Comments on: A Tailored Suit made me a custom dress shirt (Part 2)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:08:02 +0000

Josh, I haven’t tried SEW yet. When it comes to shirting though, Steven Alan x-small fits the bill…and if I do get a shirt that doesn’t fit that well, I just go to my tailor, and he makes it fit. BTW, perhaps you might want to do a guide for shirts (featuring the back lengths of different brands)…something similar to what you did for ties?

By: Josh @ Short Shrifted

Josh @ Short Shrifted — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:41:17 +0000

Randy – Let us know how it goes for you if you end up trying it out.

Sonny – Great point. It’s tough: my impression is that the more knowledge you have going into a MTM/bespoke situation, the better. But knowledge only comes from experience. And experience is expensive… I have a feeling that if I continue to go custom, things will continue to improve: fit, stylistic choices, etc. It’ll just take some serious $$$ to get there…

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:57:56 +0000

Nice shirt. The slight blousing is not bad at all. Form fit would probably be better, but still a good fit on you.

I’m really considering trying this. Just have to save up.

By: Sonny

Sonny — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:54:08 +0000

thanks for the very detailed review, josh. i have bookmarked their website, just in case. and i agree- the “form fit” would have looked better on you.

i have actually used a similar online service in the past — hemrajani bros at http://www.mytailor.com — also hong kong-based, like the one mentioned in a previous comment (HK tailors do have good reputation!). they come to the US, including nyc, several times in a year if you prefer to have an actual tailor measure you.

my verdict on that experience? not nearly as good a service as what ATS appears to have. the shirt, otoh, was just ok- but i wasn’t as knowledgeable back then about what a good fit should be.

By: Josh @ Short Shrifted

Josh @ Short Shrifted — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:30:44 +0000

Anon – appreciate it! I had a lot of fun with it. But no, I’ve never experienced an MTM/bespoke process in the flesh, as it were. Some day… How about you? What’s SEW like? Is it at all short-centric — or just an all-around good custom shop?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:44:39 +0000

Josh, good post. Esp. your comments on the back pleats and cuff length. The shirt looks good on you, and the whole process seems intriguing. Have you gone to an actual bespoke/made-to-measure shop like SEW in Manhattan to compare the experience?

By: Josh @ Short Shrifted

Josh @ Short Shrifted — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:20:43 +0000

Ah – Thanks, man. Yes, this is the shirt post-wash, so it’s as small as it’s going to get. And I’d like to post a pic of the back but am not sure how likely that is (I had to take these pictures myself and it was kinda tough to get all the angles myself).

By: Ah Beng

Ah Beng — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:16:47 +0000

Shirt looks good. I would also prefer a slimmer fit on you. Perhaps you could post a shot of how it looks from the back?

Have you washed the shirt yet? You might find that once the starch comes off and with the little shrinking you’d get, it might hug the body more and give you a slimmer look.

You didn’t mention the button type. Did you get plastic buttons or mother-of-pearl? Most people won’t be able to tell the difference but IMO if you’re getting a custom-made shirt you should go MOP route as it’s a small luxury and shouldn’t cost too much (I wouldn’t pay more than $10 extra).