Broadcloth or pinpoint

[Cruiser]

With all the talk of dress shirts here it seems that more often than not folks do not mention the fabric. All but one of my dress shirts are pinpoints and for some reason I have always opted for a pinpoint. I don't really think that they look any less dressy than a broadcloth, although it seems that most experts seem to think the broadcloth is dressier.

So do you guys have a preference and, if so, why?

Cruiser

[JibranK]

I'm ignorant as to which one is more/less dressy, but I prefer broadcloth since I find it more comfortable.

[brokencycle]

I also find broadcloth a little more comfortable, although just by look I think it hard to notice a difference.

[fruityoaty]

I prefer pinpoint because I think it breathes better, and I hate hot armpits. I don't think pinpoint looks any less formal. Living in the desert, I appreciate fabrics that block the sun but not the air.

[eagle2250]

I'm not sure I made a conscious decision about it but the non-button-down collar dress shirts in my closet are both broadcloth. So I guess I prefer broadcloth...or the "devil made me do it"!

[Concordia]

Pinpoint is a shade less formal, but for daytime business that is not a big deal. It can be a little more substantial, which helps it hold up over 14 hours.

That said, I usually prefer broadcloth. It is less bulky and can breathe a lot better. Pinpoint is a pretty tight weave, and I tend to run warm.

[JayJay]

I prefer broadcloth but have both.

[dfloyd]

than just pin point or broad cloth: twill, poplin, oxford cloth, and end-on-end to name a few. I have all these and probably more if I go to my shirt closet. They all present a different look and can be integrated into your wardrobe. Even pique when looking at formal shirts with marcella bib and cuffs.

[Cruiser]

than just pin point or broad cloth: twill, poplin, oxford cloth, and end-on-end to name a few.

I too have shirts in all of these type fabrics except end on end, but it seems that the shirts I wear with my suits are all pinpoint with the exception of the one broadcloth. The twill, poplin, and oxford cloth shirts are generally worn with a sport coat or with no jacket at all. I was just curious as to why I seem to gravitate toward pinpoints for my dress shirts because I really don't know myself. :icon_smile_big:

Cruiser

[Rossini]

Good poplin is a better choice than pinpoint for dress shirts. As a plain weave, it is cleaner and it's usually lighter too. You might like pinpoint because it's a little heavier and potentially warmer. More like an oxford and, to my eye, more informal.

[meister]

I find broadcloth cooler in summer than poplin though not as smart looking.

[Cowtown]

I prefer broadcloth. I think it looks better and wears a bit cooler in the summer.

[ziggyosk]

is there a link somewhere that explains what the difference between all these is?

[TheWardrobeGirl]

is there a link somewhere that explains what the difference between all these is?

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/T...irtFabrics.htm

Happy reading!

[Beachcomber]

I vote for pinpoint, it is a bit softer against the skin.

[Relayer]

Pinpoint oxford is lighter and smoother than a plain oxford. I have mostly pinpoint oxfords and I prefer them to broadcloth.

However, generally, fine broadcloath is a finer, smoother material than pinpoint oxford, and I consider it dressier.

[ksinc]

OCBDs with flannels and khakis; a royal oxford with gabardines (I like the lighter looking and feeling shirts with gabs for some reason, but not pinpoint).

For my dressier shirts, I usually wear a RT blue or white pinpoint medium spread with a suit and a repp tie. Any other dress shirts I like to get in twill above 100s. They are either white worn with a basketweave tie or some pattern worn with a solid woven tie.

I had a devil of a time getting comfortable with everything being a similiar weight of fabric. I even have OCD over wool or cotton socks with trousers of the same material. AmVets calls me everytime they are in the neighborhood! LOL

I thought broadcloth and poplin were the same? The American shirts usually say broadcloth and the English seem to say poplin. Aren't the Lewin, CT, HH, HK, et al spread collar FC shirts listed as poplin?

[ksinc]

I thought broadcloth and poplin were the same?

right out of the AK link provided in a previous post ...

1] BROADCLOTH
2] POPLIN (or Popline fr.)

Ha! Thought you were finally going to find out the difference, eh? Well, you're not. Why? Because for all practical purposes, Broadcloth and Poplin are exactly the same thing. Historically, there had been one slight difference which is all but ignored today. That difference would have been that some poplins had a slightly larger filling, or weft, yarn than broadcloths resulting in a slightly more pronounced 'ridge' effect crosswise on the cloth.
That out of the way, just what is a broadcloth or poplin? Quite simply, it is a Plain Weave. What is meant by a plain weave is that each weft yarn passes over one warp yarn, under one warp yarn, over one warp yarn, and so on until it reaches the other side of the cloth. It then returns to the staring side in exactly the same sequence, merely alternating by one the warp yarns which it goes under - over - under.

[ilikeyourstyle]

The difference between broadcloth and pinpoint is never substantial enough for me to consider one shirt over another based on that. I would always select the shirt which fit better, cost less, had a nicer colour, etc. rather than select a shirt based on weave. If all else was identical, then I would probably select pinpoint over broadcloth, but I'm not even sure why.

[bluesmobile_440]

I agree that the difference is not big enough to really influence by buying decisions. I suppose that broadcloth seems to breathe better, but I don't buy bespoke so I tend to buy what's there. If I had to choose, broadcloth would be mine.

[babycatcher]

Hmmm. Pinpoint less dressy? Since it tends to be a finer fabric, with a softer hand, I thought it was more formal, rather than less.

I tend to wear broadcloth though, I just like a more substantial feel.

[Simon Myerson]

You may find that if you wear mainly plain shirts, you have more pinpoint. I find that pinpoint, twill and herringbone provide more interest than poplin (broadcloth) for plains. They also seem to keep the colours looking bright for longer. For patterned shirts I prefer poplin because it is easier to get in lighter weights.

I've recently experimented with a formal shirt in a dobby weave. In dull light inside it is almost indistiguishable from plain cloth, but outside in stronger light the effect is noticeable and interesting.

[PJC in NoVa]

An 80s pinpoint is a tad coarser than a 100s broadcloth/poplin/plain-weave fabric, and therefore slightly less formal.

I certainly own and wear pinpoints, especially in the cooler months, but for a relatively formal occasion or wear with a suit, broadcloth seems a tad more "comme il faut" to me.

Other weaves such as twills and herringbones are less plain than plain-weave fabrics (aha! it's not just a clever name!) and hence also that much less formal.

Personally, the more finely woven a twill or herringbone fabric is, the more I tend to like it. I've never been a huge fan of dress shirts with a lot of obvious "pattern interest" to the weave.

[JimB-MI]

I took advantage of the BB F&F sale this weekend. I bought three dress shirts, all pinpoint.

I like the look, feel and weight of the pinpoint better than the either oxford or broadcloth.

I was curious about the Brookscool, but I still prefer the pinpoint.

[David V]

I perfer pinpoint. It looks more formal that broadcloth. Pinpoint feels better.
I know the rules say different but I don't agree.
Some people say the rules allow for pineapple on pizza but they are wrong there too.