Who Will Replace Robert Redford? I'm Not Sure

There are few stars that can match the longevity of a career such as the one that's been had by Robert Redford in Hollywood. Born in Santa Monica, Los Angeles in 1936, Redford, now 78, has been on the silver screen since the  early 1960's and has since evolved his style over 50 years on screen! 50 years!

Sine I was a kid I have enjoyed his films, from breaking the Watergate scandal in All The President's Men to gun slinging with Paul Newman in the Sundance Kid, tearing women's hearts out in The Way We Were, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats in Spy Game and capturing our imagination in The Great Gatsby.

So much has he been a part of our lives that when I was recently asked to make shirts for Robert Redford I pretty much cleared by schedule to ensure he got a perfect fit. Redford was in Sydney making a film and we were presented with his measurements and a tight window in which to get the work done. What made me nervous is that the selection of fabrics chosen by Mr. Redford were so luxurious that any mistakes would cost us dearly to fix. Nevertheless, I am happy to report back that the shirts were a success and only a small adjustment to the collar was needed to complete the order.

So, today I thought I would pay homage to the Robert Redford I have known since I was a kid. Here is a sample of the many looks that have been uniquely his over the years.

Robert Redford in black tie, effortless, chic, classic. A pleasure to see.

American intellectual prep with the addition of a Rolex sumbariner - investigative journalist Robert Redford-style

The 70's pimped out look from Redford

American Ivy Prep By  Robert Redford

The classic nostalgia Robert Redford exhibited in The Great Gatsby

The Best Shirt Maker In The Land!

When you get a customer that is happy, that's a great thing. When you get a customer who is famous and happy, that's even better. The last time I went down to see Alan Jones he was very pleased with his shirts and he's been so pleased in the past that I framed a few of his thank you cards. In case you can't read his hand-writing, let me help you ...

" To Roger,

The best shirt maker in the land. 

Best wishes, Alan Jones "

Happy customers are the only way we stay in business. 

And With Spring Comes The Wedding Season - Custom Made Dinner Shirts In Sydney

In September the wedding season begins again and whilst we recommend a turn down collar for most black tie wedding events there are times, eg: white tie, when you need a wing tip collar. One of the better shirts we offer, although it's not cheap to do, is to make marcella bib dinner shirt with a detachable collar in both turn down and wing tip. This means you get the best of both worlds with one shirt! Too clever. So, if you want something like the one we finished this week for a very prestigious label in Sydney's east, then look no further than Studio Shirts where we can custom make your desired shirt down to the finest detail.

www.studioshirts.com.au

Gingham For Spring Time Colour!

Hello, Roger here, I know you think it's bloody cold right now here in Sydney and that you might even be filled with a little despair owing to the winter blues and how bloody mad the world seems to be right now - but wait - there's spring! Spring is a time of colour and a time when life renews so be ready, it's coming! And when it comes, brighten yourself up like a brand new flower with a bit of brightly coloured gingham in your shirts. Don't be depressing! It's time to see life begin again!

Life begins again in spring and so too should your wardrobe! Colour for spring!

Did you know the derivation of the word gingham?

The name originates from the Malay adjective, genggang, meaning striped. Some sources say that the name came into English via Dutch. When originally imported into Europe in the 17th century it was a striped fabric, though now it is distinguished by its checkered pattern. From the mid 18th century, when it was being produced in the mills of Manchester, England, it started to be woven into checked or plaid patterns (often blue and white). Checked gingham became more common over time, though striped gingham was still available in the late Victorian period.

What Fabric Books - Trust Proper Brands

There are loads of cotton shirting brands out there that make beautiful shirting. It doesn't have to come from Italy as most people think - there are countries such as Turkey that make cotton equal to that of many Italian brands. But, when you want the finer stuff and when you want the newer ranges you have to trust that the Italian brands will have what you want. Below are two such examples, the Monti 200 book and the Canclini bunch for 2014. Trust in brands - they know that they can't let you down more than once - that's why they're a branded cloth and not a generic.

The Oldest School Of Collars

Kids these days often use the expression 'Old School ', even my own kids use the expression. But when it comes to old school for shirts nothing beats the oldest school of them all - detachable collars.

Detachable collars come from a time when collars were very expensive to produce. In fact, fellas use to keep their collars in a separate box. These days with the way we consume things and then throw them away, you won't find many detachable collars around. But we still make them for things like theatre, film and television for historic re-enactments and of course for barristers who have the occasional use for them. 

If you want to create something really old school - come see us at www.studioshirts.com.au

Our Work Making Shirts For Hugh Jackman In Wolverine And The Set Of The Great Gatsby 2013

Apart from doing work regularly for television stations like Channel 9 we occasionally get to work on some fabulous items for film, theatre, music and television. In the motion picture arena in the last three years we have made shirt for High Jackman for the set of Wolverine and we also made the shirt below for the set of The Great Gatsby as worn by Leonardo Di Caprio. We also make shirts for orchestras, plays, opera and much much more. If you are in media or the arts and need something knocked up, something Australian made and with a pair of dedicated shirt specialist looking over the project, look no further than Studio Shirts - www.studioshirts.com.au 

The shirt we made for Bazmark for the set of The Great Gatsby

A replica shirt of the shirt we made for the set of Wolverine for Hugh Jackman 

The Difference Between Printed And Jacquard Woven Shirting Cottons Explained

Below are two examples of shirts, one in printed denim and one in woven jacquard shirting which show the differences between these two styles of casual shirts. The top is perfect for a grungy Darlinghurst look whilst the bottom image has more of an Italian flair about it which perhaps needs more of a European look to pull it off. Both cottons come from Canlini in Italy, a company famed for design and ingenuity in shirting. Order your own - www.studioshirts.com.au 

Magnificent 2 Tones By J FitzPatrick Perfect For A Viyella Shirt

One thing that is very hard to come by in Australia is good quality viyella. Viyella used to be much more popular, especially when Australia was building itself off the sheeps back. The shirting cloth of viyella is of course cotton mixed with wool. It is well loved in regional Australia amongst the farmers etc for not only warmth but also coolling properties related to wool plus it has that soft muted country styled look which really gels with earthy farming types. I have chosen to put it here with a pair of J Fitzpatrick shoes that I found on the web which are a beautiful mix of deep burgundy, ruby suede and orange laces. I reckon some rural farmer would look terrific at a B & S ball wearing this combination. The shirt below is from Aidan Sweeney in the UK. 

An Aidan Sweeney viyella shirt

My Next Purchase - Maybe

Some things you just can't get in Australia and this is one such thing - Rubinacci Marfy loafers in velvet with black piping. I am not someone who gets off on loafers, I personally prefer desert boots, but these are nice. You can see them here: 

http://www.marianorubinacci.net/shop/product.php?lang=1&linea=1&id_cat=24&id_product=995&ccc=129&action=reminder#

The Hottest Look For Shirts This Summer Will Be.....

The Polka Dot!

The polka dot is having a massive come back because of new technology in laser printing. Some polka dots are known as coupes in which they are woven into the fabric and then spliced off (coupe is the french word for cut) but then there is the new technology of laser printing which allows you to print anything you like into shirts. It's not woven so you don't get the texture but you do get the benefits of it looking like a print. We now have polka dots that have just landed and keep checking our website www.studioshirts.com.au as we prepare to start cutting them for the new website. 

The polka dot - a hot look for Australian Summer 14/15 in shirts
Image Source: http://www.getkempt.com/about/the-kempt-five-55.php

Shantung Ties Are All The Rage

I am seeing more and more shantung silk ties popping up on the gents these days, especially the more conservative types. I would recommend for the shantung silk tie, which here is being worn by Simon Crompton at Pitti, to pair it with a blue twill shirt in a soft fabric, preferably greater than a 120's 2 ply cotton shirting. It would make a great tie for the remaining part of the winter as the colours lend themselves to darker winter tones. See our fabrics to match this tie at www.studioshirts.com.au 

Loving The New Direction Of Zink & Sons

Wow, look at Zink & Sons - for a while there they seemed to be in a cultural backwater but their new marketing campaign looks fantastic and very forward and directional in thinking.

I love the use of the grey window pane check but the stand out piece is most definitely the double breasted mid blue peaked lapel linen style suit being worn by the elder gentlemen centre right.

Bravo Zink & Sons! Let's hope we see more of the same. http://www.zinkandsons.com.au/

A Place For Shoes In Australia

Without being boastful I would say we make the best shirts in Australia. I say this because I want you to know that we know quality. So when I say to you that there's a new home for shoes in Australia, I'm talking about qualiteeeee shoes. The real deal.

Double Monk in Melbourne is considered the best of the best offering Edward Green, Crocket and Jones, Carmina and John Lobb in Australia. It's a shame I'm in Sydney because otherwise I would be there every other day.

See their blog: http://doublemonk.tumblr.com/

And when you have got your new shoes in hand give us a tinkle and we will cut you a shirt to match.

XX
Roger
www.studioshirts.com.au 

To Make A Big Tie Knot You Need A Spread Collar

I just love reading Guerreisms blog - he's such a great street photographer and he really knows menswear. If you don't know the blog, it's here www.guerreisms.com  .

Okay, so a lot of guys ask me how to make a big knot like the one above. Well, to be fair, I just use the diagrams on Le Noeud Papillon's blog in Sydney although I don't think all of the diagrams are correct.

The most important thing about a big knot is the precursor of needing a wide cutaway collar. If you don't have the collar right then it will look ridiculous when you try to slide a huge knot between it. It's kind of like a woman having oversize boltons when she's got a narrow chest. So to give yourself some room for your fancy knot, try getting yourself a wide spread collar or what we call a 'super cutaway' .

XX
Roger
www.studioshirts.com.au 

I Told You Club Collars Were Back

Photo source: Guerreisms

I told you they were back. I love club collars. There is something so nostalgic about them. A few years ago I had stockpiled about a thousand tie pins for the club collars about the time Boardwalk Empire started airing on HBO but most guys didn't take the trend up because it needs full commitment. We have the machinery to make the eyelets so give us a holler!

www.studioshirts.com.au 

XX
Roger

Relaxed Italian Style

Photo Source: Guerreisms 

Some of my customers ask me how to get their collars to flare out like the collar above. This is a very Italian look. The truth is that we don't push this style of collar because it's only through deconstruction of the collar that you can get this look - which means to say - you need to have no collar stays or else to pull them out. This is a curved cutaway collar that's had the stays removed and through the course of a hot day the collars will wing. Don't get me wrong, I like what the Italian's call 'Sprezzaturra' but this overused term usually goes hand in hand with the very rich that don't need to work or the very idle that have nothing to do. If you work professionally and want to get taken seriously, maybe choose to keep the stays in.

XX
Roger.
www.studioshirts.com.au 

I Just Love Checks

As I had said and I will say it again. I love checks. I love checks. I love checks. Come and see my private collection of checks at my archive of fabrics that I keep on the role for our customers in Sydney. Book an appointment with Studio Shirts and see what a real range of checks looks like. www.studioshirts.com.au

Ask About Studio Shirts Unbelievable Can't Be Matched 24 Hour Turn Around Time Shirt Cutting Service In Sydney Metropolitan

Do you need a shirt in a rush? There is almost no maker in Sydney that can turn around a shirt in 24 hours EXCEPT for Studio Shirts.

We pride ourselves on being able to meet extraordinary demands which is why we've made shirts for the set of The Great Gatsby, Wolverine and television networks across Australia. The reason is simple, we own and operate one of Sydney's last and largest workrooms for tailored shirts using CAD drawing and printing technology to ensure that we get your design absolutely spot on.

So, what are you waiting for? Put us to the test today. www.studioshirts.com.au 

Need a shirt in a hurry? Ask us!

Canclini Printed Shirt Fabrics Are Just The Bomb In 2014

My relationship with the Canclini cloth family of Italy goes way back. We have been big supporters of this cloth company which serves shirt makers and tailors the world over and offers some of the most dynamic ranges for design each year inspiring us designers to seek new and impressive ways to make shirts. Below you will see a recent laser printed polka dot shirting which we bought both navy with white and white with navy polka dots to make a contrasting club collar and club cuff shirt with blue buttons on a plain front. 

We hold a very large range of Canclini cloths in stock at Studio Shirts Sydney and if you come past you can spend at least a good two hours just working your way through our range of cloths. Come see for yourself. www.studioshirts.com.au

Canclini polka dot printed shirting which we've turned into a club collar and cuff contrast. 

It's No Secret That Burgundy, Wine And Deep Reds Are The Colours Of 2013 and 2014

This check shirt is a lovely burgundy but perhaps the shot doesn't do it justice. We've finished it with a matching button and of course it is a beautiful shirt for the weekend. Wear it with a pair of white, dark blue or grey wash jeans and you are sure to be the envy of your friends at your next picnic. I love check. I love check so much I would trade it for any other shirt fabrics. It is so versatile and if you don't have to meet clients it's informal bliss. I would also recommend a nice birdsye wool in grey for this shirt as a blazer. We also can cut you your own jacket so make an enquiry today and let us kit you out. www.studioshirts.com.au 

My Mate Karl!

For a while now I have been making shirts for Channel 9. Recently I had the pleasure of doing another round for Karl Stefanovic and accordingly he was so pleased he asked for my autograph..... Kidding. Here is me and Karl back stage at Channel 9 Studios in Willoughby, Sydney. 

Want the same shirts as Karl? www.studioshirts.com.au 

Make It Crisp For Business Shirts

Often men ask me what sort of business shirt do I most recommend. For business I do not recommend the finer shirting cloths. Unless you are wealthy enough that you can afford to ruin a 500 dollar 2 ply cotton and you don't mind your shirt being crushed all day, then I recommend you go for a hard working more durable cloth like this crisp white herringbone shirt below. This is a work horse business shirt that will look great from morning to evening and keep you looking crisp, which is the buzz word at the moment, but there's a reason why. Slouch on the weekends with your casual shirts, but if you're going to do business, do business. Come see us for your next work horse shirts. www.studioshirts.com.au 

Richard Wilkins Wears Studio Shirts Complete Ensemble For Logies 2014 - Including Our New Bow Ties



For the 2014 Logies in Melbourne, Studio Shirts was asked to create a complete ensemble for presenter Richard Wilkins of Channel 9. In the photo below, looking ever so dashing, is Wilkins with co-host Lisa Wilkinson. Studio Shirts Sydney can create unique custom looks for any event and we have made a great deal of shirts for television, film and theatre in our own Sydney workroom. When you want to create your next custom made item, email us through www.studioshirts.com.au and we will email you back promptly with a quotation. We love turning your dreams into a reality.  

 

Richard Wilkins of Channel 9 with co-host Lisa Wilkinson