Retail therapy

People of the Internet,

As I was taking inventory of my suitings and shirtings and the like, I was struck--as I often am--by the things which I am missing. The one thing I currently recall I am desperately missing is a dressy pink shirt.

I ask for little: modest spread collar of moderate length, double french cuffs, diamond-shaped monogram (in the same pink) above the left elbow and the cuff joining the sleeve via a near-endless arrangement of teeny-tiny pleats, as opposed to the more prosaic tapering or the merely adequate two-or-three larger pleats.

Having the sort of mentality that abhors a gap in the wardrobe, I pulled the trigger. Taking an extended lunch, I sauntered to The New Shirt Place (name withheld pending review), was treated to a pretty decent espresso and handed a pleasingly hefty book of swatches.

I opted for a MTM* shirt for the following reasons:
1- I'm just trying this place out for the first time
2- The coin for MTM was a lot more reasonable than the price of custom
3- Delivery time was shorter (no baste fitting or patternmaking required)
4- Minimum order size is one vs. three for custom

At any rate, I chose a light-ish sort of pink royal oxford (120s on the warp and 140s on the woof, IIRC). The measurement process was simple enough.

• Neck
• Both sleeves (natch)
• Yoke
• Chest
• Shoulder drop
• Torso
• Cuffs and
• "Sweep."

Stylewise, it's a spread (lower neckband than the "British spread") collar, double french cuffs, proper monogram (suitably hidden as per above), regular placket, no pocket and back side pleats. Should be ready in 3 weeks and should look like this:

(Ignore the hideous tie knot and cufflinks)

Stay tuned. -J.

*Made To Measure, for you new kids