The London Lounge

I have had a question from a young member who is not quite ready for bespoke shirts but would like a RTW shirt with a well cut collar. By well cut collar, we mean one that is a moderate cutaway such that the points lodge just under the jacket. Also we would like a relative high collar with tie space.

What RTW (even Jermyn Street makers) have a well cut collar?

It seems to me that to get any tie space one has to go T&A or the button down route in RTW. Is this true?

I share his predicament. I find the some of the more satisfactory RTW shirts I own to be those from Harvie & Hudson; certainly the extent of the cutaway is nice - even if there are other aspects of the collar which are not quite ideal. Lewin shirts really aren't that bad either when one considers how inexpensive they are; their collars also sit quite high up the neck, which suits my comportment. The collar style which they describe as 'Prince of Wales' has a similar cutaway to H&H shirts, but the collar is a little larger.

T&A are certainly the best though, of those I've experienced.

You might want to give Matuozzo a call. She prefers a collar like this and still has some RTW stock left although not much.

Budd RTW used to have quite a large collar, they seem smaller now or perhaps it's that the proportions look different on a 16 1/2" than a 15". They still have decent tie space though.

How does this look?

Barba Napoli

I would echo Chris' choice.
Barba is now the only RTW shirt I will buy.

I think that collar is probably a bit more extreme than was originally asked for. It is too extreme for my taste anyway.

iammatt, I agree the collar is a bit extreme for my tastes, but they do offer everything between drastic cutaway and conservative. Well made shirts and decent slim fitting body with nice fabrics for the price.
Overall, from my limited exposure, the best buy in RTW shirts I have experience.
They would, at very least, be worth a good look.

Moderate spread Barba

The moderate spread Barba collar looks about right.

I would say that the moderate spread Barba collar is too long for someone who wants the collar to sit high on the neck. The long collar will lengthen the wearer's appearance and most who like a high collar have a longer neck to start with. A slim man with a long neck is searching for a high cutaway collar where all the length is "up" rather than "down". I am yet to find anything that I am really happy with.

Chris Rimby wrote:Barba Napoli

INice shirt Chris.

id go for this luxury shirt or this business shirt or this designer shirt because I love these lewin shirts, so comfortable and the corporate discount we get at our company's great! still i'd love some of the above shirts!

robbothan wrote:id go for this luxury shirt or this business shirt or this designer shirt because I love these lewin shirts, so comfortable and the corporate discount we get at our company's great! still i'd love some of the above shirts!

Given that all your posts have been to promote TM Lewin items, can you disclose whether you work for them?