's because of the strong cotton material used by Darcy and that Darcy shirts have collar stiffener sleeves. Take the stiffeners out and you get the look that you are trying to achieve.

 

[PeterB]

Try Aero Clothing. They make heavy shirts

 

[belfastboy]

I was reading an article yesterday about the demise of Brooks Bros. It seems they are the inventors of the button down collar. It was done to protect horse riders from the shirt collar flying up into their face. My wife remarked they must have had some mean long collars back then. Just thought of that now in regards to these spear point. I can see that being most annoying.

 

[GHT]

Out shopping for a few provisions, I met the head honcho where I work. "Look at you," he said, "don't you ever dress down?" I just smiled and waited until he was almost out of earshot, "one does have standards," I replied, just loud enough for him to hear. I gave the Chester Cordite red & white stripe spearpoint an outing. What it needs is a matching covid mask.

 

[Tommy-VF51]

If you scroll back to #665, you will see my Darcy spearpoint shirt. The photo shows me wearing a neck tie with the shirt but with the Darcy it can have that slightly Bohemian look to it without a tie. That's because of the strong cotton material used by Darcy and that Darcy shirts have collar stiffener sleeves. Take the stiffeners out and you get the look that you are trying to achieve.

Have you found it shrinks at all? I've heard they are VERY generous and I'm also a little worried sleeves will be too long? But I don't think anyone else is making quite what I want.

 

[GHT]

Darcy shirts are truly superb, but I'm not convinced that they represent value for money. Check out Some Like It Holy. The one downside to their spearpoint shirts is that there's no under collar sleeve in which to insert a stiffener. My wife put that right. You might also check out Chester Cordite. Good shirts, great value. Don't let me put you off Darcy though, their shirts might be twenty percent dearer but they are very hard wearing and made to last.

 

[Tommy-VF51]

I've seen Some like it Holy in the flesh. They look ok, but would rather spend a little extra and go with Chester Cordite (I have 3 of his shirts, much loved).

What I need to know is how much shrinkage I might face from a Darcy. I'm hoping they're a heavier cloth than Chester Cordite (although one of mine is noticeably thicker than the others), that doesn't need much ironing and can cope well when being worn outdoors. One of my 'Cordite shirts has shrunk a little in the neck (it was a 16) and although the Darcy wouldn't be worn with a tie so much I'd still want to keep the option.

 

[GHT]

None of my Darcy shirts have ever shrunk, but if you have reservations, send Darcy an email with your concerns. You will find them very helpful.

 

[crispyfresh]

I'm gonna be purchasing some spear point collar shirts. I live in the United States. I've never ordered from Darcy, Chester Cordite, etc. My main concerns are shipping to the U.S. and good quality. I've even looked at brands called Revival Clothing and Mapledoram. Which company is recommended for purchase based on shipping to the U.S. and quality? Don't want any customs charges or anything to jump up. Thanx.

 

[Tommy-VF51]

Chester Cordite for sure, don't have any Darcy yet, but others are very happy.

All the companies you're mentioning seem to be UK, is there not a source nearer to home?

 

[crispyfresh]

No companies in the U.S. offer the spear point as ready to wear stock.

 

[handymike]

Simon James Cathcart makes a great looking one:
https://simonjamescathcart.com/collections/shirts/products/cotton-spearpoint-shirt-pre-order

 

[Flanderian]

Parisian shirt maker Daniel Levy makes very nice bespoke shirts, and has the highly laudable ability to create aesthetically successful collars in a seeming endless variety. Among which are some I think might be categorized as spear points.

 

[Upgrade]

Found an interesting The Men’s Store shirt from Sears and appears to be NOS. It still has the printed laundry markings, but calls it a cape collar.

Still serviceable with a collar bar so I suppose it’s spearpoint-like.

Unfortunately it is 100% polyester so it gets a little warm. It looks a bit early 70s, but without any frills or ruffles and there may be a couple marks that say “6 74”.

 

[GHT]

No companies in the U.S. offer the spear point as ready to wear stock.

In the UK we have a company called John Clothier, it's a play on words. Back in the day when there was a half dozen or more, tailor's shops on every high street, one of the biggest names was John Collier. John Clothier have some good spear point shirts, I have one and another on order. But like, Some Like It Holy, there's no under collar sleeve for collar stiffeners. My wife came up with a solution for that problem. This the JC website: https://www.johnclothier.com/product-category/spear-collar-shirts/

See the stiffener sleeves.
JC sell in The US via Amazon, making it as easy as buying locally, here's JC's US Amazon link.
https://www.amazon.com/Collar-Vintage-Blinders-Classic-Stripes/dp/B07B8L7MZN

 

[Tommy-VF51]

That's genius! Not an area anyone else will notice unless they watch you doing your tie up.

 

[GHT]

A second john Clothier shirt, and again, Tina has sewn collar stiffener sleeves to stop the collar from curling up.