Source for quality formalwear in the US

**2a5t2f7** · 4th November 10, 06:19 AM

Being a musician, I have formal wear for every occasion. For me, tails, white dinner jacket, or black tux are work clothes. However, I am very picky about finding shirts that will hold up to repeated use while still looking good. It is easy to look OK from a distance while being on stage, but quite another thing to still look smart as you are standing face to face with someone. I have found these shirts to be the best as far as durability, performance, and overall looks. Not exactly cheap, but worth the money in the long run. I am also fond of the pique look….(with or without pleats are available) http://www.tuxedosdirect.com/product/015973.shtml

For dress shirts, I do still buy the Brooks Brothers "no-iron" variety. Three for $159 at the Brooks Brothers Outlet store. Those are a great bargain and pay for themselves in dry cleaning savings very quickly. Wash, short dry, hang up to finish, no wrinkles….

I'm with Artificer on the self tie bow ties. It is not hard to learn to tie your own and it looks infinitely more finished than a pre-tied….

**davidlpope** · 4th November 10, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

I recently got a new shirt from Jos. A. Banks and have been very pleased. It's not a tux shirt, but a french cuff, oxford collar dress shirt. The material is good, it's stood up well after several wearings and washings, and everything still looks fresh. I believe I spent in the $70 price range.

I wear JosABank traveller shirts for work. I find that the tailored fitting is more flattering (less blousy) and that they hold up well without much ironing. Try to get them on sale, though. About twice a year they have a "buy 1 at regular price, get two free" or "buy 2 at half price, get one free" sale and I stock up. It works out to about $26.50 per shirt and can qualify for free shipping if you buy enough.

David

**Lyle1** · 4th November 10, 07:27 AM

I've bought tux shirts and other shirts from JosABanks and Paul Fredrick for years. I like the quality and the styling. The prices are what I consider mid-range, but they offer sales so frequently, that the regular price is almost meaningless; I only buy at full price if I want a particular shirt at a particular time. I have some tux shirts from Paul Fredrick that must be 15+ years old. They don't wear out. JosABank sends at least one email a week about a sale.

**artificer** · 4th November 10, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by 2a5t2f7

...I have found these shirts to be the best as far as durability, performance, and overall looks. Not exactly cheap, but worth the money in the long run. I am also fond of the pique look….(with or without pleats are available) http://www.tuxedosdirect.com/product/015973.shtml
...

As an FYI there's a chap selling these on eBay for around $35 delivered (bagged and 1st quality-not factory seconds). I'll try and find the link again. They are quite nice.

**longhuntr74** · 4th November 10, 01:18 PM

Lots of talk about dress shirts here. I'm, unfortunately, limited to pleated front shirts. Speaking of which...do the masses prefer wider or narrow pleats? I think I remember reading that wider are more traditional with 1/4" pleats being a post WWII trend. Is that true? Is one considered more refined than the other or more or less formal?

Also...what about ties and cummerbunds? Anybody have a favorite brand/maker? Obviously I'm looking for a self-tie bow tie...no more pre-tied. I was thinking about going for grosgrain or faille...but then I realized that the lapels on my mess jacket are satin. Do you think I should keep the tie and cummerbund satin as well? Or is it ok to mix satin lapels with grosgrain tie and cummerbund. Here's my wife and I at my last formal...yes...pre-tied bowtie and el-cheapo cummerbund....ick....this is why I want to upgrade!!!

Sorry about the flash white out...I'm sure there's a way to adjust the pic, but I just didn't take the time. It highlights the grey in my temples as well!!!

**azwildcat96** · 4th November 10, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Also...what about ties and cummerbunds? ... I was thinking about going for grosgrain or faille...but then I realized that the lapels on my mess jacket are satin. Do you think I should keep the tie and cummerbund satin as well? Or is it ok to mix satin lapels with grosgrain tie and cummerbund.

I think the general "rule" is to keep the lapel, tie and cummerbund all the same material...

**longhuntr74** · 4th November 10, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by azwildcat96

I think the general "rule" is to keep the lapel, tie and cummerbund all the same material...

Black tie guide...guess I should have looked there first!

The texture of the bow is governed by the lapel facing of the dinner jacket. A satin lapel calls for a satin bow tie while grosgrain facings require a ribbed or textured finish such as barathea. Like the jacket lapels, a quality bow tie will always be constructed of pure silk.

And regarding the cummerbund...
The most traditional material for cummerbunds is black silk in a satin or grosgrain finish to match the facings of the dinner jacket lapels.

The interesting thing to note is that convention calls for the cummerbund to be worn pleats facing upward (dating back to the time when tickets were kept in the fold...not to "catch the crumbs" as some may insist). Army regulations specify that the cummerbund will be worn with the pleats facing downward. Hmmm...