How much is too much for a white shirt? - YouLookFab Forum

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How much is too much for a white shirt?

viva

Veteran

Out to dinner in Boston last night, I saw a woman wearing this top. It looked amazing -- really spoke to my love of luxe, menswear, and sharp tailoring. It was simple and chic. My work travel is about to kick in, and I have a meeting and a conference coming up that I'd love to have a great look ready for. It's JCrew (will I EVER break that habit?) and it's not on sale. With shipping, it's going to be almost $170.

Is that just crazy?

Thomas Mason for J.Crew mandarin-collar tuxedo shirt

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30 replies

Latest reply was from chadya

Anonymous

I have never managed to get the white shirt situation right. How do you keep them looking good? I'd love to have a nice one, but they need to be dry cleaned every single time you wear it, right? Just seems so high-maintenance, but I suppose it's the price you pay for this look. I am asking the question, not stating my opinion.....

Maybe it IS necessary to spend $$ to get the right look - the best cotton, best tailoring, best designs etc. It's a lot of money, but if the shirt lasts a long time, I think it's absolutely worth it. If I owned it though, I'd fear it would spend more time at the cleaners than in my closet . How do you handle your white shirts?

Anonymous

And, you have one of his blue tux shirts, don't you?

catgirl

Veteran

I just found one that's perfect for me - oversized, flat collar - for $20 at F21. But I was all set to pay a gazillion dollars for an Anne Fontaine shirt last year. If it would be a staple for you it may be worth it, but I wouldn't pay that much because a white shirt is very fringe for my closet.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am not one to talk. This tux shirt looks very much like "our" blue tux shirt -- just a different collar style, no?

Well...I started out with the white one. Angie said she thought I "needed" it so I ordered it. I think it was on a small discount at the time, but I can't remember -- what I do remember is that the price seemed outrageous to me at the time, but once I felt the fabric, I didn't regret it. This year, I added the blue shirt (which, if possible, feels even better). And then the B&W gingham one. (In my defence, those two were on a more substantial discount...)

It's the quality of the cotton that got me. And the collar style. I have to confess that I actually wear the blue and gingham more often than the white, but that is largely because optic white is not a super flattering tone for me. I wear the white most in summer and the others I wear year round.

I just wash them in the washer, hang to dry, and iron. No dry cleaning for me.

Gaylene

Veteran

Doesn't Suz have a similar shirt, as well as Angie? Maybe they can offer an opinion if they think it's worth the price after having owned it for a year or so?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA: so far, all of mine have worn very well and seem well made. I think the style is quite classic and will even work itself into a 70s influenced capsule for spring if you choose to go in that direction. Pleats in lieu of ruffles.

Tanya

Veteran

I own a similar white one, the same one Suz and Angie, have, and it is amazing. It is one of very rare clothing items I bought at full price (pretty much the same as yours) and I do not regret it a single bit. It feels great. I keep wanting to add the same one in blue, and waiting for some kind of discount, but so far no luck.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Personally, I will spend hundreds on a white shirt - like my Anne Fontaines. They are my thing. I look after them, and they last a long time. Tomorrow's outfit post features one of my old AF shirts - still looks new, and I LOVE it. White shirts give me enormous pleasure when I wear them. Money well spent.

Anonymous

j

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I have two white shirts, one by Anne Fontaine. I don't wear it often because it's dressy, but I love it and would never relegate it to the eBay/Goodwill pile. I also bought it on sale, four months after I first saw it, when the SA called me to let me know that it was going on sale. If you love it, and will wear it, and it's good quality, go for it. But if you're open to spending that much on a blouse, I might shop around a bit in that price range and higher to have a better idea of cuts/styles/fabrics.

AM

Veteran

I would spend that amount if I felt like I had tried lower cost options (and they failed). It has the potential to be a key piece in ones wardrobe so I could definitely see this as an investment. But I'd want to LOVE, LOVE it. I just got a $125 white shirt for $25 (it has a bonus leather attachable colar -- I am going to play around with this sale item but hope to do some searching for a LOVE, LOVE white shirt. If it takes paying more -- but it is fab, then I am going to splurge.

my experiment with shirt on sale.
http://www.lordandtaylor.com/w.....eather-col

retailgirl

Veteran

I love white shirts. I would probably love an Anne Fontaine shirt, but I've never been near a store. I have several white shirts by Farinaz which are beautiful and each cost about $185-$200. I've had them for several years. I also have a white Faconnable shirt ( from my Nordstrom days) that is about ten years old and cost maybe $150. Not sure. They are worth the price because of the beautiful fabrics and the level of detail...buttons, collar styles, turn back cuffs, etc. As for care: I never dry clean them. That's what will turn them yellow. And I would never get them laundered at the cleaners, either. I wash in cold water, after treating the collars and cuffs with a bar of laundry soap, fluff dry slightly on no heat, and press them myself. Takes about 15 minutes per shirt. Every now and then I soak them in an oxi- clean solution to keep them bright.

Dee

Veteran

Do you think it might go on sale? I feel JCrew has been running sales more frequently lately, so even 25% off might bring the price down to something you'd consider more reasonable.

That said, I've been trying for quality over quantity lately, so if this is "the one", it might at least be worth trying it if other options haven't worked for you.

deb

Veteran

I love my Brooks Bros non iron dress shirts. Have you tried their clothing? I put them in the washer then the dryer and take them out right away. No wrinkles, ever.

Anonymous

No, that's not crazy if you're going to feel great wearing it, take really good care of it , and get real wear out of it. And I don't think you have to keep it forever. I tend to have very few things at a time, wear them constantly and then move on without looking back, so I buy the one I really want even if it's kind of pricey.

viva

Veteran

Deb, I have a Brooks Brothers white shirt that I love. I wasn't wearing it that much and then this summer I went through a couple of weeks where I wore it all the time. I think I need to just be reminded that it's there. What I like about this one is that it is a white shirt but different.

Dee, the sale thing is killing me. I want it for an upcoming trip so I don't want to wait for a sale. I'm hoping that if I get it and decide to keep it and a sale comes quickly, they might credit me the difference. Not sure.

Gradfashionista, I've seen Ann Fontaine shirts and they are amazing but a bit too dressy for me (at least what I recall). This shirt appears to be just right -- able to dress way up or way down.

Tanya / Suz / Angie / Gaylene: I love my blue Thomas Mason tux shirt. The quality is impeccable. So I am in the fan club.

Lisa: I wash my Brooks Brothers white shirt and my Thomas Mason tux shirt. I would plan to wash this shirt too, perhaps taking the extra steps retailgirl suggests. And thanks for posting the Canadian price, suddenly mine feels more reasonable -- haha.

Una / AM: I'm not really looking for a white shirt. And I have never been wowed by a lower cost option. Honestly, this one just grabbed me by the throat in the Gaslight last night. I could not stop staring at the woman wearing it. I don't know how it will work on me, but it's just what I would want in a white shirt that is not a traditional one. It's different in just the way I would want it to be.

Isabel: I strive for that decisive approach to shopping and wardrobe.

I'm going to buy it and try it. I had a small January, purchase-wise, and if this works, I think it will be a long time keeper. (I tend to hold onto button down shirts forever.) BTW, for those who care, I returned the red Maddies. I did love them but red did not feel versatile enough to me, and I want looser fitting pinstripe trousers even more (which I will wear with everything from a graphic tee to this white shirt to a turtleneck sweater, very easily). JCrew factory has a pair right now that might be perfect. We'll see.

Thanks for all your help.

Gaylene

Veteran

To answer your question, Viva, of course it's not crazy to pay $170--or $250--or whatever--for an item that fits into your wardrobe and your budget. We all have different pricepoints for different items. For example, I won't pay more than $15-20 for a cotton T-shirt, but will fork over four figures for a coat. I'll spend $500 on a pair of boots without batting an eye, but refuse to look at handbags at that pricepoint or higher. I buy pricey bras, but am happy with yoga/exercise gear from Costco. And so it goes; each to their own.

Sal

Veteran

What Gaylene said!

Many of us strive for less pieces but quality ones. I would pay this easily for something I loved. It is a stunning shirt, and fits with your style.

retailgirl

Veteran

And I have Brook Brothers shirts that I love for their ease of care, but the fabrics are not as luxurious as a $150 plus shirt. I think of the bb shirts as more layering pieces.

AM

Veteran

Really fun to be grabbed by the throat by a piece of clothing. Now I just can't wait to see you in it. And having pieces that have that perfect little something special is a rare find.

Anonymous

I have spent that much on a white blouse. Every single time I wear it, people compliment me.

Echo

Veteran

I have to agree that if a white shirt is a staple for you and you love this one, then it is money well spent. What might be "worth it" to me might not be to you and vice versa, so I cannot judge someone for wanting a quality white shirt with details that set it apart from the rest. If you will wear it and love it, I think you should get it and not worry about the sale (unless it comes up quickly, in which case you should get a price adjustment, but you should not feel bad if there isn't a sale price, either).

Dimity

I love the collar on this, so I just looked it up. It costs $270 in Australia from the same JCrew site, plus shipping. Yikes!

It's a lovely shirt, definitely. I currently have too many wardrobe holes so wouldn't want so much of my budget eaten up by a white shirt, but in another year when I didn't have so much that I really need to get, I would definitely consider it. Every time you go to put on something that is well made and has beautiful fabric, you relish the experience. I have a cashmere cardigan that I just love to wear for that reason.

At this point, though, it would almost be worth me paying the $1200 for a flight to LA, spend a couple of nights there and shop like crazy. If I bought ten things, I'd have got my airfare back!

Anonymous

It would be my luck to buy an expensive white shirt and then spill ketchup on it.

All kidding aside, I'd like to find a nice white button-down shirt for my size XSP daughter, in a much more affordable price range. I'm Looking for a really good fit, soft feel (read: not scratchy) and classic style. Lands End maybe???

Deborah

Veteran

I think it is all relative. What is it worth to you? I personally struggle with finding THE white shirt for me and I would pay quite a lot for one that meet my needs and made me look fab.

Thistle

Veteran

What Gaylene said.

Honestly, I would spend a small fortune on a flattering warm winter coat. I am seriously considering a pair of $500 aquatalias because they would be suede boots I could wear most of the year. I spent a chunk on an EF sweater jacket for my freezing office.

Had you told me ten years ago I would even dream of spending $500 for a pair of boots, I would have laughed at you.

But I wouldn't give much for a white shirt as button downs hate me and so have never become an important part of my style.

So, yes, all about your style and your budget.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I struggle with the "perfect" white shirt, so I can see paying a premium for "the one."

But I probably will not shell out big bucks for another white silk shirt. I got a Vince one a few years ago and loves it, but after the last dry cleaning I noticed bad pit stains. I tried some removal techniques, but to no avail. I loved that darn shirt too. Just enough drape.

I'd probably be more likely to pay full price for something I can machine wash, which sounds counterintuitive. I have a BB white shirt which does wash beautifully, but it's quite fitted.

Why are white shirts so hard??

Anonymous

It looks like I need to polish up my laundress skills. I have never been able to get a shirt looking as good as a professional pressing does. Perhaps I'm not patient enough with the ironing process, but that is why I don't own dress shirts - or ones that need pressing. I think I should put a new iron and ironing board on my shopping list - come to think of it, I've been using the same ironing board I had when I first moved into my own apartment about 30 years ago - and my iron is not a whole lot newer. I suspect there have been advances made in the interim This also reminds me that I've wanted to buy a retail-type steamer too. .....

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Material and tailoring does make a big difference with white shirts. And wash-ability of course. I wouldn't pay that much for one because I am lucky enough to find excellent white shirts in new condition second hand AND they are not an essential for me. Shoes...well that is another story and of course I do not need any more shoes. I can say that I believe this shirt will look utterly smashing on you.

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