My First Custom Shirt

About a month ago, I received an email from a young lady working for a p.r. firm in Chicago. She was writing on behalf of online custom shirt company Deo Veritas. She found this blog, and offered me a free shirt, made to my specifications, to review on here. How exciting! Who knew that screwing around on the computer when you ought to be in bed could actually have perks? So I accepted her offer and, promo code in hand, headed to the Deo Veritas website.

The shirt arrived today...I've been itching to tell you all about it.

Blue and white gingham check, smooth pinpoint Italian cloth, with contrast collar and cuffs.

Contrast button down collar, that is. Unorthodox? Certainly. But, like a real rube, I decided that my first custom garment should spare no bells and/or whistles. I was inspired by a shirt that Brooks Brothers was offering last year, blue university stripe with white button down collar and French cuffs. Hell, Gitman Brothers was selling something similar at the infamous Pop Up Flea.

Contrast cuffs, three button with an angled cut at the corner.

The label reads "bespoke tailored". Really I'd call this excellent made to measure. To me, "bespoke" implies that I was fitted in person by the man who would make the garment. A semantic detail.

And just for good measure, a monogram. I'm really not into monograms on anything other than a canvas tote bag, but they offered it on the inside of the collar band. That's not bad.

As for fit and construction, I'm totally pleased. The fit is great, the shirt is unique. I may be a thrift store junkie, but it's nice to own something fresh once in a while...doubly so when its really been made just for you. I'm high on the feeling. I never knew it could be this way...

Take a look at the pattern alignment on the sleeve placket. Perfect, no?

And the front placket is nearly invisible...awesome.
Deo Veritas is an online company based in Chicago. The shirts are made in Hong Kong. I like things made in the U.S.A., but a Hong Kong tailor is nothing to shake a pin cushion at. They offer three different methods of measurement, each of them easy to use and intuitive, a wide range of fabrics, and a cool online preview of your shirt. There is no minimum number of shirts to buy, and shipping is always free.Their website states that their tailors each have at least ten years experience in making bespoke menswear. I'll vouch for that. Whoever stitched this one up clearly knew his craft.

This shirt, with all its bells and whistles, would have cost $84. Sure, I'm used to paying three or four bucks for shirts, but that's a fair price for a custom order. A more straightforward shirt in the same gingham cloth would have cost $78. Many of their offerings are as low as $65. Seriously, Polo Ralphie shirts retail for more than that new.

The whole process, from order to delivery, took about a month. A nice fellow named Vinnie, who I assume is one of the men in charge, emailed me to check up on whether I got my shirt yet. I was impressed by his customer service. Here I am getting a freebie, and he still goes out of his way to make sure all goes according to plan.

In all honesty, I'm a broke S.O.B. That's why I wound up scouring the thrift stores in the first place. But I'm thrilled about my Deo Veritas shirt. The company seems committed to putting the custom shirt more within reach of the less-than-rich man, and I applaud them for that. The quality is top notch and the turn around was quick. Frankly, I don't think $65-$85 is such a bad price for a thing like that. If you're considering custom shirts, give these guys a try. I dig 'em. I'm already considering blowing my Christmas bonus on a few more.

Tomorrow is my birthday, so the timing on the delivery was accidentally perfect. I plan to wear it out to dinner with Mrs. G. on Friday night, so you can see photos of it in action then.

p.s. while cleaning out the hundreds of emails in my inbox this evening, I realised I had promised Dennis over at Made to Meausre NYC I would put his link up here. That was bakc in May. Sorry, Dennis, I'm slow sometimes.