Why David Donahue Shirts Punch Above Their Price Class

David Donahue dress shirts just hit that sweet spot between quality, design, and price. At around $99 on sale, they punch well above their class. They easily rival Eton in construction, and for me, they fit better than Bonobos by far.

What really sets them apart is the collars.

I’m a collar guy. I want structure, sharp lines, and a profile that holds its shape whether I’m wearing a tie or not. Donahue includes two sets of stays with their shirts. One is a broader plastic pair for a classic soft roll. The other is a sleek, elongated steel set they call silver, which gives a crisp, structured finish I prefer. Just don’t lose the steel ones. They are expensive to replace.

Let me tell you how I learned that lesson.

Back in my Brooks Brothers phase, and I’ll still say they make the best shirts when you are running a 21 inch neck, my then girlfriend (now wife) decided to surprise me by deep cleaning my place. It was a thoughtful gift... until I realized she had thrown out every single collar stay I owned. She thought they were packaging and assumed you tossed them out after opening the shirt.

That same day, I walked into work and the company had called a meeting about people showing up with soft, floppy collars. We actually had a meeting about collar stays. You can’t make this up.

These days I wear a 16 inch collar, and the fit on Donahue is perfect.

Since then, I’ve kept extras in my dopp kit, suit jacket, and desk drawer. I haven’t lost a Donahue steel tab yet.

Great fit, all natural fabric, clean styling, and that attention to detail with the collar tabs is why David Donahue has become my go to.

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