As part of the search for basics, many of us look for THE white shirt. This, devoid of artifice, can therefore only count on the quality of the fabric, the cut and the finishes to integrate into a quality look. However, invest €100 in a men's shirt is not within everyone's reach.
It is with this in mind that I tested the Opalona brand for you .
Present on the brand's website and in physical stores with 2 stores in Paris, the company clearly targets the clientele of workers concerned about their look in suits. The result is an assortment of shirts, ties, cufflinks, scarves, belts, briefs and socks to dress you up... if by surprise you would be tempted to walk through the door with a suit as your only clothing.
Note that the range is also available in blouses, so that your lady will find the trip to the store as interesting as you do.
Opalona shirt review
So what can we say about their products?
I bought 3 white shirts and a blue striped shirt in their Saint-Georges metro store.
First surprise : Opalona has clearly understood the importance of the white shirt, and there are no less than 25 variations available to you! Classic or French handles, poplin fabric, Oxford, Twill, etc., classic or Italian collar are all possible parameters for choosing THE shirt that is suitable. And I'm not talking about white shirts with fancy patterned collars and cuffs... First good point then.
Second surprise : the quality of the fabric. Thin but not transparent, it takes the light very well and is remarkably homogeneous. Thirty machine washes have absolutely not affected the quality, and the cut does not stretch.
A very good fitting (photo taken myself)
Third favorable point : the cut. I've been looking for an affordable brand with a fitted cut for a long time without falling into Gogo Dancing. I found my pleasure at Opalona. All the shirts are made with the same pattern, so the cut of my 4 shirts is strictly the same. Convenient for ordering online. Please note, a size guide is available on their site so you don't make a mistake.
Well-fitting cuffs, well-defined shoulders and a well-contoured cut are all good indicators, and at this price, it's impressive.
And yes, since to complete this positive portrait, Opalona shirts are sold between €42, for a white men's shirt, and €49 for the most original (eccentric?) models. At this price, it is clearly interesting, since we are close to the prices of Zara, Mango, Celio, etc… With much higher quality. Anecdotally, Geoffrey and Benoit were surprised with their mouths open when I told them the price of the shirt!
On the other hand, I draw attention to the fact that not all colored models are in good taste. Some are very cool and will help you fine-tune certain color schemes, but others are clearly surprising choices.
Example : a pretty exterior model ... But a collar and cuffs that are simply not usable:
What more can be said ? Their Saint-Georges metro store is well organized, you try on unfolded models and then choose your model in a blister pack (you're welcome, the shirt is completely new like that), the salespeople are pleasant and give good advice, and there is a typical system for x shirts purchased, one free.
So, what are you waiting for?
Fabrice
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PS. As a reminder, Benoît had already explained to you how to choose a shirt in a previous article.
PPS. First of all, a big thank you to Fabrice. You have noticed: the BonneGueule team prefers to give a voice to readers rather than to brands. So if you like this blog and have things to share with the community, we would like to lend you a duplicate key 😉
