Biking to work no longer means looking like a triathlete in training. From casual and functional collections like Levi’s Commuter Series and Giro’s New Road to cyclist specific bags of all styles, cycling apparel has improved drastically in recent years, but few—if…
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The confidence a well-fitted suit can provide in any business or social setting is arguably worth every penny invested in this wardrobe staple. Indochino’s modestly priced custom suits have been…
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A quality, individually tailored suit is perhaps one of the few things to have escaped the tsunami of online shopping. Although, according to Max Schmidt and Tom Daguanno, the Detroit-based duo behind );…
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Fall looks from the made-to-measure clothier
As those of us in the northern hemisphere offload shorts and T-shirts into storage, it’s time to start looking for tailored jackets to brace the changing weather. J. Hilburn—a leader in made-to-measure menswear—has introduced a slew of fall fabrics to fit the bill. After testing out their shirting service,…
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Pajama suits for modern dandies from an NYC atelier
Creative director Aaron Black offers the urban gent a truly bespoke, handmade tailoring experience that nods to the ideals of Savile Row with his new boutique in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. His brand White Chalk (the name a tribute to one of the key tools in the tailor’s arsenal)…
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Our test run of the online custom men’s shirt maker
Having navigated the uncertain world of online made-to-measure services, we were delighted to receive the fruits of our recent test run with J. Hilburn. The men’s clothier was one of the pioneers of online MTM, and their experience shows both in the quality cut and professional level of service. The process started with a visit from J. Hilburn’s Creative Director, Jon Patrick—all shoppers start by booking a style advisor online—who led me through sizing, fabric selection and cuts while also offering insight on the rise and fall of different themes of suiting styles.
While J. Hilburn’s selection of swatches is certainly impressive, the cuff and collar options are where you really notice the service. The 14 collars include a variety of spreads, button-downs and even the elusive tab collar. Of the 10 cuff choices, the standard barrel and French options are augmented for rounded, squared or notch finishings. I elected to monogram the inside of the collar, and J. Hilburn accommodated a request for contrast stitching around the final button-hole in CH green.
J. Hilburn provides a blank template for customers to design their ideal shirt from endless potential combinations, or, if preferred, advice and guidance through a team of representatives. The clothing also represents Patrick’s notion of how a shirt should fit and look. While there are many points of departure for style and cut, the end result is in keeping with his vision of contemporary style.
One of the things that separates J. Hilburn from the competitors is their use of high-grade fabrics. In addition to the blue gingham milled in Italy by Tessitura Monti, I also received a shirt with a floral pattern from the historic Liberty of London. For future purchases directly through the website, all my sizing information has been stored.
J. Hilburn keeps the price low by vertically integrating the production and leaving out the retailer. Their custom shirts start at $109 online. Not limited to shirts, the clothier also makes beautiful jackets, pants and suits with the same level for measure and care as their shirts.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
