Get the best deal on a great dress shirt

Why they're a buy: With luxury apparel sales in a slump, many high-end shirtmakers are cutting prices. The best shirts are made of two-ply Egyptian or Sea Island cotton with 100-plus thread count; they have a collar that's sewn, not glued, and buttons that are mother-of-pearl, not plastic. The ready- to-wear shirts normally retail for about $150 to $250, but right now you can find one for as little as $90.

The strategy: Look across the pond; the shirt shops that started on London's famed Jermyn Street - such as Russell & Hodge and T.M. Lewin - are fighting a fierce price war. The R&H shirts at left currently sell at russellandhodge.com for 53 pounds (about $90), with shipping, vs. the usual 95 pounds.

Get more value: Pick a style that works for the office and evening: a tight poplin weave, not oxford, and point or spread collars instead of button-down, says Andy Gilchrist, founder of AskAndyAboutClothes.com, a site about men's apparel.

Usual cost: $150

The deal: $90