Club collar experience in MTM shirts?

[Luca]

Does anyone have any experience with ordering club-collar shirts (possibly with a single 'french' cuff) in London?

[Frederic Leighton]

I have my shirts made (in Italy) with detachable collar. I like the added flexibility and higher level of customization it provides. My standard choice for everyday use is a small, pointy and not-spread-at-all* collar copied from a 1920's original I found at Budd's. I occasionally wear variations of the club/bankers collar with the same shirts. I don't work in an office, so I don't have to worry about blending in; I wear what makes me happy and gives me food for thought. If you opt for a detachable collar, mind - it can't be worn unbuttoned**. It will also take more than one attempt to your shirtmaker to get things right, since this is not something they often do. I provided an old detachable collar shirt with my first order and this helped. Funny enough, I sent back the first shirt because it had french cuffs*** instead of the double cuffs I asked. To be honest with you, I stopped wearing my club collars since they became fashionable at the start of this year, but I hope they will turn unfashionable very soon...

There is a choice of two different club collars available in the new collection of T.M.Lewin's RTW shirts (£35). RTW club collars for your detachable collar shirts can be found at Darcy Clothing of both the starched and the washable kind. Here as well it will take you more than one order to find the right size (or to find that they don't have the right size).

* I hate spread collars.
** I hate unbuttoned collars.
*** ..you already know.. Okay, I admit they are fine for evening wear.

[Luca]

Jolly good riposte, Leighton.

I take you point about the club collars becoming lamentaby fashionable. I try to hew to the ideal that, just as I don't wear things on the basis that they are fashionable... I don't stop them wearing them either for that reason. Must be a stubborn streak, I suspect.

I'll check out T.M. Lewin, though usually their stuff is not very, ah, well, good.

Suitsupply does a very reasonable club-collar shirt but they struggle to make single-barrel, French cuffs or at least rounded ones (and who wants squared French cuffs?).

[Frederic Leighton]

I try to hew to the ideal that, just as I don't wear things on the basis that they are fashionable... I don't stop them wearing them either for that reason.

Very true, Luca! I know what you mean. Though, fashion takes all the fun away, like when running downhill.

[C.Lee]

I admit to being mildly agitated by the resurgence of hats. There have also been rumblings on current fashions, e.g. short jackets, slim lapels, slim fit. So it begs to ask, are we affected by fashion then?

[Luca]

Courage Mr lee!

I do think that even people who see and set themselves above fashion (as I do and as most posters on this site do) are inevitably influenced by their context, even as their tastes evolve towards maturity. It's inevitable, as Prof. Kahneman has taught us.

I suppose the trick is to be only swayed a tiny little bit, rather than be entirely washed away by the tide of triviality.

[VRaivio]

Does anyone have any experience with ordering club-collar shirts (possibly with a single 'french' cuff) in London?

Well, I once tried going for the club collar on one Turnbull&Asser bespoke shirt. It fitted well enough on the finished shirt but shrunk after three washes. I sold the shirt and moved on.