Has Anyone Noticed?

The strange way that the sort of mid-level brands garner a lot more brand-respect(at least among the non-elite set) than the higher-level ones? I have a Hugo Boss suit and a BR velvet blazer that I'm always getting compliments on, many more so when people find out where they're from. But a Zegna blazer I got on ebay and my Jantzen shirts, both nicer and better-made garments, seem to get less.
Does anyone have a similar experience?

I had a random guy ask me about my Janzten in the elevator today.

(wow, that sounds funny)

Anyway, I think a lot of it depends on who you are hanging out with.

I haven't, but it could be that the two garments which garnish more compliments fit you better.

Def could be fit/style. You may have gotten cooler, more unique garments from these makers. A lot of the 'better makers' are also more conservative in cut and style. This allows you to get more wear out of the garment, but may mean that it is less likely to attract notice. In terms of the comments you get once the brand is revealed, I'd surmise that people know brands like BR and Boss much better than the typical forum fare. Zegna is considered by many to be a bit recherche, Brioni more so and Kiton is almost unknown. I challenge you to find one person in 20 who has heard of Edward Green. With the mainstream label styles (and BR is basically a cheaper version of a lot of those looks), you get up-to-the-minute looks that are often distinctive in shade of shirt or last of shoe. With forum faves, you get styles that we call 'timeless', but those timeless styles are often available at a variety of prices - often all the way down to Bostonian. If someone isn't paying close attention, they are more likely to be beguiled by a distinctive last on a KC than a subtle variation on the balmoral. Many compliments come from someone noticing a more extreme style decision - they see a large difference, and feel obligated to remark on it. The ones that I value most come much less often, and are of the 'you always dress well' variety. Not so much a reaction to a piece, but to the overall care taken with one's appearance.

Originally Posted by Augusto86

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But a Zegna blazer I got on ebay and my Jantzen shirts, both nicer and better-made garments, seem to get less.
Does anyone have a similar experience?
Ah, yes, but you got it on Ebay. That explains everything!

Originally Posted by rip

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Ah, yes, but you got it on Ebay. That explains everything!
Question Mark? EDIT: IT's ALL from Ebay, xcept Jantzen(wouldn't that be funny?). I'm a broke-ass college mofo.

Nah, it's far simpler than all that, I think. While Zegna is somewhat of an exception, most high-end makers don't spend a lot on advertising. Compare that to what Boss, Armani, et al spend and it just boils down to product awareness.

I'd be willing to bet that if you polled 100 men in your office, MAYBE 5 have even heard of Kiton or Attolini, compared to 80-90 who've heard of Boss and/or Armani.

Originally Posted by Jill

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Nah, it's far simpler than all that, I think. While Zegna is somewhat of an exception, most high-end makers don't spend a lot on advertising. Compare that to what Boss, Armani, et al spend and it just boils down to product awareness.

I'd be willing to bet that if you polled 100 men in your office, MAYBE 5 have even heard of Kiton or Attolini, compared to 80-90 who've heard of Boss and/or Armani.

Sounds about right, IMHO.

But that doesn't explain why ostensibly better constructed and designed garments are getting less attention that far worse stuff when people aren't aware of the brand.

BR,Boss, and assorted 'far worse stuff' capture the zeitgeist -- the spirit of the time.

That's what is being pushed as the image of style at any given moment. Most people are susceptible to that imagery and will tend to comment on those garments that most exemplify it.

Attolini is not in the zeitgeist.

Regards,
Huntsman

Most people like crap. That's my explanation.

It could be people just prefer the styling of Hugo Boss over Attolini.

You're a young guy so people are going to respond better to you wearing something fashionably youthful vs high quality stodgy. Without seeing it, I'm betting the Zegna blazer is fairly conservative and might clash with your otherwise youthful demeanor. Or maybe your less expensive stuff just fits much better and people are in tune with that, without knowing exactly why.

My guess is that some of it has to do with why a person with high-end brands would get a midlevel brand. If you're wearing Kitons and Brionis, wouldn't you only get the Bosses and the like only if you thought they were exceptional in their styling? Even leaving price aside, someone who's "spoiled" on excellent quality/construction would only pay to get what they know to be a lesser quality garment if there were other things going for the lower quality garment, and usually with clothes, it's some sort of a styling point. Because there would be more exacting standards in acquiring a lesser quality garment, I bet it contributes heavily to why others notice it and compliment it more. In fact, that noticeability was probably a huge factor in why the garment was acquired in the first place.

My Cole Haan boat shoes get complimented often, but no one compliments my Y-3 Adidas. And that pattern reoccurs often, a polo shirt will get compliments, when at the same time a RLPL linen shirt gets completely overlooked.

Jon.