

At about $140 a pop, Mercer’s shirts are most definitely far from cheap. Before I even start my actual review, I’d like to say that these shirts are worth every penny, and then some. Seriously, these are amazing!

The 100% cotton, must-iron dress shirt seems to be a dying breed. Kamakura shirts are very nice shirts, coming in at about $80 a shirt before shipping. However, you have to know all of your measurements by heart, and if you’re a stubborn old man like my dad, you’d rather pay more for the convenience of not needing that. Lands End used to make a great oxford cloth button down for about $45 at retail. It was even cheaper in the 80s, when he was just getting out of law school. Joseph A. Banks was still putting out a quality product, and it was dirt cheap.

Those days are over now. Joseph A. Banks is a shell of its former self, a decomposing zombie, along with Lands End, with L.L. Bean heading down that path. Even Brooks Brothers is putting out mostly non-iron garbage these days.

However, Mercer and Sons is still making the classic OCBD, made in the USA and from Supima cotton. The shirt itself comes in simple packaging, as pictured below.

They ship it in a plain brown cardboard box, with the shirt itself in a plain plastic wrapping. They wrap the shirt in a scrap of oxford cloth, tied in a nice bow. They also include a business card, with a hand written thank you note. A+ on the simple, but tasteful presentation. Alright, that’s enough about the presentation, and lamenting days that I wasn’t even alive for. From what I can feel, the shirt feels amazing. Impeccable stitching, detail work, and soft fabric. I ordered my sleeves a touch long, so I put it through the wash before I wore it. Now, it’s even softer, and fits perfectly. While it is fuller cut, it’s far from baggy. It’s an incredible shirt. The collar rolls beautifully, even without a tie, which is really awesome.

All and all, I cannot recommend this shirt enough. It is expensive, but you get a shirt that’ll last you for years. David and Serena Mercer are good people, who put out the best shirt your money can buy. If you were considering buying this shirt, don’t hesistate!