I love anything custom. I’ve never gotten a custom dress shirt made, so I took advantage of a recent Read Wall promotion (4 for $500) to give it a whirl. I had them take my measurements when I was up in DC at the beginning of the year to have on hand for an occasion (and opportunity) such as this. I’m going through a closet purge, and space is at a premium, so I want to fill it with pieces that will stay in the rotation, and don’t just look good on a hanger.
After seeing the offer, I contacted the store, and worked with Conor to get my fabrics, styles, and details worked out. 90% of it was done over email. The process was way too easy.
Here’s what I went with (Clockwise from top left):
- Blue Pima Cotton, Read Wall’s “Perfect Spread Collar”, barrel cuffs, cuff monogram in navy blue
- White Pinpoint Cotton, Read Wall’s “Perfect Spread Collar”, barrel cuffs, cuff monogram in navy blue
- Green Bengal Stripe, Spread Collar, front pocket, barrel cuffs, fifth button monogram in light blue
- Pink Micro-Gingham, Button-down collar, front pocket, barrel cuffs, fifth button monogram in green
I wanted some go-to dress shirts that I can wear with a suit, so 1 and 2 will fit that bill. I’m really into bengal stripes right now, so the green was a no brainer. And how do you say no to pink gingham? You simply can’t.
Blue Pima Cotton Details:
White Pinpoint Details:
Green Bengal Stripe Details:
Pink Micro-Gingham Details:
All in all, the experience was outstanding. I am very satisfied with the results, and have enjoyed wearing these shirts. They really do feel like mine…as if they were made for me. Wait – they were made for me.
What did I learn? When traveling, stop by mens stores and have them take your measurements – not just for shirts, but for suits and sport coats as well. Then, follow the mens store on social media and email distributions and take advantage of sales like these.
I can’t say enough good things about Read Wall. They do such great work, and all of my experiences have been outstanding thus far. DC and Bethesda folks: get over to their shop(s) and say hello. Great stuff cookin’ over there.
What’s the story on the fifth button monogram? I’ve never seen that before. Although, I did just see a pic with Ronald Reagan sporting the fifth button monogram, so it must be legit.