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Chambray work shirts

johnwayne

Well-Known Member
I did fancy a Lands End one not so long ago but it had black buttons - looks like they changed that!
 

blackrat2

Well-Known Member
Gotta say the Mash one looks good and a good price it’s just how much to ship and customs etc etc..typically they are pretty much no stock on all but the tinniest size
 

London Cabbie

Well-Known Member
Uniqlo…
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Jadentnes

New Member
Even though the thread is a couple of years old, your interest in Chambray work shirts is timeless! While Eastman shirts are renowned for their quality, it's always worth exploring other options, especially if you're looking to stick to a budget.
 

Dumpster D

Well-Known Member
Honestly my budget only allows for *gasp* Old Navy brand chambray's from thrifts these days...Made in China one's...you know something tho?

...My friend has a couple WWII originals, and the China made Repros pass the D's smell check for authenticity and quality to be honest. Maybe the originals are a bit softer around the edges, but they're pretty darn close sometimes. Go with a size larger than you might normally want in a dress shirt.

the originals are pretty 'relaxed' fittin'

Just wash yours and wear the living be-jeebiz out of it and then it's kinda the same deal IMHO.

I'm getting my shirts pretty ragged anyway, so no need to spend big on one of these...Just hand embroider your name and serial number or put a nice stencil on it like an original and away we go.

No one but you will know, shh, it will be our little secret okay?
 

blackrat2

Well-Known Member
Funnily enough I actually went with the M and S one, good price and A well put together shirt and a good fit as I guess made for European market
 

Jadentnes

New Member
Even though the thread is a couple of years old, your interest in Chambray work shirts is timeless! While Eastman shirts are renowned for their quality, it's always worth exploring other options, especially if you're looking to stick to a budget.
If you haven't already found the perfect Chambray shirt, https://www.fullsource.com/work-shirts/ offers a wide range of work shirts, including Chambray styles, at various price points. They may have just what you're looking for, so it's worth checking out their selection.
And don't worry if certain sizes are sold out; sometimes, inventory gets restocked or new options become available over time.
 

John Luder

Well-Known Member
If you're looking for a good repro of a WW2 chambray shirt that will not break the bank, there's a few options out there:


Pike Brothers:


WWII Impressions:


At The Front:



Edit: also forgot SM Wholesale!

I have the dungarees from SM Wholesale. They're perfect and very affordable.
My chambray shirt is made by Jinruishi, but I can't remember the seller. It was a reasonable price, $75 or less.
I'm 5'7", 140 lb, 18" shoulders, 23" sleeves. I first got a large, but it was too small after washing/drying (it's my wife's, now). The XL is perfect.
New, it's a grayish blue. Once I size something and figure how much it will shrink, I wash, bleach, and re-dye. I've used a couple Rit dye formulae for whatever shade of blue I can mix with the colors I have on hand.
 

John Luder

Well-Known Member
Can you show a pic of the SM Wholesale dungarees if you get the chance
Sorry, I didn't see this till today, 6 April.
I ordered 34 waist, and that's what they were, with a wee bit of slack, and still are after numerous normal wash and dryer on high.
When I get repro stuff like this, I beat it like a red-headed stepchild.
First is test the fit. Then wash with small amount of bleach in hot water, then dryer.
I'll do that, anyway, a few times, before I hem the legs. Nice thing about military trousers is the hemming. Just a straight and unfancy hem.
The feller at the factory, in So. Cal., will answer your message and talk to you about the products. I wanted to know the unfinished length before I bought. The 34 waist has 34 unfinished.
I ordered them right quick, chop-chop.
Cheers
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John Luder

Well-Known Member
Ensign Pulver meets They Were Expendable.
The shirt arrived from China the other day. The seller is VTGDR. I've gotten a couple chambrays from them.
This has shrunk, in hot water and hot dryer, to my size, which is getting lower, and the shirt began as a XXL.
It arrived in an acceptable grayish-blue, but not a color I, personally, favor.
This cigarette pocket was popular in the '30s. The other photo is one of these types of shirt, in the wild, from the '30s.
I used the extant pocket and button for the pocket and a swatch from the tail of the shirt for the flap.
I repaired the back with a square of denim from Salvation Army jeans.
I used color remover to get as much out as possible, then improvised a Rit dye bath to make it faded blue.
When John Wayne is kitted out in Rusty's combat gear, after they've gone native, he's wearing this shirt.
The 1941 Regs and the '44 Officer's handbook state that officers may wear the chambray and dungarees on dirty work details, with the collar brass on both collars. Which Duke did.
I have his 37-J1 on order from Five Star. Compliments to Fargham and his peeps.
The blue ball cap came from Norma at Stockbridge Sewing, in PA. Big compliments to her, too. I have another on order. Thanks to our colleague who suggested Stockbridge.
Her caps are made in the US, are customizable, and less expensive than the company in the UK that's selling stock, navy-blue ball caps.
I ordered it with this lower profile, and no buckram in the front panels.
Jack Lemmon wore this with the USN device pinned to the front.
Cheers,

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