In the time we've spent creating Jack Robie, we've found there is one question nearly everyone asks: "How are Jack Robie shirts different?"  The answer lies in three main problems we encountered while wearing dress shirts to work every day and in our attempt to address these problems.

1)  Almost every dress shirt available for less than $100 suffers from one or more of the following problems: an oversized body; a ridiculously long shirt tail that can't be untucked; cheap fabric that feels unpleasant (this is especially true for non-iron shirts); and/or collars that shrink over time.

2)  Luxury/designer dress shirts are too expensive to fill an entire closet.  For most men, it’s not realistic to spend $200+ on every shirt.  If it were, we wouldn't be in business.  Within this price range, while fit is generally less of a problem and fabric quality isn’t at all, the problems of unnecessary length and collar shrinkage often remain.

3)  Ordering custom dress shirts can be risky business.  We at Jack Robie have had experiences ranging from fantastic (scotch, comfortable club chairs, witty tailors) to annoying (hotel rooms, inputting a dozen measurements online) to awful (a friend’s "guy” in Hong Kong).  Generally the better experiences have come at a higher price, and regardless of the quality of the experience or the product, there is always a multi-week wait time.

Now, back to the question of how Jack Robie shirts are different. The answer is very straightforward ­- we offer shirts that don’t have any of these problems.  Our shirts are reasonably priced, they fit well (body and length), they’re made with premium fabrics, the collars don't shrink and you can have them shipped to you right away.

How do we do it? Because we sell our shirts exclusively online and operate out of a modest loft in Chinatown (pictured above), we don’t have any of the overhead associated with traditional retail.  The vast majority of our cost is our materials and manufacturing, which is why we’re able to offer a luxury item for a reasonable price.  Our free shipping policy makes it easy for you to give our shirts a try.  We think you’ll be impressed.

-Brad and Brian

Who is Jack Robie? The name comes from Cary Grant's dapper character in Hitchock's "To Catch a Thief" but the brand is actually a new luxury men's shirts collection founded by Brad Corona and Brian Nicholson, a couple of former classmates at Brown University. The pair went on to careers on Wall Street but have left that world behind to turn out a colorful new line of dress and casual shirts under the Jack Robie label. The shirts are made in the U.S. and sell for between $85 - $155. They are cheaper than the quality might lead you to expect because the store is online only and there is no costly overhead of traditional retail. The dress shirts have a trim fit, slightly shorter length and a shrink-resistant collar while the sport shirts have a more comfortable fit and are pre-washed for softness.

The first of many installments featuring brands in the men's fashion world that we admire (and purchase).  Personal style can be an interesting reflection of character, and we thought it may be nice to share some of our favorites in the land of men's clothing & accessories.

Tailored Clothing

Ralph Lauren Black Label – Sharply-tailored line of suits and blazers with a clean, modern aesthetic.  To us, the slim fit of the “Anthony” is just about perfect.  Sportswear is available as well, but we look to Black Label primarily for its formal offering.

Spurr – Given that we’re fans of Black Label, it shouldn’t be surprising that we also dig Simon Spurr’s eponymous label, as he previously helmed Black Label.  Spurr suits and blazers share a similar, slim fit but have more of a fashion bent (peaked lapels abound, three-piece offerings, distinctive fabric blends).  Great leather jackets, too.

Billy Reid – The Alabama-based designer offers a full line of men’s and women’s clothing & accessories at his particularly well-designed retail outposts, but we especially like his tailored clothing.  Of the well-priced suits and blazers in various cuts, our favorite is the classic Ruston.

Sportswear

Rag & Bone – Founded by two guys with no formal fashion background (like us . . . but probably much cooler), this company seems on its way to becoming a full-blown lifestyle brand.  A complete offering of men’s and women’s “classic yet modern” clothing & accessories draws influence from both American heritage and British tailoring.

Unis – New York City-based Unis offers casual, American sportswear in muted colors and super-soft fabrics.  We’re especially fond of the "Gio" chinos (offered in a variety of colors) that have been getting some well-deserved attention lately.

Gitman Vintage – Is it weird that we as shirtmakers are promoting other shirts?  Maybe, but we don’t care.  Variety is good.  Perhaps the most authentic of the multitude of “heritage” oxford shirt offerings in the market, Gitman Vintage designs these casual pieces around decades-old swatches from fabric archives. 

Accessories

Wm. J. Mills – Long Island-based manufacturer of canvas covers and accessories for Boston Whaler boats that also offers bags.  Totes, briefcases, flight bags and gym duffels all utilize the same durable, machine-washable canvas as the marine products and come in a variety of basic colors.  A reasonably priced collection of great bags that isn’t remotely gender-bending (as man bags often are). 

Alexander Olch – We are huge fans of Mr. Olch’s luxury neckwear, which is made with an impressive variety of typical (silk, cotton) and not-so-typical (alpaca wool, cashmere, corduroy, seersucker) fabrics.  A narrow width provides a modern aesthetic but doesn’t venture anywhere near skinny ridiculousness.  We especially like this one.

Warby Parker – Online, direct-to-consumer retailer of men’s and women’s prescription eyewear.  These stylish, impossibly well-priced frames use boutique-quality acetate, and the result is a pair of glasses as good as those for which we’ve all shelled out hundreds of dollars.  

(link) Your Boyfriend's New Shirt = Your New Shirt (SLIDESHOW)

Click on the link above to read about women wearing men's shirts and to see a great slideshow of women throughout history in men's shirts, as well as images of our own lovely model in Jack Robie shirts.

(link) Named for a Thief, Priced Like a Steal

 "If clothing retail is your business, you know the smart money is going online and the partners behind Jack Robie-the new online only shirt maker-know a thing or two about money. Brad Corona and Brian Nicholson left Wall Street to create this line of dress and casual shirts that offer trim fits, great fabrics and reasonable price points. The U.S. made shirts retail for between $95 and $115; a pittance compared to what could be (and is) charged for products of this provenance. The lack of leases, wholesale and other costs associated with brick and mortar sales outlets allow the brand, named after Cary Grant's character in To Catch a Thief, to charge the larcenous prices they do. It also allows them to replenish and adjust their inventory according to customer needs. And the need for well fitting dress shirts is great. One walk down Wall Street will tell you that."