Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

Clothes Horse Part II – The Follow Up

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In Person: Clothes Horse sized Bonobos Impresario Dress Shirt – $98.00

For the previous post about Clothes Horse, head over this way.

It’s a little big.  Not as big as I thought it would be when Clothes Horse suggested I size up to a 16 neck and 34 sleeve (I usually wear a 15.5/33) but big enough that if I was in the market for a $98 dress shirt, I’d still send it back.

As far as the shirt goes, the Italian cotton fabric seems pretty nice.  Certainly thicker than a standard poplin you’d pick up from say, Banana republic.  The shirt appears to be constructed awfully well, with double rows of stitching where you’d expect single.  The buttons could be thicker, and it’s made in Malaysia.
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CH Bonobos ShirtSleeves are a little long, and the body doesn’t fit as close as say, a Medium all-rounder from Bonobos.

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CH Bonobos CollarTwo fingers easily slip in.  Three isn’t the easiest fit, but they’re in.  It’s just not close enough for me in the collar.
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The Bottom Line

Clothes Horse has something.  Here at the start, they might be a resource better used by newbies to a brand who don’t have much if any experience buying clothes online.  The shirt is big on me, but not as big as I was expecting when a 16/34 was suggested.  So the Clothes Horse opinion that Bonobos shirts “fit small” isn’t unfounded.

As far as the shirt from Bonobos goes… it’s a nice shirt.  $98 nice?  Nope.  Not when the oft-mentioned ratio/clothing makes a similar shirt, sized in much more precise measurements, and that shirt comes with your choice of collar, cuffs, placket, pleats, and pocket.  For nine bucks less.  And they’re made in the USA.  Ratio’s shirts do take 3-4 weeks as opposed to the super fast Bonobos shipping, but unless you’ve got a now rare code or deal for Bonobos, then the wait for a Ratio shirt, Clothes Horse sizing help or not, is going to be worth it.

Comments

  4. I still have the best luck getting a boxy dress shirt that fits across my shoulders and sleeves on sale or clearance in a store, and paying a little to have them taken in around the midsection. Been wearing a ton of eddie bauer button downs for just that reason. Pick them up at the outlet store for 20, 25 bucks, 10 dollars worth of tailoring, and they look like a much more expensive shirt. 

  5. Josh,

    Can you explain in greater detail “what” your tailor is doing to those shirts to make them fit better through the midsection?

    Joe,

    I agree with the “neck” being a little too big (stick w/ your 15.5), the sleeves IMO are the perfect length especially if you plan on a “little” shrinkage, midsection could be slimmer for my taste, not worth the $100.00 not on sale.

  6. That’s an awful fit – the billowing in the back should be a textbook example of “when to return”

  7. Not too impressed… especially if the guys buying into this service don’t understand good shirt fit to begin with, and feel they have to rely on the “expertise” of the sizing service. This is just a recipe for perpetuating fit ignorance. The bottom line is that you have to learn for yourself what fits you, and keep trying stuff out until you can recognize what works and what doesn’t.

  12. Seems to be more a function of the cut of the shirt than the technology.  I would be surprised if a 15.5×33 fit noticeably closer through the sides.  Unfortunately, Bonobos’ “tailored fit” ain’t all that “tailored.”  I sent back a number of shirts from them for that reason.  Would be interesting to see a comparison of this shirt vs. a size down just to see if it’s the shirt or the technology.  Thanks for the comparison Joe.  Looking a little scruffy these days, no?

  14. Have multiple items from Bonobos, but havent went for a dress shirt yet. Id almost rather get a $90 Ratio shirt even though I can ALWAYS get at least 20% off Bonobos. 😉

  15. I have a the blue windowpane shirt, an it literally is the most easily wrinkled shirt Ive ever owned. It’s also really tough to iron the wrinkles out. The shoe is great quality though. Anyone else had that issue??

  18. I have to agree here, especially with regards to fit. I bought straight leg chinos from them that look much more like bootcuts. I don’t mind paying for tailoring, but as a college student on a limited budget that has to stretch and wait for big sales to even consider Bonobos, I was hoping for something much more Ready To Wear right out of the box