Previously laid back DH, smart new job...where do we get the nicest shirts.

[YukonHo]

Cutting edge company, big role, needs to be sophisticated and right now he has a wardrobe of polo shirts, Tshirts and jumpers. He has 2 v smart suit so ok for that, and dress code is smart casual so thinking shirts, chino type trousers and smart v necks or non suit jackets. He has to have enough for a 5 day week and we only have a budget of £500. (I say only because they are all uber smart, this is more than he usually spends in two years on clothes so doesn't feel much like only to us)

So names of some gorgeous shirts makers if you know any would be great....used to live in London 10 years ago and are now hicks and have no clue! :)

Charles Tyrwhitt do 3 different cuts. My dresses-smartly-for-work looks great in the slim fit.

TM Lewin do slim fit as well as the traditional fit - I hate that billowy look, so ageing!

Slim fit shirts are rarely reduced in Thomas Pink (apart from the weird stuff that hasn't sold) so its worth keeping an eye on their sales esp online come Boxing day.

Tm lewin fab and they do shirts in different fit s such as slim , tailored etc as well as differing sleeve lengths.we bought 5 for £ 100 in a recent promotion and they are lovely , good quality and wash well .

Yy tm lewin slim fit double cuff. Cutaway collar (st James). Perfecto!!

I don't rate TM Lewin shirts at all - they fray and just look at bit shapeless (even the slim fit) especially if your DH is slim. Mine wears Jaeger (OK) and Massimo Dutti but I bought DH this the other day and it's now a favourite when he doesn't need to wear a tie. It fits brilliantly and the quality is really good.

DH has tried a lot of makes and now only buys Charles tyrwhitt. He says that they are the best quality for the price (they have very good sales). The shirts do seem to last pretty much for ever!

DH is v hard on the elbows of his shirts and we've found TM Lewin to wear pretty well tbh. The offers are excellent.

For general stuff, I don't know where you are but dh has bought a good coat and his suits recently from slaters in Leeds but they have other shops too. V reasonable prices and most importantly good customer service.

I too would buy maybe a couple of shirts and then see how the land lies in terms of what people wear mostly.

DH is also in IT, although pretty far up the food chain now and spends all his days in meetings planning business strategy rather than crawling around the floor of the datacenter.
He contracts so moves around a fair bit, and the difference in the dress code between public sector, FTSE 100, big four accounting, is huge.
He always starts off in a suit with a tie and then adjusts downwards if necessary.

I'd absolutely recommend Charles Tyrwhitt, they are such easy care too, after years of struggling with creased bloody Boden shirts, I'm delighted dh invested in a load of CT!

I think Hawes and Curtis are excellent quality (better than TMLewin IMO). They usually have 3 for £75 and come beautifully boxed etc - feels really luxurious. Mine have washed brilliantly - look like new.

I do agree with whoever said about herringbone in a single colour. Much smarter than a plain weave.

Dh always wears a double cuff and collar stiffeners, get some interesting ties, no need to be too conservative, you still need a personality. Dh is very fond of his cuff links....they are his little bit of him, but they finish off a shirt, nicely. Eton shirts are good for non iron ...but over the years we have always returned to Thomas Pink, they give dh an extra boost. Dh's boss gets all his suits and shoes made to measure....it all gets a bit ridiculous but everyday with a client is like an interview.

Totally agree with Umlauf re Bicester and mens shopping. My DH is exactly the same! He went a couple of months ago and bought everything he needs for the next year. His work shirts are from Charles Tyrwhitt, TM lewin, Jaeger. All wash and iron nicely.

Eterna shirts are a great make. About £70 each but very good quality and collar stays perfect for ties. I would stay away from big names and go to an independent men's outfitters and see what suits him. Shirts do need to be quite hard wearing as they get a lot of washing and the tips of the collars and cuffs, where they rub on tables do start to fray.

Yes Bicester is much better for men than women in my experience. My DH is pretty tall but slim so always needs slim fit shirts with extra long sleeves - sort of like a gorilla

I'd really avoid the chinos route though unless absolutely necessary, but then casual trousers that aren't jeans - well that's a tricksy area for men I reckon.

So do you think suit trousers then Mrs CB? Thanks for all the other replies, looking through them and at all your recommendations now....

No - I only think suit trousers with suits. Did he see what the other men were wearing? Although I guess he probably wasn't scrutinising their trousers.

I personally think dark jeans can look very smart but I've worked in agencies/digital places so the dresscode is a lot less formal. What trouser do other men wear if its not suits but not jeans?

Another vote for Charles T here. Everyone at my DH's work wears chinos and a shirt. CT do a 4 shirts for £100 quite regularly and the service is good.

Easy to iron as well.

I'd recommend Gantt for the chinos.

Jaeger outlet stores - beautiful clothes, fabulous quality, reasonable prices.

Dress down for dh is just removing his tie....everything else is a minefield and he keeps a spare tie in his desk just in case.

Yet another vote for Charles Tyrwhitt here. DH tends to have the non-iron slim fit ones - they're not actually non-iron, but only need a quick swoosh with the iron rather than the painstaking work his Hawes & Curtis ones need.

They're always on offer at 4 for £100 which I think is quite reasonable.

Mrs CB - DH has a couple of pairs of chinos which he wears with brown oxfords and a shirt - still double cuff. It wouldn't cut the mustard where he is atm though, it is suit and tie all the time.

OP definitely not suit trousers alone, only as part of a suit. I would just get a couple of shirts so that he can wear a suit and shirt for his first week and then adjust accordingly.

If he's not wearing suits, then my DH rates j crew and banana republic shirts for smart casual. If suits, then pink slim fit. Don't rate lewins personally.