Let me preface my review with a simple plea... Please bring back the original, comfortable oxford cloth shirts.
I've been wearing L.L.Bean oxford cloth shirts for about 40 years now, but was taken by surprise with the latest edition. About two years ago, I ordered 5 of these shirts expecting the usual quality and comfort. The same high quality is there, however these shirts are nowhere near as comfortable as the older "wrinkleable" style. I find myself simply avoiding choosing these shirts from my closet, and choosing something else.
In truth, these shirts are amazing how they remain wrinkle and stain free - but they just aren't comfortable. After wearing one of these shirts for an entire day, I feel a sort of "clothing fatigue". Very disappointing. i would prefer ironing for the benefit of comfort.
I waffled back and forth between a 1 star rating (poor) and two stars (fair). I ended up giving two stars due to the high quality, and the fact that they do what they claim (stay wrinkle and stain free). If I was only rating according to comfort, I would only give 1 star. I don't know if I'd recommend to a friend. It depends if they're looking for comfort or convenience.
I love L.L.Bean - the flannel lined chinos and jeans save my life over the cold winter months. But please...
And to summarize, let me repeat my simple plea... Please bring back the original, comfortable oxford cloth shirts. Please, with whipped cream on top, and little colored sugar sprinkles, and some chocolate shavings.
Wrinkle-free treatment is terrible: shirts wear out much too fast. LLBean really should offer a few classic looking shirts in solide colors WITHOUT WRINKLE-FREE treatment. So disappointed
I've been a long time fan of these shirts. Like others I've noticed declines in quality/durability (only with the white shirts though). I recently sent three back and got a full refund. And I thought the guarantee only applied to boots. Thanks Bean.
The LLBean oxford shirt is well made and good looking. The wrinkle free system actually works. I have a number of these shirts and I have the clear impression that the fabric has gotten much thinner and less substantial recently. I could be mistaken, and the shirt is still good in my opinion, but I would prefer the more substantial fabric.
