Shirts for men - is this an impossible ask.

[shovetheholly]

DH is very particular about clothing.

He wants some shirts for Christmas. They must be non-iron, this is non-negotiable. However, they also can't be too corporate/formal, and old-fashioned shaped collars are a no-no.

Yet he won't wear anything with a pattern on it that isn't a stripe or a check. They must also look like something an architect would wear in a movie while gesturing towards a model in trendy glasses.

Is there any such shirt in existence I ask you? I am not sure there is. I feel like I am being asked to find a unicorn.

[AlexaTwoAtT]

Ted Baker?

[AlexaTwoAtT]

French Connection?

[shovetheholly]

He has (and likes) a Ted Baker shirt, but says it is 'too formal'. (It is quite formal to be fair).

The problem I'm finding is non-iron things seem to be all businesswear.

[NotAMammy]

All Saints? I'm guessing a granda collar type thingie? I don't know how much they live up to non-iron request, but they are a bit 'too cool for you'

[latebreakfast]

Try Rohan - they do several semi-formal shirts and none of their stuff ever needs ironing.

[shovetheholly]

God, he is a PITA!! Rohan is apparently too informal.

So what I'm looking for is a shirt that doesn't look casual and doesn't look formal either. And is non-iron.

I do not think this magic garment exists. Am tempted just to get him some from M&S!!!!

[burnishedsilver]

He's taking the piss.
He really needs to buy his own shirts.

[HapShawl]

Any of these?

www.ctshirts.com/uk/mens-shirts/casual/

[RitaCrudgington]

Do actually look all the way through M&S - they have a huge selection, including some quite nice Autograph ones and if he turns his nose up at it he can return it and pick his own bloody shirt.

TM Lewins and Charles Tyrwitt are worth a look as well.

[BikeRunSki]

Boden used to do a shirt that they called the "Architect Shirt", but it needed ironing.

This? There's a few non-iron shirts at M&S but quite formal.

DH has this one. He wears it on Fridays.

[OreosOreosOreos]

Banana Republic? My DH has a few from there and I think some are non-iron

[OCSockOrphanage]

these but whether they need an iron I don't know. BiL has a couple and they are very stylish.

[shovetheholly]

You guys are amazing! Thanks for all the suggestions. Some of those Charles Tyrwhitt shirts might work well hapshawl! Also, I only looked in an M&S store, but there seems to be a lot more choice online, so thanks for the heads up rita and bike. Perhaps I need to find a larger store!

OCSock - cor blimey, I can't even see the shirts because of that male model. He looks like he's trying to set fire to stuff through his eyes. Talk about smouldering. That look needs a name, like Zoolander's "Blue Steel". I'm going to call it "Knicker Laser".

[bookbook]

I promise I am not stalking you shove :) ( was trying to find a thread I was on that dropped off my TIO list...)
Is it worth looking at Gant ? My DH wears them. Not cheap He used to buy the Charles Trywhitt ones for work - nice, but again, not truly non iron, but an easy iron

[pourmeanotherdrink]

Have a look at SuitSupply. Modern cut-away collars, nice slimmer fit and better quality than Tyrwhitt and M&S. Here are a couple of non-iron
ones:
eu.suitsupply.com/en_GB/shirts?prefn1=materialID&prefv1=Traveller

[shovetheholly]

book - it is always helpful to have your advice! Wish I could make you my personal go-to guru for all questions in life!

Those Gant ones are really, really good - DH already left for work a while ago, but I think he will go for those. The collars are the kind he really likes. I will need to sort out the ones where the company logo matches the shirt colour as 'clothes with writing on them' are also Prohibited. (So MANY rules).

That navy check one from Suitsupply might also be popular. He does like blue.

This whole dilemma is making me realise how very little I know about menswear! The weird thing about this whole dilemma is that, at DH's work, most of the blokes wear virtually the same thing, all the time. And that is navy jeans (usually Diesel), a shirt, shoes with different coloured soles (Camper/Folk), and a V-neck jumper (usually from John Smedley). It is like a uniform. And, as at school, it seems like the superficial similarity means that minor decisions are not less but MORE fraught and MORE noticeable.

In future, I will get him to buy and choose his own clothes! Lesson learned! It is all very silly. .

[Somersetlady]

Ralph Lauren casual shirts? They have button down collars though not sure if thats a problem?

[bookbook]

oh shove - snap with DH it would seem. Though a tweak more relaxed, DH hates logos! Though copes with Gant ( but always wears a jumper anyway!) . I was tired last night, so should mention that the Gant are not non iron - but they are a very easy iron.
The other shirts he used to buy for work came from The Savile Row company, but they went down in quality somewhat.

[Statelychangers]

Anything in Cos? Try Eton slim fit for well made non iron. Or Jigsaw.

[chemicalCat]

DH is also fussy about shirts: hates logos, small checks, etc. If I but him ones he usually points out a few that he likes. Have had success in TK Maxx in the past.

BTW, are any shirts truly non-iron? My DC's school shirts are "non-iron" and I still need to iron them. (Maybe I spin them too high, don't hang them out to dry properly.)

[shovetheholly]

Yes, I don't really understand the logo thing, because brand still matters terribly.

chemical - DH does have a totally non-iron M&S one (under sufferance) and it is pretty darn good, even if you're not hovering over the washing machine the moment the spin cycle ends. They seem to be coming on a bit. I don't know what the difference is between 'easy iron' and 'non iron' but the latter definitely seems less work than the former. Either is fine for the purposes of this thread, though.

I am tasked with the ironing in our house and I just refuse to do certain shirts. DH has some Paul Smith ones that I won't touch. They are SO badly made - the material under the buttons and button holes isn't sewn down, and it makes it a time-consuming nightmare to iron. If he wants to wear them, he has to do it himself.

Jigsaw is well worth a look - thanks!

[chemicalCat]

To be fair, DH does his share of the ironing in our house - and especially his shirts. I don't mind ironing but don't like doing shirts much

Rather like my BiL who has convinced my sister that he can't operate a washing machine, I've convinced my DH that I can't do shirts properly .

[SignoraStronza]

Look for one with a nehru collar if he doesn't want the traditional one.

[bookbook]

Too many brands rely on the name to get people to buy. I have a very pragmatic DH - he feels and looks at stuff, and really doesn't care what it says on the label , but relies on his own judgement A lot of clothing particularly is actually very poor quality and/or finish these days.

[Ifonlyiweretaller]

My DH wears Gant shirts. Not the cheapesr and yes they need ironing (apparently) but they look just as smart with a pair of jeans as a suit jacket. He loves them
.
I always but them from the Gant outlet in Cheshire Oaks as they are much cheaper and the styles never really date anyway!