My Sunspel polo would now cost me about $130US. I'm tempted to purchase one before my next deployment to Hong Kong/Singapore/etc, and find a tailor and say "Make this" for me, and then return the Sunspel for a full refund, though from what I'm reading - I'll love it too much to give it back.
Trust me, no matter how much time or saving up it takes, treat yourself to at least one of Sunspel's CR polos. It's definitely worth it. It's such a beautiful, well-made piece of clothing that's extremely soft, lightweight, & comfortable. Once you try it on, you definitely won't want to return it. Plus, the fact that it ties into the Bond legacy will make you appreciate it even more.
I'm with BLU8. With all of the wasted energy trying to get a budget polo you could have the real thing by now. It's worth it I think. I was lucky enough to win mine through the Bond Lifestyle Competition on this forum last year but I'd like to order one in another color as well.
Shoes broken in, and they're not bad, but not nearly as comfortable as the $80 pair I put on in the States. The Land's End polo isn't holding up, as well. The color isn't fading badly (and I make effort to avoid color fade), but the material itself just seems cheap.
The Claiborne polo is fine. I may get more, but I'm always browsing. My Sunspel polo would now cost me about $130US. I'm tempted to purchase one before my next deployment to Hong Kong/Singapore/etc, and find a tailor and say "Make this" for me, and then return the Sunspel for a full refund, though from what I'm reading - I'll love it too much to give it back.
Is it really too expensive in the long run? Do you never get anyone or yourself a gift that costs that much? I say save up or skip a few of your usual clothing purchases and get the Sunspel.
The Sunspel polo isn't an outrageous price really. It is the one Tom Ford based his off, right?. There are far more expensive ones out there. Instead of three cheap new shirts this month just splurge on the Sunspel real thing. After that just try and go for the polo look with a few other nice colors (rather than just thinking about one polo style). Get a nice black and another one in white from whatever more affordable brand you like, but definitely go for a real Sunspel before nabbing multiple regular purchases instead.
The Landsend ones look good for a casual polo. I have six Riviera polos from Sunspel but am loathed to wear them if I am doing anything where they might get dirty or torn. I could do with a cheap alternative for such occasions.
I would be interested in any more suggestions in this thread.
If you read my earlier post, the material I got in the Land's End polo was a jersey material, not a mesh or pique polo. I'd spend a few extra bucks and try a better weave.
Been on the hunt for a navy jersey type polo and it's proven a harder find than i thought it would be. I'm sure being out of season doesn't help much. Either everythings pique or alot of brands just don't seem to carry a dark navy blue is what I'm finding.
Strange since Navy is a common shirt color. Sucks because I found a decent slim polo at the gap that was discontinued and only a lighter blue was available. Who knows if a navy one was ever an option anyways though. I need to try on the J.Crew polos before giving up.
May have to wait for a Sunspel sale or the holidays to get the real riviera polo. Theres always some on eBay, but they're not always much cheaper than buying new. Oh well. I'm a cheap bastard. I hate spending more than $50 on any one piece of clothing except for shoes lol.
Damn it. They'll likely begrudgingly get full price from me then. Just once. I don't care if the cotton is taken from King Tut's tomb, never again. Well I say that now, we'll see.. )
MUCH better quality. Two-button placket, no pocket, collar that REALLY stays down, very breathable, small tennis tail. Perfect polo shirt. Only mistake I made was asking for it in Medium, when I should have gotten a small. See size chart.
Got it in Horizon Blue, which is still on sale for $14.99. Right now, they are offering free shipping with no minimum. Take a look! I highly recommend this polo, and as you can see, I've been reviewing quite a few this year!
The $14.99 sale is over on ALL colors, but you can still get a few colors for this price. Keep your eyes open, as there are frequent sales and specials. I am getting Cobalt Blue and True Navy in the other polo shirt (above) for $14.99 each with free shipping. This is a great shirt... just remember your size.
Just got 'em. The pima polo is more like a true-blue, and not like the CR polo, and has a THREE-button placket. That was disappointing. Texture is thin, but very soft, and fits perfectly.
The green and black short-sleeve polos are just perfect. Has anyone gotten the original fit, pocket polos? I'm curious as to whether those are 3-button, like my lousy LE Canvas one, or if they are true to the pics on the website.
I have the Lands End short sleeve mesh with pocket in navy blue, it hangs right next to my Sunspel and the two look very similar (definitely buy 1 size smaller than normal). The feel is completely different - the LE is a much heavier weight - but there is no fear that the shirt will get snagged and fall apart in the wash either.
In long-sleeves I have a black pima and a blue mesh, both from LE. The blue gets worn often on casual Fridays with dark jeans and my chukka boots. Neither one of them appears to be the right fabric to compare to the Venice scene, that almost looks like 'moleskin' to my eye.
Here is the Land's End mesh polo shirt in True Navy. I washed in cold water, because my wife washed my black polo in warm water, and it shrunk a little. This shirt is also a small, but feels bigger than the black and green ones I received. Perhaps I'll wash in warm water and shrink them down a little. It should be noted that this is the DARKEST of the Navy colored shirts... and that is a HUGE plus!
Better polo, better chukkas, same jeans (see above pics)... will get in 505 or 514s, because they are far more flattering. These 559s are too baggy. Now I just need the jacket and sunglasses!
Here is the THICK banded sleeve, and a picture of the mesh. A VERY good shirt. Can't wait until my Sunspel arrives, so I can finish this year's comparisons!
True on the 559s . I went 505s because they seemed to feel like they had a higher rise than 514s.
Funny thing is some 505s fit as snug as 514s depending on where they were made. I consistently found 505s made in Lesotho and Sri Lanka to be 514 slim like. Where as 505s made in Mexico and Egypt are noticeably more "relaxed" like in comparison.
That's been my findings after trying on dozens of Levi's locally. -{
True on the 559s . I went 505s because they seemed to feel like they had a higher rise than 514s.
Funny thing is some 505s fit as snug as 514s depending on where they were made. I consistently found 505s made in Lesotho and Sri Lanka to be 514 slim like. Where as 505s made in Mexico and Egypt are noticeably more "relaxed" like in comparison.
That's been my findings after trying on dozens of Levi's locally. -{
They can vary quite a bit between one pair and the next even from a single location, too. Depending on where in the stack that fabric was when it was machine cut can increase or decrease the measurements despite what the tag claims. I've bought more than one pair of Levi's and Lucky Brands at a time in the same size and variety within a single stack of clothes and had one fit nice and another requiring a belt to pull off. Definitely good to try things on.
Levi's are like snowflakes lol. I found myself looking for the color/ the right shade of color/ imperfections & details/ size / and where they were made, in order to find the perfect pair.
Going by where they were made to get the right fit was as good as I could do. Seemed true across several different stores/companies all over town. I dropped some science on my local Levi supply. )
I'm in Italy, at an Army command, so I'm guessing England to the US to reroute to my APO here in northern Italy. It's supposed to be a surprise, so I can't say anything... X-(
I'm in Italy, at an Army command, so I'm guessing England to the US to reroute to my APO here in northern Italy. It's supposed to be a surprise, so I can't say anything... X-(
Where in Italy? I was stationed at Darby in the mid 80's.
Bond: "Who would spend $1 million to kill me?"
M: "Jealous husbands. Outraged chefs. Humiliated tailors. The list is endless!"
Comments
Trust me, no matter how much time or saving up it takes, treat yourself to at least one of Sunspel's CR polos. It's definitely worth it. It's such a beautiful, well-made piece of clothing that's extremely soft, lightweight, & comfortable. Once you try it on, you definitely won't want to return it. Plus, the fact that it ties into the Bond legacy will make you appreciate it even more.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunspel-Blue-Jersey-Polo-Brand-NEW-/320749327106?pt=US_CSA_MC_Shirts&hash=item4aae265302
$50 Buy-It-Now, also in black. Is this the right polo? I think most of us are looking for the Riviera style.
Bond on a Budget
I think the seller has this shirt: http://www.sunspel.com/uk/mens/polo-shirts/jersey-polo-shirt-navy.html
As opposed to the CR Riviera polo shirt: http://www.sunspel.com/uk/mens/polo-shirts/riviera-polo-shirt-navy.html
Is it really too expensive in the long run? Do you never get anyone or yourself a gift that costs that much? I say save up or skip a few of your usual clothing purchases and get the Sunspel.
The Sunspel polo isn't an outrageous price really. It is the one Tom Ford based his off, right?. There are far more expensive ones out there. Instead of three cheap new shirts this month just splurge on the Sunspel real thing. After that just try and go for the polo look with a few other nice colors (rather than just thinking about one polo style). Get a nice black and another one in white from whatever more affordable brand you like, but definitely go for a real Sunspel before nabbing multiple regular purchases instead.
I would be interested in any more suggestions in this thread.
NMS
Bond on a Budget
Strange since Navy is a common shirt color. Sucks because I found a decent slim polo at the gap that was discontinued and only a lighter blue was available. Who knows if a navy one was ever an option anyways though. I need to try on the J.Crew polos before giving up.
May have to wait for a Sunspel sale or the holidays to get the real riviera polo. Theres always some on eBay, but they're not always much cheaper than buying new. Oh well. I'm a cheap bastard. I hate spending more than $50 on any one piece of clothing except for shoes lol.
MUCH better quality. Two-button placket, no pocket, collar that REALLY stays down, very breathable, small tennis tail. Perfect polo shirt. Only mistake I made was asking for it in Medium, when I should have gotten a small. See size chart.
http://www.landsend.com/pp/ShortSleeveOriginalBandedMeshPoloShirt~217411_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::QJ9&CM_MERCH=IDX_Men-_-PolosTshirtsTurtlenecks-_-PoloShirts-_-ShortSleeve&origin=index
Got it in Horizon Blue, which is still on sale for $14.99. Right now, they are offering free shipping with no minimum. Take a look! I highly recommend this polo, and as you can see, I've been reviewing quite a few this year!
Bond on a Budget
http://www.landsend.com/pp/NewShortSleeveOriginalPocketMeshPoloShirt~217408_59.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::JON&CM_MERCH=IDX_Men-_-PolosTshirtsTurtlenecks-_-PoloShirts-_-ShortSleeve&origin=index
The $14.99 sale is over on ALL colors, but you can still get a few colors for this price. Keep your eyes open, as there are frequent sales and specials. I am getting Cobalt Blue and True Navy in the other polo shirt (above) for $14.99 each with free shipping. This is a great shirt... just remember your size.
Bond on a Budget
http://www.landsend.com/pp/TailoredLongSleevePimaPoloShirt~212527_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::DKY&CM_MERCH=IDX_Men-_-PolosTshirtsTurtlenecks-_-PoloShirts-_-LongSleeve&origin=index
Will post some detailed pics when they arrive. I also have navy and cobalt blue short-sleeve polos on the way as a gift.
Bond on a Budget
The green and black short-sleeve polos are just perfect. Has anyone gotten the original fit, pocket polos? I'm curious as to whether those are 3-button, like my lousy LE Canvas one, or if they are true to the pics on the website.
Very pleased, overall!!!
Bond on a Budget
In long-sleeves I have a black pima and a blue mesh, both from LE. The blue gets worn often on casual Fridays with dark jeans and my chukka boots.
Bond on a Budget
Here is the Land's End mesh polo shirt in True Navy. I washed in cold water, because my wife washed my black polo in warm water, and it shrunk a little. This shirt is also a small, but feels bigger than the black and green ones I received. Perhaps I'll wash in warm water and shrink them down a little. It should be noted that this is the DARKEST of the Navy colored shirts... and that is a HUGE plus!
Better polo, better chukkas, same jeans (see above pics)... will get in 505 or 514s, because they are far more flattering. These 559s are too baggy. Now I just need the jacket and sunglasses!
Here is the THICK banded sleeve, and a picture of the mesh. A VERY good shirt. Can't wait until my Sunspel arrives, so I can finish this year's comparisons!
Bond on a Budget
Funny thing is some 505s fit as snug as 514s depending on where they were made. I consistently found 505s made in Lesotho and Sri Lanka to be 514 slim like. Where as 505s made in Mexico and Egypt are noticeably more "relaxed" like in comparison.
That's been my findings after trying on dozens of Levi's locally. -{
They can vary quite a bit between one pair and the next even from a single location, too. Depending on where in the stack that fabric was when it was machine cut can increase or decrease the measurements despite what the tag claims. I've bought more than one pair of Levi's and Lucky Brands at a time in the same size and variety within a single stack of clothes and had one fit nice and another requiring a belt to pull off. Definitely good to try things on.
Going by where they were made to get the right fit was as good as I could do. Seemed true across several different stores/companies all over town. I dropped some science on my local Levi supply.
Still waiting for the Sunspel - shipped Nov 9th.
Bond on a Budget
Wow. Long wait so far, but at least it is coming! Where is it shipping to? Customs hold up?
Bond on a Budget
Where in Italy? I was stationed at Darby in the mid 80's.
M: "Jealous husbands. Outraged chefs. Humiliated tailors. The list is endless!"
Bond on a Budget