A few months ago I had my first British bespoke suit made. Time, I thought, to repeat the experience in shirts – so I toddled off to 23 Bury Street, home of Turnbull & Asser’s bespoke service. 

I’ve been a fan of Turnbull & Asser’s shirts for a while, and wrote a while back about the vast improvement that has been made in the block for their ready-to-wear shirts. How many men with a 15-inch neck wanted that big a waist on their shirt I’ll never know. The new line is much slimmer, and fits better than some made-to-measure I’ve had done. 

Bespoke is made in almost exactly the same way as ready-to-wear, and all in the Gloucester factory. But the difference is the fit. I have to say being measured by master shirt maker David Gale was an eye-opener for me. The attention to detail in body and personal habits was greater than any other tailor I’ve had. 

Take the width of the cuff, for example. Obviously this is dependent on the width of the man’s wrist. It should be tight enough to that wrist such that the cuff stays at the base of the thumb and does not slip further down. That allows the shirtmaker to build in around an inch of excess material in the sleeve length, above the wrist, so that when a man’s arm is extended the shirt goes with it.


However, some men wear large watches on their wrist, making it impossible to keep the cuff tight enough to prevent slipping down the hand. So instead, the cuff is made larger but there is no excess in the sleeve length. To still allow for movement of the arm, a slight excess is built into the back of the shirt, rather than the sleeve. 


The same process would be used for a man that prefers to put in his cufflinks before he puts the shirt on. The cuff is made a little wider and the sleeve a little shorter, without that excess material. Equally for a man with particularly thick wrists in proportion to his hand. I do wear large watches, but I also have slim wrists – so it balances out. 

It also makes a difference what type of cuff link you wear. A silk knot keeps the cuff very tight; a bar is rather looser; and a chain is looser still – even if they are the same length, the looseness of the chain means it forms a bigger circle than a bar. This is as important as the thickness of your wrist. 


My first commission was for a white dress shirt, in Sea Island Quality cotton. This is not actually from the islands off Georgia and South Carolina, as Sea Island cotton originally was, but from the same plants transported to Egypt. I was told that the cotton you get today from the area is monopolised and thus overpriced. In T&A’s opinion, Sea Island Quality feels better anyway. I’ve felt true Sea Island cotton and it is heavier and silkier. Whether that is better is really a question of taste. 


The first, draft shirt will be ready in three to four weeks. This will be made slightly on the conservative (wide) side in terms of fit. For example, the excess of cloth in chest, waist and hips can be as low as two inches each. Mine will be five-four-four, with the presumption that it will be taken in. Better too much than too little, as you can’t make a shirt bigger. (Or not easily anyway. You can add side panels but it is a lengthy and costly process.) 

The shirt will then be worn and washed two or three times, before being presented to David for a fitting. Then the adjusted paper pattern goes back to the factory to be made into a final shirt. Watch out here for reports on both stages.
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jotaele

Can you give us a cost approximation of a T&A bespoke shirt?

Taylor

Simon…Nice piece…do you know if the outfit in NYC can provide the same level of service…in terms quality and expertise.

Taylor

Derek Estabrook

You should check, I believe Turnbull has a New York location.

SMII

Lovely Blog, very informative. Quite an investment, minimum of six initially, indeed yet one that is worthwhile given the shirts’ quality and projected longevity.

Max

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Giulio Pizzano

That price is the right combination of quality and brand name…there is no comparison between a bespoke shirt and an Armani shirt…of course I prefere the first 🙂

http://www.bespokelab.blogspot.com

Anonymous

hi, simon i was wondering if you had any advice on tailors in london who are able to adjust shirts (esp at the waist to avoid bunching of material)? are there any you are able to recommend?
thanks, david

Albert Huang

I have tried Hilditch & Key and Budd and I have come to the impression that Jermyn St shirtmakers are hugely overrated much like their English football team. Try the Neapolitans or Alexander Kabbaz. Jermyn St bespoke shirts are hyped up made to measure shirts

Richard

Simon, it is a few years since you wrote this article and I note that you have moved onto the neapolitan shirt makers in this time. Based on the fact that most British shkrtmakers do not do fittings on their bespoke shirts and there is very little hand stitching, do you think there is much value of bespoke over made to measure? Jermyn street makers such as Harvie & Haddon offer both, and I am wondering whether it is worth paying for the bespoke option when, especially for the first shirt, the fit is unlikely to be spot on?

DKP

Simon, I know you’ve moved on to Neapolitans since this article was first published but as a more general question – I’m looking to have my first bespoke shirt made but am a cautious buyer and would rather take this step with a shirtmaker who put no minimum on their first orders (though I do understand and appreciate the reasons behind minimum first orders). I’ve heard smaller shirtmakers such as GuyField have no minimums but have no idea about their quality. Would you have any suggestions?

Joe Weeks

Hi Simon!

Fantastic post. I am off for my first fitting at Turnbull and Asser at the end of the month, and as an avid reader of your blog, I turned to you for information about the process.

I’ve read your articles with interest (and am aware that you have now switched shirtmakers), but can’t seem to find a post with any pictures or updates on the final T&A shirts after alterations to your pattern. Would you be so kind as to tell how you enjoyed the shirts in the end, any tips for getting the most from your fitting, and if you do have any pictures of how the shirt fits, perhaps to share one or two of them?

All the best,

Joe

Joe Weeks

Thanks for your reply, Simon. T&A have now reduced their minimum to four, which is good news for newbies as you say.

Yes, now starting at £295 does seem steep. Do you take any view on whether this is sustainable or whether prices will ever decrease? It seems that most of the internet matter on bespoke is only five or six years old, and yet there is talk of bespoke shirt makers that now charge over £240 having not too long ago charged £175.

Piers

I like their shirts very much.
The weekend ones are perfect – once you have found your size.
Less is more.
The fact they are Made in England is also very appealing.

Thomas

Hi Simon, can you say something about the longevity of these shirts? Will they last longer than say an Eton shirt? How many wash cycles before they break down?