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What happened to Filene's Basement?

post #1 of 14
11/6/09 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
I thought Filene's went bankrupt? I was traveling for work the other day and saw one. I'd never been in one before so I walked in. Unimpressive. Sucked actually. Everyone here used to tout how they had all these one off lots of high end brands, I didn't see any of that. All I saw was the same as you see in Marshall's. Are all the high end brands gone because of the bankruptcy?
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post #2 of 14
11/6/09 at 5:38pm
They are not an emporium of fantastic designer goodies, but there is a section called "The Vault" that has all the great usual suspects. Clearance time is really the time to shop. Its rather hit or miss in my experience, and I have found that your demographic plays a major role in the selection.

By the way, you have great wool ties.
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post #3 of 14
11/6/09 at 5:38pm
I use to go all the time in Chicago. I never saw anything too impressive. But I did score some nice belts there so a great price.
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post #4 of 14
11/6/09 at 5:41pm
i think men's wearhouse bought them out, they have some PRL items here and there.
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post #5 of 14
11/6/09 at 5:49pm
I went to Chicago for the first time this summer and was excited to swing by Filene's but when I got there it was AWFUL. I felt like I had been duped. The only thing I bought was a plain navy BB tie.
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post #6 of 14
11/6/09 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by idfnl View Post
I thought Filene's went bankrupt

Filene's, the old Boston-based store, was absorbed into another chain long ago. Before that, however, they spun off Filene's Basement, the discounter, as a separate company. This is why Filene's Basement still exists, although Filene's is long gone.
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post #7 of 14
11/6/09 at 6:02pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpooPoker View Post
By the way, you have great wool ties.

Thank you, thank you very much

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post #8 of 14
11/6/09 at 6:30pm
The one in chicago is alright. They currently have a bunch of massively overprice gucci stuff, but a fair number of brioni, hickey freeman, and malo suits/outerwear.
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post #9 of 14
11/6/09 at 6:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laughwithm3 View Post
i think men's wearhouse bought them out, they have some PRL items here and there.

Syms.
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post #10 of 14
11/6/09 at 6:58pm
Merchandising varies a lot by store location. The old Boston flagship was tremendous, the new one much less so, and all the others seem to be a significant notch below that standard.
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post #11 of 14
11/6/09 at 10:26pm
Martin + Osa, Perry Ellis, Donald J. Trump, a ton of awful new Florsheims; the DC Filene's are full of crap.

A few small Brioni jackets and an occasional nice tie. That's it.
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post #12 of 14
11/6/09 at 10:51pm
The Boston one has Oxxford, Hickey, Hickey Freeman suits. In the Vault I usually see Armani, Malo, Brioni, etc. The selection really depends, I suppose. I do find discounted Martin + Osa stuff wearable, though. Got a cashmere sweater for $30 that has lasted to now.
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post #13 of 14
11/6/09 at 10:51pm
Last time I was in Filene's Basement in Chicago this September, I saw a pair of red spring Borrelli trousers for $20 in the clearance section. In my experience they go through periods where they have nothing but crap, and then out of nowhere they have a bunch of nice stuff in their "Vault" section once every few months.
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post #14 of 14
11/6/09 at 10:53pm
Manhasset carries Brioni, Kiton, Armani, Oxxford, Borreli, Varvatos, among many others. Tons of Malo, you can find every item in multiple sizes, same with Zenga. They have tons of it, in every size too. My friend picked up a Zegna there for $700 recently.
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