Why buy shirts that must be ironed?

[mretzloff]

I went to Brooks Brothers that other day to get two shirts and I asked if all the shirts on display are non-iron. The employee told me all except for a few, which he pointed out. He then told me some people insist on shirts that must be ironed. Why do some people not want non-iron shirts? Am I missing something?

[RichGem]

Maybe they like ironing?

[gaseousclay]

I would assume there's a difference in the way the fabric feels. I personally like the way 100% cotton feels and don't mind ironing either. I can see the benefit of a non-iron shirt for the person on the go

[mdunn]

maybe for these guys?

(extreme ironing)

http://www.maldivesdivetravel.com/maldives-blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ExtremeUnderwaterIroning.jpg
http://x3mpeople.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/1_46.jpg
http://blog.frogbody.com/frogblog/images/extreme_ironing.jpg

[luvmysuper]

There is no such thing as "wrinkle proof" fabric, there is only "wrinkle resistant".
Ipso Facto, ALL shirts must be ironed at some time or another, unless your speaking of sport shirts, pullovers or hoodies.

Besides, nothing like the feel of a nice linen with extra starch.

[mretzloff]

maybe for these guys?

(extreme ironing)

I read about that a while ago. That is one weird sport.

[Hreafn]

crisp creases is why you buy shirts that have to be ironed.

[Ru4scuba?]

Because I'm a masochist!

[82R100]

There is no such thing as "wrinkle proof" fabric, there is only "wrinkle resistant".
Ipso Facto, ALL shirts must be ironed at some time or another, unless you're speaking of sport shirts, pullovers or hoodies.

Ruh Roh!

[jbloodwo]

if I was working where i needed somthing other thatn a polo... and had the cash i would only go for "iron" shirts. And send then out to the cleaners.

Also It would not shock me if A higher percentage of ppl that shop at brooks bros. use laundry service.

i can tell you that i love the feel of a pressed shirt with light starch over one i wash myself.

[garyg]

It is somewhat akin to wet shaving I think - there's a reward in doing something slower and in an older fashion. A crisply ironed pure cotton shirt outclasses any drip dry synthetic I ever came across. If you put in the extra effort (or cash for a launderer) you get a better result, but it comes down to whether you aspire to look ok or great.

[82R100]

Another take on the subject (courtesy of www.yousuckatcraigslist.com):

77557

[MWS]

I find Ironing the same as doing dishes and wet shaving...very therapeutic - I can let my mind relax while keeping busy.

[john parker]

I find Ironing the same as doing dishes and wet shaving...very therapeutic - I can let my mind relax while keeping busy.

Amen!

[avsmusic1]

I wish I found ironing enjoyable :(

It could be the brands I wear but the non-iron shirts tend to be thicker and heavier to me. This is problematic in the summer and the cloth seems to rest a little different.

[rickboone1]

First off, no iron shirts are a freaking joke. I have some. I iron them. Ironing, which by the way, I do enjoy....don't call it weird (people think we're weird to like shaving...). Anyway, this post has tons of grammatical faults and I don't care right now, but ironing is fun to me. Additionally, it gives that crisp, clean look that you get from pressed clothes. Non-iron clothes do not have that. They don't have crisp creases. Wash that shirt and tell me if you can really get by without ironing it....I can't. I like creases. I crease my undergarments.

[Ceezer]

I've tried the 'no iron' shirts and... still iron them. Maybe it's me, but they still appear too sloppy if I don't iron them out

[tlanning]

Over 30 years I wore 2 types, crisp and creased orrr fatigues. To this day my family kinda nicely makes fun of the fact that i send my jeans out to be cleaned and pressed----go figure

[Groundhog]

I've got some of those no-iron dress shirts from Brooks Brothers and a couple from Nordstrom. Whatever process they use to make them "no-iron" more or less disappears after awhile and they have to be ironed to look crisp. These days, i just take them to the cleaners. They are well-made shirts though, especially the Brooks Brothers.

[jtoddaz]

I have had MANY of the BB Non-Iron and they are awesome. However, they aren't the softest shirts. It's the additives to resist the wrinkles. One thing, do NOT get the 346 shirts from the outlet. Mine have fallen apart, fraying on the sleeves, and the 1818 shirts from the main store are still going strong.


I really don't mind, but the feel of a sea island cotton, or a soft combed cotton is unreal. I say keep an arsenal of non-iron for everyday use, and then some 100% cotton for an occasional change.

[DSB]

2 reasons:

(1) The process of making a non-iron 100% cotton shirt involves soaking the cotton fabric in a chemical. This process makes the cotton threads weaker, and the "non-iron" shirt wears out faster than a shirt that requires ironing.

(2) I find that some, but not all, "non-iron" 100% cotton shirts don't breath as well as 100% iron shirts that require ironing.

I don't like to iron, so I bring my dress shirts to the cleaners.

[blackfoot]

Everyone has pretty much summed it up. My only wrinkle resistant shirts are uniforms and casual.

[Sullybob]

Another take on the subject (courtesy of www.yousuckatcraigslist.com):



Thats a classic site. I bet their is some crossover from the www.peopleofwalmart.com

[garyg]

Now, I refrained from saying anything about the people of ChinaMart & their nicely pressed sweatclothes ..

[Kouros]

I've owned several Brooks Brothers shirts and now I only buy the ones that require ironing. I have found the cotton in the non-iron shirts to be too stiff and cheap feeling.

High maintenance = high enjoyment.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

I really like my Jos Banks and Dillards Gold Label shirts. These non iron have been the talk of the town for the past two years. When they are laundried they are only dried to a moist level and then hung to dry completely. When I put them on they are smooth as can be. The sleeves are razor sharp. They appear to be freshly pressed, but they are not....even at the end of the day, these shirts looks terrific....

my buddy bought a couple of these and does not get the same pleasure out of them...I suspect that his wife dries them to a delicate crunch and ruins his shirts.

I have a couple of Brooks Brothers and lands Ends shirts and thier creases do not come near comparing to these two brands I just mentioned.

[D.Irving79]

I've owned several Brooks Brothers shirts and now I only buy the ones that require ironing. I have found the cotton in the non-iron shirts to be too stiff and cheap feeling.

High maintenance = high enjoyment.


exactly. non iron shirts are the cartridge razors of the garment world.

[blackfoot]

exactly. non iron shirts are the cartridge razors of the garment world.

End of story. :thumbup1:

[strat1117]

100% cotton is more comfortable, and non-iron shirts never look as crisp as a traditional, ironed shirt (even if you iron them).

Of course, I bring my shirts to the laundry and get them back on hangers, so I never actually have to iron them. :blush:

[ProphetNoir]

The JoS. A. Banks Travelers line of business shirts are essentially marketed as wrinkle resistant. I iron them after washing or I send them out to be laundered, but I can pack an ironed and folded shirt and then put it on a hanger when I get to my hotel and it will soon be smooth and perfectly creased. They are on sale at all times it seems and have become all I wear for work. The choices and combinations of colors, cuffs and collars are enough for me to match them with any occasion.

[StylinLA]

exactly. non iron shirts are the cartridge razors of the garment world.

perfectly put

[Crazy Dave]

I really like my Jos Banks and Dillards Gold Label shirts. These non iron have been the talk of the town for the past two years. When they are laundried they are only dried to a moist level and then hung to dry completely. When I put them on they are smooth as can be. The sleeves are razor sharp. They appear to be freshly pressed, but they are not....even at the end of the day, these shirts looks terrific....

my buddy bought a couple of these and does not get the same pleasure out of them...I suspect that his wife dries them to a delicate crunch and ruins his shirts.

I have a couple of Brooks Brothers and lands Ends shirts and thier creases do not come near comparing to these two brands I just mentioned.

I cheked out the Banks shirts online. They look very good. I am thinking about swinging over there this weekend and buying one.

Dave

[TstebinsB]

Thats a classic site. I bet their is some crossover from the www.peopleofwalmart.com

That was one of the scariest sites I've ever come across. :blink:

[Confilo]

100% cotton is more comfortable, and non-iron shirts never look as crisp as a traditional, ironed shirt (even if you iron them).

Of course, I bring my shirts to the laundry and get them back on hangers, so I never actually have to iron them. :blush:

+1 I'm lucky that my better half actually enjoy ironing and for dress shirts there is no substitute in the look and feel of a crip ironed shirt.
There is always the dry cleaner too. :thumbup1:

[TimMechEngr]

I crease my undergarments.

You might want to remember where custom titles come from! :lol::lol::lol:

[ladder44]

It is nice to have a shirt you can throw in the dryer and go -- but those are usually t-shirts, polos and sweatshirts. As far as "dressy" (business) clothes go, ironing is important. Seeing that press line down the arm says something about the wearer. Having a smooth collar (not wrinkled near the ends) can matter. A crisp, clean shirt says a lot about your attention to detail and seriousness. For more casual (i.e., not pressed, not t-shirt) evenings, I enjoy a cotton button down I can throw in the dryer for a bit. Something soft with a nice pattern. Those types of shirts look silly when pressed (ironing could still be useful to make it smooth -- but creases are too over the top). The point of wrinkle-free is that you can look smooth without ironing -- if that works, AWESOME.

[pastafarian]

I am yet to find a non-iron shirt that is as comfortable as a traditional 100% cotton shirt. Ironing isn't too much trouble and takes a few minutes a shirt, but wearing a non-iron shirt that feels sheet of plastic will annoy me all day. Having said that, I do have a couple of non-iron shirts and it is nice to be able to hang them up without ironing, but I don't wear them nearly as often.

I had seen the people of Walmart site before. If you think that is scary, just remember that most of those people can vote.

[avsmusic1]

exactly. non iron shirts are the cartridge razors of the garment world.

HA! well done Sir

[professorchaos]

I don't like the way non-iron shirts feel and, in some instances, look.

[garyg]

Well, seems traditional wins again! There is some thread about $24 underwear though that is bucking the trend :)

[Cuttingboard]

I've tried the 'no iron' shirts and... still iron them. Maybe it's me, but they still appear too sloppy if I don't iron them out

Same here, the Brooks Brothers non-iron shirts are really good if you take them out of the washer and tumble dry them on low for 20-30 minutes to get most of the water out. I then hang them on wide shoulder hangers to finish drying.

[Crazy Dave]

Well, seems traditional wins again! There is some thread about $24 underwear though that is bucking the trend :)

Do you have to iron that underwear? :huh:

Dave

[Obsessed]

I've tried the 'no iron' shirts and... still iron them. Maybe it's me, but they still appear too sloppy if I don't iron them out

I agree. I actually take my non-iron Brooks Brothers shirts to the cleaners. I'd get the regular cotton shirts, but I don't like starch and I feel that the non-iron shirts stay nicer looking over the course of the day. Going forward, though, I'll have to see how I can handle the stigma of wearing "the cartridge razors of the garment world." :blush:

[Protocol]

I own a closet full of the BB iron free shirts and love them. That said, I still feel they benefit from a light going over with a steam iron before being hung up in the closet.

[82R100]

I agree. I actually take my non-iron Brooks Brothers shirts to the cleaners. I'd get the regular cotton shirts, but I don't like starch and I feel that the non-iron shirts stay nicer looking over the course of the day. Going forward, though, I'll have to see how I can handle the stigma of wearing "the cartridge razors of the garment world." :blush:

You mean in case you ever were to meet a member of B&B in person? :smile:

[The Knize]

I agree. I actually take my non-iron Brooks Brothers shirts to the cleaners. I'd get the regular cotton shirts, but I don't like starch and I feel that the non-iron shirts stay nicer looking over the course of the day. Going forward, though, I'll have to see how I can handle the stigma of wearing "the cartridge razors of the garment world." :blush:

Do you find that the non iron shirts hold up as to their non iron qualities after going through a commericial laundry a couple of times?

I find that they are a lot more non iron if they never go to a real laundry! Touch up with a regular iron is fine and sometimes needed.

In my experience the Brooks Brothers and Geoffrey Beane, if I recall, non iron are pretty good. The Costco version not so good. Nautica somewhere in between.

I also find that for some reason my non iron shirts seem to get dirtier in the cuffs than all cotton ones and do not always come completely clean without some extra work.

[Obsessed]

Do you find that the non iron shirts hold up as to their non iron qualities after going through a commericial laundry a couple of times?

I find that they are a lot more non iron if they never go to a real laundry! Touch up with a regular iron is fine and sometimes needed.

I always send my work shirts to the cleaners, because even with the non-iron, I don't really believe they'll look great without ironing, and I don't want to have a closet full of semi-wrinkled shirts that I might not be able to iron well. I do think that the BB non-iron shirts tend to wrinkle less during the day than my regular shirts, even after going through the commercial laundry, although the regular ones are other brands so it's not an apples to apples comparison.

[BullGoose]

I went to Brooks Brothers that other day to get two shirts and I asked if all the shirts on display are non-iron. The employee told me all except for a few, which he pointed out. He then told me some people insist on shirts that must be ironed. Why do some people not want non-iron shirts? Am I missing something?

In the past non-iron shirts were synonymous with polyester. :thumbdown

[funkyb]

For me it depends on the environment. Business casual, sure give me a simple inexpensive patterned Chaps easy-care. More professional, I love me some crisp lines w/ light starch and pressed wool pants. Both are good in their own right.

[The Knize]

In the past non-iron shirts were synonymous with polyester. :thumbdown

True that, but these shirts are 100% cotton. The old poly-blend permanent press shirts really had their failings. In particular they pilled around the collars. To me they never really looked like 100% cottom and were kind of hot because they did not breathe like all coton shirts.

All of my dress shirts have been 100% cotton for years--frankly decades! And before about 9 months ago I sent them all out to be professionally laundered, and I still send the vast bulk of my shirts to the laundry, because the vast bulk of them are still regular cotton

I do not find any significant difference in comfort between the non-iron cotton shirts and regular cotton shirts. I basically think, like Obsessed, that they look better at the end of the day that does a regular starched cotton shirt. They sure travel better either to wear or to pack.

I do like the look of starched collars and cuffs. I wonder if one can't simply spray on some starch and use a reglar iron to get that look with these non-ron shirts. Ironically, though, I am told that starching one's shirts is hard on them and that folks that know and have really expensive Brit and Italian bespoke shirts and the like, never have them starched. So ironically I have taken to not having my most expensive shirts starched, although most of my shirts are professionally starched.

As for down-sides of these non iron shirts, I mentioned that they seem to attract dirt to the cuffs and do not seem to cleanup around the cuffs as easily as regular cotton. Also, I am not convinced they are as long lasting as regular all cotton, although I have not outworn any yet. And I really have not tried straching them without sending them to a laundry.

To they look like regular all cotton shirts when they come back from the laundry starched.

[gaseousclay]

speaking of cleaning, do any of you have any particular tips on how best to remove those pesky dirt stains around the collar? should I just use some mild detergent, toothbrush and a little elbow grease before I chuck it in the wash? if there's one thing I can't stand it's a dirty collar

[blackfoot]

speaking of cleaning, do any of you have any particular tips on how best to remove those pesky dirt stains around the collar? should I just use some mild detergent, toothbrush and a little elbow grease before I chuck it in the wash? if there's one thing I can't stand it's a dirty collar

I know my wife uses some kind of bar soap. I believe you find it in the laundry area at the store. It is a hard soap that you can wet and rub on the shirt before putting it in the washing machine. Sorry, I don't remember what the name of it is.

[leighton]

I don't know. I think the regular cotton shirts will last longer and probably look better. But the new technologies in non-iron tech are pretty impressive. I really like my traveler's shirts, but they too have their shortcomings. Such as...not looking as great on me as a custom shirt. They also need to be touched up with an iron. But the touching up is very quick and simple.

As for the custom shirts, I'll send them to the cleaners. At 1.25 a shirt for actually laundered and hand ironed.... Yeah, I'm gonna do that. Have I bought the custom shirts yet... no.... but they're coming. Once I stop buying razors from the BST.... :rolleyes:

Oh yeah. It seems to be ridiculously hard to find a non-iron custom shirt. There must be a reason for that other than tradition and general prejudice towards non-iron cotton. The treatment process for non-iron cotton does some pretty bad stuff to the fabric. I'd rather pay a little more per laundering and have the shirt last longer and look better.

[Wilpar76]

crisp creases is why you buy shirts that have to be ironed.

+1 - I remember my father coming home after 12-15 hour days and his Brooks Brothers shirts would look like they just came from the dry cleaners. You could cut something on the creases they were so sharp.


I find Ironing the same as doing dishes and wet shaving...very therapeutic - I can let my mind relax while keeping busy.

I like to iron as well.


Aside from the creases that are less sharp, I find that "non-iron" is a misnomer. I find that as long as I hit them with a little steam, they look good and are wrinkle free. However, as others have pointed out, there is nothing like a heavy starched white dress shirt.

Eddie Bauer makes some nice wrinkle-free casual button downs. Paul Frederick and Brooks Brothers are my go-to stores for work shirts.

[The Knize]

I don't know. I think the regular cotton shirts will last longer and probably look better.

* * *
As for the custom shirts, I'll send them to the cleaners. At 1.25 a shirt for actually laundered and hand ironed.... Yeah, I'm gonna do that.

* * *

The treatment process for non-iron cotton does some pretty bad stuff to the fabric. I'd rather pay a little more per laundering and have the shirt last longer and look better.

So are you going to have your custom shirts starched? They say they will last a lot longer if you do not starch them but I have trouble doing that as I think the starch looks so much better. If I had a reason way of getting detachable collars startched properly, I would go that way.

Do you know for sure that regular cotton will last longer than non iron, or do you just surmise that that way I do. As I write this I am looking a the cuff of my all regular cotton button down collar Brooks Brothers oxford cloth shirt and noticing that it is frayed in several places!

[leighton]

So are you going to have your custom shirts starched? They say they will last a lot longer if you do not starch them but I have trouble doing that as I think the starch looks so much better. If I had a reason way of getting detachable collars startched properly, I would go that way.

Do you know for sure that regular cotton will last longer than non iron, or do you just surmise that that way I do. As I write this I am looking a the cuff of my all regular cotton button down collar Brooks Brothers oxford cloth shirt and noticing that it is frayed in several places!

I've researched what it takes generally to make the cotton non-iron. Heres a patent. (http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6123739/claims.html) As you can see, they use chemicals and heat to make the garment have "memory." While the technology may have advanced to the point where the non-iron shirts only lose 20% of their life, thats still less life.

This article makes wrinkle free sound toxic.... (http://www.alexander-west.com/styleguide/?p=375)

As for starching or not.... good question. But as I have lived all of my adult life without starch, I'll probably be ok without starch for the foreseeable future. :tongue_sm Have heard of starch reducing lifespan of garments, but have not looked into that. I guess I'll stay away from starch, even though I really like the way the raw denim of the Levi 501 shrink to fits feels.

Cannot argue with the look of a starched collar though... I try to hide my lack of starch with collar stays. They work ok.

[Seraphim]

First off, no iron shirts are a freaking joke. I have some. I iron them. Ironing, which by the way, I do enjoy....don't call it weird (people think we're weird to like shaving...). Anyway, this post has tons of grammatical faults and I don't care right now, but ironing is fun to me. Additionally, it gives that crisp, clean look that you get from pressed clothes. Non-iron clothes do not have that. They don't have crisp creases. Wash that shirt and tell me if you can really get by without ironing it....I can't. I like creases. I crease my undergarments.

MODS!

Can we get a custom title in aisle three?!:lol:

[StylinLA]

As for starching or not.... good question. But as I have lived all of my adult life without starch, I'll probably be ok without starch for the foreseeable future. :tongue_sm Have heard of starch reducing lifespan of garments, but have not looked into that. I guess I'll stay away from starch, even though I really like the way the raw denim of the Levi 501 shrink to fits feels.

I've been a shirt fanatic for more years than I care to admit. I used to have my shirts starched and I am convinced it substantially cut into the life of the shirt. Bear in mind, I'm talking about a professional laundry, and they probably hit it pretty heavy.

But, there is little that feels better than a nicely starched white shirt with a suit.

[The Knize]

I've researched what it takes generally to make the cotton non-iron. Heres a patent. (http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6123739/claims.html) As you can see, they use chemicals and heat to make the garment have "memory." While the technology may have advanced to the point where the non-iron shirts only lose 20% of their life, thats still less life.

This article makes wrinkle free sound toxic.... (http://www.alexander-west.com/styleguide/?p=375)

As for starching or not.... good question. But as I have lived all of my adult life without starch, I'll probably be ok without starch for the foreseeable future. :tongue_sm Have heard of starch reducing lifespan of garments, but have not looked into that. I guess I'll stay away from starch, even though I really like the way the raw denim of the Levi 501 shrink to fits feels.

Cannot argue with the look of a starched collar though... I try to hide my lack of starch with collar stays. They work ok.

Should have known that you would be way ahead of me on the science angle of this! It does sound hard on the fabric. I had heard about the carcinagin angle. I suppose the issue is how much residual formaldehide is left in the fabric. I thought formaldehide was pretty irritating and I seem to be sensitive to everything, yet I have not had any problem.

By the way, unless you really mean ironed by hand with a regular hand iron rather than one of those big presses, commercial ironing is not all that easy on shirts either.

I guess I do not expect my shirts to last forever no matter how expensive they are. I suppose I also have to admit that the regular cotton shirts professionally done, with starch, really look the best, expecially when freshly put on.

<even though I really like the way the raw denim of the Levi 501 shrink to fits feels.>

Oh heck yeah! Who does not like that! This really soft modern denim is beyond broken in. It does not seem like denim anymore.

[Suzuki]

speaking of cleaning, do any of you have any particular tips on how best to remove those pesky dirt stains around the collar? should I just use some mild detergent, toothbrush and a little elbow grease before I chuck it in the wash? if there's one thing I can't stand it's a dirty collar

A laundry bar is the best thing I've found for this sort of thing.

I soak the collar, apply some soap and rub in with my hands - if the stain is really stubborn, you can use a washcloth to rub in the soap if you want more of a scrubbing action.

OxiClean is a product my cleaner swears by - he refreshes my white shirts simply by soaking them in cold water with some OxiClean for a few hours.

The other thing to consider when trying to get stains out is what the stain is made of - for example, if the stain is protein based (egg yolk, blood, etc.) never use hot or even warm water as this will set the stain. On the other hand, warm water will work well on grease based stains. If you're uncertain, cold water is the way to go.

Back to the no-iron shirts. I have a few for the sake of convenience and travel, but they have to be ironed (although this is more of a touch up than anything) and I don't like the fact that I may be exposing myself to additional chemicals. I also feel that, for the first several washes, they have a stiff, almost plastic feel to them.

In terms of comfort and feeling really snazzy, nothing beats a good cotton shirt with just a touch of starch.

[leighton]

Should have known that you would be way ahead of me on the science angle of this! It does sound hard on the fabric. I had heard about the carcinagin angle. I suppose the issue is how much residual formaldehide is left in the fabric. I thought formaldehide was pretty irritating and I seem to be sensitive to everything, yet I have not had any problem.

By the way, unless you really mean ironed by hand with a regular hand iron rather than one of those big presses, commercial ironing is not all that easy on shirts either.

I guess I do not expect my shirts to last forever no matter how expensive they are. I suppose I also have to admit that the regular cotton shirts professionally done, with starch, really look the best, expecially when freshly put on.

<even though I really like the way the raw denim of the Levi 501 shrink to fits feels.>

Oh heck yeah! Who does not like that! This really soft modern denim is beyond broken in. It does not seem like denim anymore.

We seem to agree on so many levels. :thumbup1:

I also can't imagine a shirt lasting more than 5 years. Its a shirt after all.

I actually had no idea about that fermaldahyde, I can't find any sources right now, because I'm too lazy, but I'm pretty sure they use methanol or some sort of alcohol to treat the cotton.

Yeah, I did mean hand iron, but you have to "touch up" the non-iron stuff anyway unless you want to look a little wrinkly. If I had the money I can pay $7.50 and get it hand ironed at this place in town. Apparently they're well known internationally. :huh:

I air dried my newest 501s in my bathroom just to get that stiff feeling back. Since the starch is pretty much washed out now. :( Wonder if I add starch and press it if it will get that feel back....

[Obsessed]

Ok, I will NOT let you guys goad me into shirt AD (SHAD) . . .

[blackfoot]

I also can't imagine a shirt lasting more than 5 years. Its a shirt after all.

I have a few shirts that have lasted a lot longer than that. And yes, I wear them regularly. I wear a suit and tie three times a week. If I wore them every day, probably not.


Ok, I will NOT let you guys goad me into shirt AD (SHAD) . . .

You resolve is weakening. :sneaky2:

[bman40]

ironing is a zen-like experience, and its good for your soul :001_smile

[phaedrus]

I find Ironing the same as doing dishes and wet shaving...very therapeutic - I can let my mind relax while keeping busy.

Ironed 100% cotton shirts just look and feel better!

The ironing itself is meditation time and one of those wonderful rituals like wet shaving, tying your own bow tie, giving your shoes a mirror shine with parade gloss, writing with a fountain pen and knowing how to pack a suitcase properly. None of these things are essential to life but they make living so much more rewarding.:thumbup:

[The Knize]

Ironed 100% cotton shirts just look and feel better!

The ironing itself is meditation time and one of those wonderful rituals like wet shaving, tying your own bow tie, giving your shoes a mirror shine with parade gloss, writing with a fountain pen and knowing how to pack a suitcase properly. None of these things are essential to life but they make living so much more rewarding.:thumbup:

Let me explore this with you a bit. I may just be in awe of your skils!

I shave with a straight. It took some time to learn, but I think I am pretty good at this point, and the "product" of my shaving was decent every step of the way as I honed my skills. And I enjoy all the hot towel and lotions and powder stuff that goes with it, and all of it seems to be very good for my skin and appearance. I can and do tie my own bow tie for black tie stuff. It usually takes me a lot of effort, but the end result is pretty darn acceptable and it is satisfying. I like polishing my shoes really well, and am capable of doing it, and think it is a worthy effort, and am on some level distressed that I do not do it as often as I used to. I own a couple of very good fountain pens, and when I hand write anything, such as a thank you note, which is less often than I should, I used them. And I really feel bad that I have not done a better job of pursuing Spencerian script, and have been known to break out an offset nib and a bottle to gall ink to write a note. The offset nib stuff takes some effort but looks pretty good if I take my time, and it is fun. The fountain pen is easier to write with than a ball point. I guess the trick is to acutally force oneself to handwrite a note at all. And, if I am methodical about it and not going a thousand miles per hour, I can pack a suitcase more or less properly and I am grateful when I do.

But I could no more take a 100% all cotton shirt out of the dryer or whatever and get it in shape to wear as a proper business shirt than I could, I do not, know, "fly to the moon," I guess. (I was trying to think of something analogous, but it is hard to come up with something. For instance, I was going to say, butcher my own meat, but the fact of the matter is I think I could come close to doing a reasonable job of butchering, say, a hog. Maybe not a steer, but maybe I could.) Our long-time, much beloved, much missed housekeeper, seemed to like to iron, and could quickly bring a suit right up to snuff, and put a crease like a razor in a pair of slacks, could not quite iron an all cotton shirt to a satisfactory level for business wear from being washed. (Not talking about touching up here. I can touch up a shirt with an iron.)

Yet, I take my shirts to a place that charges only $1.25 a shirt and never fails to deliver a perfectly well-ironed and starched shirt. I have personally known one guy (maybe I know others that could do it, too; it does not come up in conversation except around here!) who could truly take a hand iron to an all cotton shirt from out of a laundry bin and make it look as if it came from a commercial laundry, but he had grown up helping out in his parents laundry, and his technique, which involved an absolutely blazing hot iron and very fast precise stokes that I have never seen anyone else accomplish, was awe-inspiring.

As many things as I am interested in learning to do and can see myself doing, I do not think I could ever with even a huge amount of effort learn how to iron a shirt that would come close the quality a commerical laundry provides me for $1.25. I am not saying that a shirt has to be to commericial laundry standards to be wearable for business. I am sure there are folks out there that can iron a shirt to an acceptable level. And I am in awe!

[D.Irving79]

speaking of cleaning, do any of you have any particular tips on how best to remove those pesky dirt stains around the collar? should I just use some mild detergent, toothbrush and a little elbow grease before I chuck it in the wash? if there's one thing I can't stand it's a dirty collar


corn starch.

[D.Irving79]

Ironed 100% cotton shirts just look and feel better!

The ironing itself is meditation time and one of those wonderful rituals like wet shaving, tying your own bow tie, giving your shoes a mirror shine with parade gloss, writing with a fountain pen and knowing how to pack a suitcase properly. None of these things are essential to life but they make living so much more rewarding.:thumbup:


we are brothers from another mother, i swear.

[Kouros]

A wrinkle-free shirt is like a Ferrari with pleather seats: you may not know but I sure do.

[82R100]

As many things as I am interested in learning to do and can see myself doing, I do not think I could ever with even a huge amount of effort learn how to iron a shirt that would come close the quality a commerical laundry provides me for $1.25. I am not saying that a shirt has to be to commericial laundry standards to be wearable for business. I am sure there are folks out there that can iron a shirt to an acceptable level. And I am in awe!

If you can shave with a straight, I suspect you can iron a shirt to the standard you seek.

The challenge will be in finding a forum of shirt ironing enthusiasts to guide you in your journey. :smile:

- Chris

[The Knize]

If you can shave with a straight, I suspect you can iron a shirt to the standard you seek.

The challenge will be in finding a forum of shirt ironing enthusiasts to guide you in your journey. :smile:

- Chris

Thanks. I doubt it, but thanks!

[82R100]

Iron & Board.

[airplanedoc]

Cause I really like 100% cotton shirts

[Cuttingboard]

I've tried the 'no iron' shirts and... still iron them. Maybe it's me, but they still appear too sloppy if I don't iron them out

I give mine a once over.

[richmondesi]

I've been watching this thread from the beginning, and it's interesting to read the posts here. I personally think that no-iron clothes make their wearers look like an unmade bed. I can't do it, but my wife can take an iron and work magic on my shirts. However, I send them to the dry cleaners to save her the hassle.

[Cuttingboard]

Let me explore this with you a bit. I may just be in awe of your skils!

I shave with a straight. It took some time to learn, but I think I am pretty good at this point, and the "product" of my shaving was decent every step of the way as I honed my skills. And I enjoy all the hot towel and lotions and powder stuff that goes with it, and all of it seems to be very good for my skin and appearance. I can and do tie my own bow tie for black tie stuff. It usually takes me a lot of effort, but the end result is pretty darn acceptable and it is satisfying. I like polishing my shoes really well, and am capable of doing it, and think it is a worthy effort, and am on some level distressed that I do not do it as often as I used to. I own a couple of very good fountain pens, and when I hand write anything, such as a thank you note, which is less often than I should, I used them. And I really feel bad that I have not done a better job of pursuing Spencerian script, and have been known to break out an offset nib and a bottle to gall ink to write a note. The offset nib stuff takes some effort but looks pretty good if I take my time, and it is fun. The fountain pen is easier to write with than a ball point. I guess the trick is to acutally force oneself to handwrite a note at all. And, if I am methodical about it and not going a thousand miles per hour, I can pack a suitcase more or less properly and I am grateful when I do.

But I could no more take a 100&#37; all cotton shirt out of the dryer or whatever and get it in shape to wear as a proper business shirt than I could, I do not, know, "fly to the moon," I guess. (I was trying to think of something analogous, but it is hard to come up with something. For instance, I was going to say, butcher my own meat, but the fact of the matter is I think I could come close to doing a reasonable job of butchering, say, a hog. Maybe not a steer, but maybe I could.) Our long-time, much beloved, much missed housekeeper, seemed to like to iron, and could quickly bring a suit right up to snuff, and put a crease like a razor in a pair of slacks, could not quite iron an all cotton shirt to a satisfactory level for business wear from being washed. (Not talking about touching up here. I can touch up a shirt with an iron.)

Yet, I take my shirts to a place that charges only $1.25 a shirt and never fails to deliver a perfectly well-ironed and starched shirt. I have personally known one guy (maybe I know others that could do it, too; it does not come up in conversation except around here!) who could truly take a hand iron to an all cotton shirt from out of a laundry bin and make it look as if it came from a commercial laundry, but he had grown up helping out in his parents laundry, and his technique, which involved an absolutely blazing hot iron and very fast precise stokes that I have never seen anyone else accomplish, was awe-inspiring.

As many things as I am interested in learning to do and can see myself doing, I do not think I could ever with even a huge amount of effort learn how to iron a shirt that would come close the quality a commerical laundry provides me for $1.25. I am not saying that a shirt has to be to commericial laundry standards to be wearable for business. I am sure there are folks out there that can iron a shirt to an acceptable level. And I am in awe!

I would rather take a 100% cotton shirt to the cleaners and request no starch. The only problem that I have with taking shirts to the cleaners is that the neck shrinks...so buy a larger neck size when buying 100%.

Also, as much as I love the Brooks Brothers non-iron shirts, the white non-iron shirts seem to a little off white and not as bright as 100% cotton white shirts.

[Blondie]

I always get regular shirts, that require ironing. I take them to the cleaners, and specify cold water wash with no starch. I have found that the starch actually makes the wrinkles look worse while wearing, they look good on the hanger, but that's about it. Also, my shirts now last twice as long. From what I understand, the starch and starching process is pretty hard on fabrics.

[The Knize]

I would rather take a 100% cotton shirt to the cleaners and request no starch. The only problem that I have with taking shirts to the cleaners is that the neck shrinks...so buy a larger neck size when buying 100%.

Also, as much as I love the Brooks Brothers non-iron shirts, the white non-iron shirts seem to a little off white and not as bright as 100% cotton white shirts.

I personally am not so much trying to save the expense and hassle of taking the shirts to the cleaners. It may get to that point as to the latter, but ss I have indicated previously, the vast bulk of my shirts still need to be donen professionally so I am going anyway and the special deal Safeway (of all places) has around here with Bergman's, the largest local to DC cleaning outfit, which is a pretty darn good cleaning "shop" I find at least for middle of the road not high end or special cleaning needs purposes is a heck of a deal. (I have no idea how a place can pick up, wash and iron, and put a shirt on a hanger, and deliver it back to a grocery store for what they are charging. I guess it does mean I shop at Safeway way more than at Giant as a result!

<the white non-iron shirts seem to a little off white and not as bright as 100% cotton white shirts>

I know exactly what you are talking about there, and it seems to vary a lot. I do not find that it gets worse or anything, but I had at least one Brooks Brothers non iron that was distinctly off-white when it should have been a brilliant white, and you may be correct that the all of the Brooks Brothers are a bit less white than the 100% cotton, which does bother me a bit. I am actually wearing a Geoffrey Beane (sp?) non iron shirt today with widely spaced very thin stripes with white in between and the white is very white and the non iron quality seems very good. I think I mentioned earlier that I have tried Costco's non iron button down shirts, which are actually pretty good quality. Fabric is a nice thick weight for one thing. They seem more brilliantly white, but their non iron qualities are no where near those of Brooks Brothers (or for that matter Geoffrey Beane).

Actually, I would say that the non iron qualities of the ones I have from Costco are really not good enough may be not good enough to bother with at all. I would say that they will always need touch up and are probably better off going to a commericial laundry so why not get 100% cotton, except maybe they stay less wrinkled over the course of the day.

<I have found that the starch actually makes the wrinkles look worse while wearing, . . . Also, my shirts now last twice as long. From what I understand, the starch and starching process is pretty hard on fabrics.>

Don't they really just starch the collar and cuffs, and maybe, say the placket (sp?) going down the front? I do like the look of a starched collar better than an unstarched collar, and I hate giving that up. And I do not think collars really get wrinked whether starched or not, but thinking back on it, maybe it is when I get my shirts startched that they look pretty wrinkled pretty quickly. I have heard that starching really does cut life span. I think I get pretty good wear out of my shirts, but it is not like they last forever. And it is the cuffs and the collars where they wear out.

I suppose if one pays enough money for shirts, when the cuffs and collars show wear one just sends them back to Turnbull and Asser for new collars and cuffs, or just have it done while one is in London, or so I have heard!

I swear I am thinking detachable collars. Nothing is starched like a detachable collar, they look just like regular shirt collars except more amazing if you do not get the wing or other exotic versions, they are fairly cheap relatively easy to obtain so you can just toss them if they wear out. Problem is finding any place on the face of the earth to get them laundered, starched, and pressed properly, for a reasonable price and amount of effort. There must be some place though.

Finding decent tunic shirts for a reasonable price (when shipping is taken into account) is not all that easy either.

Also re non iron shirts, I do not notice it with the shirt I am wearing today, but as I said earlier, I think, as to the Brooks Brothers shirt I wore yesterday and I think others I have wore, they just seem like dirt magnets for some reason. They take special attention for that when washed, but it can be problematic just in a given day. To illustrate, the one I wore yesterday has double fold/French cuffs, which I frequently wear. By the end of the day the front of the cuffs on both sides near my hands were sort of blackened and dirty. And I noticed that the collar seemed to have some random spot on it that apparently made it though the wash. (I do not notice that the inside of the collar gets any dirtier than any other shirt.) And--I have no idea what is happening here--some sort of black/dark something seemed to be developing along the inside bottom of the front pocket and showing through the fabric. (I do not like front pockets anyway.) I do not do anything particularly "dirty" yesterday and I think I am a pretty clean guy, and I do not notice this with any other shirts. Maybe starch discourages any dirt from sticking to the fabric or something. (Actually, I am not sure I notice this with any other non iron shirts other than Brooks Brothers!)

Anyone else notice a sort of dirt magnet aspect to these non iron shirts?

[D.Irving79]

The challenge will be in finding a forum of shirt ironing enthusiasts to guide you in your journey. :smile:

- Chris


i would join this in a heartbeat. seriously. im obsessed with perfectly ironing a shirt.

[StylinLA]

Don't they really just starch the collar and cuffs, and maybe, say the placket (sp?) going down the front? I do like the look of a starched collar better than an unstarched collar, and I hate giving that up.


Actually CS, that may be an option one can ask for, but all my experience has been that the whole shirt gets starched. I think they hit the collar and cuffs a bit heavier, but the body clearly had starch in it too.

And like another poster mentioned, it did often seem to make the normal wear wrinkles in the shirt seem more pronounced.

I like the starch, but am convinced that it does shorten life of shirt.

[rickboone1]

You might want to remember where custom titles come from! :lol::lol::lol:

I like it. :001_tt1:

[rickboone1]

Iron & Board.

I'm not only a member, I'm also a mod.

[Obsessed]

What's next, Tidy & Bowl, for those who really like to clean toilets? :tongue:

P.S., I can't believe you lunatics have me thinking even for one second of getting non-non-iron shirts from Brooks Brothers next time. What is wrong with you people?!?!?!?!? :biggrin1:

[leighton]

What's next, Tidy & Bowl, for those who really like to clean toilets? :tongue:

P.S., I can't believe you lunatics have me thinking even for one second of getting non-non-iron shirts from Brooks Brothers next time. What is wrong with you people?!?!?!?!? :biggrin1:

Unlike the rest of America we know how to look good?

[Obsessed]

Unlike the rest of America we know how to look good?

Possibly. One trip to the airport or mall is generally enough to convince one that all sartorial hope is lost!

[Kouros]

I'm ironing my traditional Brooks Brothers shirts right now. :w00t:

The non-iron shirts look and feel too much like polyester. :lol:

[The Knize]

<The non-iron shirts look and feel too much like polyester. >

I have been long time since I have had a polyester bland shirt, but I do not think so!

What would a 100% cotton shirt treated with formaldahyde or whatever come out looking and feeling like polyester anyway? Just because both hold a crease?

[Kouros]

Actually, the non-iron shirts feel more like paper mache. I was just being kind...

What's next, wrinkle-resistant shoes? Only if one walks like Frankenstein.

Must.....resist.....creases

To each his own, I guess.

[The Knize]

Actually, the non-iron shirts feel more like paper mache. I was just being kind...

What's next, wrinkle-resistant shoes? Only if one walks like Frankenstein.

Must.....resist.....creases

To each his own, I guess.

Not sure why I have been as active as I have on this thread. I do not own stock in any non iron fabric company as far as I know, and I think I will continue to wear sometimes non iron and sometimes regular cotton, and will probably continue to buy both, although I seem to lean more toward the non iron, at least until I brush up on skills on the ironing fora!

I noticed earlier that you described BB non iron as seeming "stiff and cheap" and at the time I wondered about that. What I have does not seen stiff to me. Not really any stiffer than a non-starched regular cotton shirt, and less stiff by far than a starched shirt. If anything, they could be stiffer for my purposes and they would probably need touch up ironing less frequently and might look more like a starched shirt.

Did you last try these quite a while ago or something? The one's you tried just seem so different from what I have been wearing. I can see issues with them not being brilliant white, and with them needing touch up ironing. And my experience is they seem to attact dirt for some reaon. And maybe someone can spot something about the cloth that I do not seem to that gives it away as non iron. But I they had not seemed stiffer.

[leighton]

Hmmm....

My experiences:
Non-iron poly blends feel semi-synthetic, because they are. They do not feel like 100&#37; cotton non-iron. Good quality cotton non-iron does not feel like paper mache or polyester. I wear polyester to the gym and sometimes Geoffrey Beene sateen shirts. So I know what poly feels like. I also have no problems with synthetic fibers, but do appreciate the feel of super fine cotton.

That said, I highly doubt we'll be able to find non-ironed sea island cotton. Non-iron cotton shirts are probably only made with pima cotton at best. So, to be fair to non-iron shirts, we have to compare non-iron cotton to iron cotton of similar quality.

I'm still moving to fully custom shirts that cost $135-$200. 100% must-iron cotton. Wish I could afford sea island, but I'm probably stuck with pima. As for non-iron shirts, I really like the JAB Traveller ones. Pricey, but worth it for travel and low maintenance. Just buy it during their 50% off sales. They are a little baggy and don't fit me perfectly though.

[richmondesi]

Hmmm....

My experiences:
Non-iron poly blends feel semi-synthetic, because they are. They do not feel like 100% cotton non-iron. Good quality cotton non-iron does not feel like paper mache or polyester. I wear polyester to the gym and sometimes Geoffrey Beene sateen shirts. So I know what poly feels like. I also have no problems with synthetic fibers, but do appreciate the feel of super fine cotton.

That said, I highly doubt we'll be able to find non-ironed sea island cotton. Non-iron cotton shirts are probably only made with pima cotton at best. So, to be fair to non-iron shirts, we have to compare non-iron cotton to iron cotton of similar quality.

I'm still moving to fully custom shirts that cost $135-$200. 100% must-iron cotton. Wish I could afford sea island, but I'm probably stuck with pima. As for non-iron shirts, I really like the JAB Traveller ones. Pricey, but worth it for travel and low maintenance. Just buy it during their 50% off sales. They are a little baggy and don't fit me perfectly though.

You aren't even a lawyer yet, and you're developing some expensive tastes:lol:

[leighton]

You aren't even a lawyer yet, and you're developing some expensive tastes:lol:

I did the math. $200,000 for a law school education. Multiply by 1% and I think I'm justified in spending $2,000 in upgrading my wardrobe so I can land the job that justifies the ridiculous expense. My damn tailoring bill is many many times the amount I've spent on the actual suits I've procured lately....... :001_rolle

Better have a couple of shirts to go with the Oxxford, Brioni, & HF suits... *facepalm*

[blackfoot]

Unlike the rest of America we know how to look good?

:thumbup:


Possibly. One trip to the airport or mall is generally enough to convince one that all sartorial hope is lost!

Sad, but true.

[pcb01]

First off, no iron shirts are a freaking joke. I have some. I iron them. Ironing, which by the way, I do enjoy....don't call it weird (people think we're weird to like shaving...). Anyway, this post has tons of grammatical faults and I don't care right now, but ironing is fun to me. Additionally, it gives that crisp, clean look that you get from pressed clothes. Non-iron clothes do not have that. They don't have crisp creases. Wash that shirt and tell me if you can really get by without ironing it....I can't. I like creases. I crease my undergarments.

I'm kind of the opposite. Don't like starch, or creases, or ironing, or replacing buttons that the cleaner cracks on every other service.

BB non-iron shirts are, for me, perfect. I do have shirts meant to be ironed as well, but I don't iron them. A standing steamer (can be had at Walmart and elsewhere) works better for me. Takes out wrinkles, leaves the shirt soft and supple, without the ironed and creased look. Perfect for me.

[Cuttingboard]

They are a little baggy and don't fit me perfectly though.

This is a huge problem for me, I'm an average size guy and find that regular fit shirts are way too baggy for me. I hate it when my shirt is so baggy that it bunches under my suit jacket, so I've gone completely slim fit.

[TheMang]

I prefer Brooks non-iron because they are essentially free, when you consider that you don't have to get them professionally cleaned and ironed. The Brooks shirts have a lifetime guarantee, so if you buy a shirt from them and the fabric starts to fray (and it eventually will), you can take it back and they will hand you a new one, no questions asked. While some of the high-end shirts may be a little more comfortable to wear than the non-iron shirts, I prefer my shirts to be wrinkle-free throughout the day and no matter how well a shirt is ironed, it will develop wrinkles after a few hours of wear. Thus, I'm slowly starting to replace all my shirts with non-iron ones.

If you are looking for a good, affordable custom shirt (not non-iron), check out Jantzentailor.com. It's a Hong Kong based store that takes orders over the internet. I've had great luck with them over the years. A custom shirt normally runs around $50, which is much cheaper than you'd find anywhere else. They use very good fabrics; I think they buy remnants from the factories that make shirts for some of the more well-known designers. They also use mother of pearl buttons on every shirt, which is a nice touch.

[BigSlick]

I like BB non iron shirts, especially with dress clothes. With jeans a regular ironed cotton (no starch) shirt looks better (my opinion anyway). I prefer BB non iron shirts to a starched shirt any day.

[EBE]

N/t

[rickboone1]

I'm kind of the opposite. Don't like starch, or creases, or ironing, or replacing buttons that the cleaner cracks on every other service.

BB non-iron shirts are, for me, perfect. I do have shirts meant to be ironed as well, but I don't iron them. A standing steamer (can be had at Walmart and elsewhere) works better for me. Takes out wrinkles, leaves the shirt soft and supple, without the ironed and creased look. Perfect for me.

Cleaners? Cleaners? We don't use no stinking cleaners! Iron at home. I have, at any given time, a case of Sta Flo pure starch and any number of steamser and irons. Yep, IAD is just as bad as any other.

[The Knize]

Cleaners? Cleaners? We don't use no stinking cleaners! Iron at home. I have, at any given time, a case of Sta Flo pure starch and any number of steamser and irons. Yep, IAD is just as bad as any other.

No Argo? I bet if one had the right tools ironing a shirt might go a lot easier!

I would love to hear about it.

[mretzloff]

Do you guys only get iron shirts for your casual shirts as well? You must iron around ten shirts a week then.

[richmondesi]

Do you guys only get iron shirts for your casual shirts as well? You must iron around ten shirts a week then.

Yes. That's how I keep from looking like an unmade bed:001_smile

[leighton]

Do you guys only get iron shirts for your casual shirts as well? You must iron around ten shirts a week then.

I don't wear sport shirts. Polos and T-shirts for me.

[professorchaos]

Do you guys only get iron shirts for your casual shirts as well? You must iron around ten shirts a week then.

Iron, what's that? When you say iron, you really mean send to the dry cleaners, right?

[Fraser]

to keep my wife from being lazy

[blackfoot]

to keep my wife from being lazy

Ouch!

[leighton]

Ouch!

A big fat PLUS ONE!!!

[richmondesi]

A big fat PLUS ONE!!!

Are you saying his wife is fat:ohmy:

:hand:

[Kouros]

Are you saying his wife is fat:ohmy:

:hand:

Now I'm not saying she's fat, but her high school yearbook picture was an aerial photograph...

[blackfoot]

Now I'm not saying she's fat, but her high school yearbook picture was an aerial photograph...

:lol::lol::lol::lol: Clown House, here we come!

[richmondesi]

Now I'm not saying she's fat, but her high school yearbook picture was an aerial photograph...

Yikes:lol::lol::lol:

[rickboone1]

Iron, what's that? When you say iron, you really mean send to the dry cleaners, right?

That's like saying when you say shaving you mean use an electric. I enjoy ironing and I do a better job than most cleaners will do.

[The Knize]

So fat astronauts can see her from space! So fat that when her beeper goes off, people think she is backing up. (Dated, I know, but I always liked that one. The visual is evocative!) Etc, etc.

What I was really writing about, and I think I mentioned this early, sort of, is that I have been looking more closely at my shirts lately. I conclude a couple of things:

One, except for the starch and the sharp creases from the cleaners, and the wrinkles if they have been worn, as to the all cotton shirts, I do not think I can tell the difference between a non iron shirt shirt and an all cotton shirt even looking pretty close up. That is, if one touched up the non iron, which one woudl hae to do, and did not starch the all cotton, I do not think I could consistenly guess which was whcih. (The Brooks Brothers and other better known makers ones I have, anyway, do not seem to be in an oxford cloth, so that diffference has to be taken into account. The weave of the non iron may actually be slightly different than a standard broad cloth, too, but not enough for me to consistently pick up.)

Two, the Costco non iron shirts are brilliantly white, which is nice. Too bad their non iron characteristics are not better. The Brooks Brothers non iron shirts in white do seem a little off white. Some of their all cotton ones that I have, and it could just be age, do not seem brilliantly white either. But from the ones I have none of the non iron white BB shirts are asl brilliantly white as any of the Costco ones nor as brillantly white as some of the all cotton BB ones.

Overall, I think these all cotton non iron shirts are really going to hurt the shirt laundry business, if they have not already. They are good enough looking for most people's tastes, and just too inexpensive to launder at home and too convenient. I wonder if this will make having a shirt laundered less or more expensive?

[blackfoot]

So fat astronauts can see her from space! So fat that when her beeper goes off, people think she is backing up. (Dated, I know, but I always liked that one. The visual is evocative!) Etc, etc.

What I was really writing about, and I think I mentioned this early, sort of, is that I have been looking more closely at my shirts lately. I conclude a couple of things:

One, except for the starch and the sharp creases from the cleaners, and the wrinkles if they have been worn, as to the all cotton shirts, I do not think I can tell the difference between a non iron shirt shirt and an all cotton shirt even looking pretty close up. That is, if one touched up the non iron, which one woudl hae to do, and did not starch the all cotton, I do not think I could consistenly guess which was whcih. (The Brooks Brothers and other better known makers ones I have, anyway, do not seem to be in an oxford cloth, so that diffference has to be taken into account. The weave of the non iron may actually be slightly different than a standard broad cloth, too, but not enough for me to consistently pick up.)

Two, the Costco non iron shirts are brilliantly white, which is nice. Too bad their non iron characteristics are not better. The Brooks Brothers non iron shirts in white do seem a little off white. Some of their all cotton ones that I have, and it could just be age, do not seem brilliantly white either. But from the ones I have none of the non iron white BB shirts are asl brilliantly white as any of the Costco ones nor as brillantly white as some of the all cotton BB ones.

Overall, I think these all cotton non iron shirts are really going to hurt the shirt laundry business, if they have not already. They are good enough looking for most people's tastes, and just too inexpensive to launder at home and too convenient. I wonder if this will make having a shirt laundered less or more expensive?

As far as appearances, You are correct. Most people won't notice the difference unless close. For me, the difference is me. I like the feel better of the starched shirts.

[professorchaos]

That's like saying when you say shaving you mean use an electric. I enjoy ironing and I do a better job than most cleaners will do.

Thems fighting words! Sewing? Darning? :001_tt2:

Reality is, I don't have the time or the ability. Or the iron for that matter.

[The Knize]

As far as appearances, You are correct. Most people won't notice the difference unless close. For me, the difference is me. I like the feel better of the starched shirts.

<Most people won't notice the difference unless close.>

Not to quibble, and no dis intended, but you maybe changing the nuance of what I said, in a way that might be important in the context of this particular thread. <grin> <I am really not giving you a hard time, I hope!>

What I said was "I do not think I can tell the difference between a non iron shirt shirt and an all cotton shirt even looking pretty close up." I do not mean "most people will not notice." I do not mean that most people will not notice "unless up close." I mean that I, who at this point has made something of a study of this, actively looking, and pretty darn close, cannot tell the difference. Frankly I am saying not only that most people are not going to "notice" a difference, I do not think that most people if they were actively looking for differences would be able to see them, even up close.

Now I will grant you that I did put conditions on what I said. I was assuming no starch in the comparison. I think I could spot a starched collar and I have not tried it, but I truly doubt that a home washed and starched non iron shirt is really going to look much like an all cotton shirt starched and ironed by a professional laundry or by an expert like rickboone1. Moreover, I assumed freshly put on shirts. I do not think that at the end of the day an all cotton shirt is going to look much like a non iron shirt. The all cotton shirt is going to have distinctive wrinkles and the non iron shirt is going to look preternaturally unwrinkled.

And lest someone get me wrong, I much prefer the look of a starched shirt over a non starched shirt, or at least a starched collar and cuffs over non starched. And I am serious that I am going look back into detachable collars and the reason for that is to get that starched to an extreme collar look!

And also lest someone get where I am coming from wrong, I am fascinated by what rickboone1 has been talking about. I doubt that I would start ironing my own shirts just to get what I can get when I take my shirts down to my local outfit for a good scorching and button busting.

But I highly suspect that if could do as well as they do, I could do better, and that is an intriguing prospect! And I definitely get the analogy of doing one's own ironing and shaving with a straight razor.

For that matter, I assume that if rickboone1 can iron a shirt, he sure as heck can iron a suit, and I would dearly love to have my suits perfectly ironed more often than they are!

[mretzloff]

Thems fighting words! Sewing? Darning? :001_tt2:

Reality is, I don't have the time or the ability. Or the iron for that matter.

That is my problem though. If you send your shirts to the cleaners, that $1 to $3 it costs per shirt adds up really quickly.

[blackfoot]

<Most people won't notice the difference unless close.>

Not to quibble, and no dis intended, but you maybe changing the nuance of what I said, in a way that might be important in the context of this particular thread. <grin> <I am really not giving you a hard time, I hope!>

What I said was "I do not think I can tell the difference between a non iron shirt shirt and an all cotton shirt even looking pretty close up." I do not mean "most people will not notice." I do not mean that most people will not notice "unless up close." I mean that I, who at this point has made something of a study of this, actively looking, and pretty darn close, cannot tell the difference. Frankly I am saying not only that most people are not going to "notice" a difference, I do not think that most people if they were actively looking for differences would be able to see them, even up close.

Now I will grant you that I did put conditions on what I said. I was assuming no starch in the comparison. I think I could spot a starched collar and I have not tried it, but I truly doubt that a home washed and starched non iron shirt is really going to look much like an all cotton shirt starched and ironed by a professional laundry or by an expert like rickboone1. Moreover, I assumed freshly put on shirts. I do not think that at the end of the day an all cotton shirt is going to look much like a non iron shirt. The all cotton shirt is going to have distinctive wrinkles and the non iron shirt is going to look preternaturally unwrinkled.

I guess I don't understand. I wasn't really meaning anything by that. I thought I was agreeing with you to an extent. I meant there will always be somebody who notices things like that, but I am not one of them. However, I just prefer the feel of the cotton one, myself. It was just an opinion. Sorry, if I accidentally gave the wrong impression.

[rickboone1]

Personally I can spot a shirt that's been ironed a mile away.

Suits are ironable, but tricky. most pants are so 'slick' they're harder to get the initial crease in. I like these to go to the cleaner's heavy duty press then the maintenance afterward is simpler. Jackets, sportscoats..get a good steamer.

[The Knize]

I guess I don't understand. I wasn't really meaning anything by that. I thought I was agreeing with you to an extent. I meant there will always be somebody who notices things like that, but I am not one of them. However, I just prefer the feel of the cotton one, myself. It was just an opinion. Sorry, if I accidentally gave the wrong impression.

Nah. You have nothing whatever to apologize for. I probably should be apologizing to you--so I do apologize--because you and I really are pretty much on the same page, and I was exaggerating any differences between what I said and you said, more or less for effect! You did not give any wrong impression. (For that matter, if you strongly disagreed with me, which you gave no impression of, you would still have nothing to apologize for! Discussions around here would not be as interesting if we just shook hands around the table every time!)

<there will always be somebody who notices things like that, but I am not one of them>

Frankly, I probably am someone that "notices things like that"--"always notices" would be an exaggeration--I do not think I am quite that uptight or obsessed or concerned with what other folks are wearing (for any other purpose than what I think will look good on me). I probably prefer all cotton, for the starch, the feel, and the appearance, for all purposes other than a business trip, and maybe even there if I am taking the time to properly pack and to touch up my clothes at the hotel. I am just amazed at how far non iron has advanced apparently just within the past couple of years!

Responding to rickboone1:
<Suits are ironable, but tricky. most pants are so 'slick' they're harder to get the initial crease in. I like these to go to the cleaner's heavy duty press then the maintenance afterward is simpler. Jackets, sportscoats..get a good steamer. >

Wow! I did not expect that response. I must be out of it, as shirts struck me as so much harder to iron than touching up a suit, which I will do from time to time, I am just not very good at it.

I do have a "good steamer." I really could not do with it, or my dry cleaning bills would be stupendous. For that matter, excessive dry cleaning really is not good for ones good wool clothing. I find the steamer does a pretty good job, but I have assumed that skillful use of a hand iron could really bring a suit up to fresh from the cleaners snuff!

Actually, I think I mentioned early in this thread, which seems like a couple of years ago now, our long-time beloved housekeeper, babby sitter, etc., who was good with an iron, but from what I could tell could never get a freshly laundered all cotton shirt into shape, could and did from time to time-- I will it had beem more frequent!--make my suits look as good or better than they look fresh from the cleaners!

[leighton]

I can feel the difference, but they sure as he** don't look any different. Not from another broadcloth. But with non-iron your pretty much stuck with a very limited number of weaves. Not to mention the low thread count and probably cheaper cotton. After all, who wants to damage their sea island cotton by putting it through the rigorous process of making it non-iron.

That said, I can definitely tell if a shirt *isn't* non-iron. How? If it has a subtle pattern in the cloth, I'm 95&#37; certain its not non-iron. If its a broadcloth...probably can't. In fact, my non-irons are better feeling and looking than a lot of cheap must-iron dress shirts.

My cleaners charges $1.25 and puts a crease in the sleeves. If I had to wear a dress shirt each day, that is 5 x $1.25 = $6.25. About what I spend on lunch sometimes. And even if I did wear non-iron shirts to work those 5 days, I would still have to spend 1-2 hours of my time touching up those shirts. Hmmm, that $6.25 sure seems pretty damn cheap to me...

[Topgumby]

Roses are red
The grass is green
I learned how to iron
While I was in the Marines

Roses are red
Creases have class
If you think irons are for girls
I'll put a boot in you.....

Oh well, I like to iron my own stuff, anyway.

[The Knize]

<My cleaners charges $1.25 and puts a crease in the sleeves. >

I'm paying $1.25 up ("over"?) here, too, but that is bargain around in these parts. Frankly, I do not see how they do it for that. Or, for that matter, why anyone would take their shirts anywhere else. For $1.25 a shirt, if I did not think it pretty much destroyed the non iron characteristics, most of the time I would probably be dropping my non irom off at the laundry.

I think if I were paying $3, I would be buying an wearing non-iron pretty consistently.

<5 x $1.25 = $6.25. About what I spend on lunch sometimes. >

Been a long time since I spent as little as $6.25 on lunch. Of course, lunch is something else I do not do as consistently as I used to!

[leighton]

I think at $3, I'd still do it because ironing takes forever. Maybe I'd wear two non-ironed shirts throughout the week though. $15 per week can get pretty expensive. Still, its less than two movie tickets.

I really have no idea how they are able to charge so little. They must do a shirt a minute or something.

[SRock]

crisp creases is why you buy shirts that have to be ironed.

:yesnod:

[Gray Wolf]

SWMBO told me early in our marriage that if I tried to make her iron my shirts there would be a divorce.

[professorchaos]

<My cleaners charges $1.25 and puts a crease in the sleeves. >

I'm paying $1.25 up ("over"?) here, too, but that is bargain around in these parts. Frankly, I do not see how they do it for that. Or, for that matter, why anyone would take their shirts anywhere else. For $1.25 a shirt, if I did not think it pretty much destroyed the non iron characteristics, most of the time I would probably be dropping my non irom off at the laundry.

I think if I were paying $3, I would be buying an wearing non-iron pretty consistently.

<5 x $1.25 = $6.25. About what I spend on lunch sometimes. >

Been a long time since I spent as little as $6.25 on lunch. Of course, lunch is something else I do not do as consistently as I used to!

That is the heart of the matter - sending shirts to the cleaners, for me, produces a better result at a cost I am willing to pay. The cost of 30-45 shirts and 20-25 pairs of pants a month, versus all the time it would take me to iron them well, is negligible.

And it isn't sending clothes to the cleaner isn't like shaving with an electric razor. No, it is more like going to the barber to have him shave you rather than doing it yourself.

[blackfoot]

That is the heart of the matter - sending shirts to the cleaners, for me, produces a better result at a cost I am willing to pay. The cost of 30-45 shirts and 20-25 pairs of pants a month, versus all the time it would take me to iron them well, is negligible.

And it isn't sending clothes to the cleaner isn't like shaving with an electric razor. No, it is more like going to the barber to have him shave you rather than doing it yourself.

The sad thing is, for me, I would much rather take them to the cleaners. They do a great job and I just don't want to spend the time to iron that many shirts. However, getting to a cleaners is no small feat for me. They are not open on my way home in the morning and closed by the time I'm on my way back to work. :sad:

[leighton]

That is the heart of the matter - sending shirts to the cleaners, for me, produces a better result at a cost I am willing to pay. The cost of 30-45 shirts and 20-25 pairs of pants a month, versus all the time it would take me to iron them well, is negligible.

And it isn't sending clothes to the cleaner isn't like shaving with an electric razor. No, it is more like going to the barber to have him shave you rather than doing it yourself.

Ok, I buy non-iron pants.... :001_tt2:

[Kouros]

Non-iron Dress shirts? Hmm.........Maybe.

Non-iron Sport shirts? :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: