Woolrich WM FW10 - Page 5

Are Blackbird the only US retailer currently stocking the grey parka?

I have been told by WP that it won't be resolved. To be honest, its probably not worth the headache of fitting the situation for them for the 3 stores in Canada that would pick it up...

Robin - funny review of BB's buy. It's pretty bad considering how good the collection is I think. Straight off the bat it confuses me why they don't have 1 of the 3 really good Maine Guide jackets... they're not only an awesome jacket, they are probably the best guaranteed seller.

Is the sizing similar between eg & wwm vests?
I'm an xs in the eg shawl collar cinch vest and not sure if I should go s or xs in the railroad vest.
Any idea on fit or price range for the long cardigan or who is carrying it?
tia.

I personally really like Nicole of Blackbird, (I know other people have issues with her, but whatever,) but the quality of her buys really reflects what she herself can identify with, it seems.

I'm sure you've met her, and she is this very petite woman who wears a lot of black, and her personal style has sort of a grown up hipster feel. Last time I saw her, she was wearing a the waxed Geller toggle bomber, and she looked great. Unsurprisingly, her better buys are in Odyn Volk, Geller, and the Japanese brands - N.Hoolywood, Julius, DBSS, etc..., where Tyler Brown really does a good job. But I don't think that, despite the Field House, etc... that she has a really good feel for the "heritage brands", nor do the staff, who are mostly hipster doofus types - cool guys and girls, for the most part, but not people who you'd picture being Americana fiends. The lady who was working at the Field House, for example, kept on insisting that a Levis Type III jacket as a Type II jacket, and seemed genuinely pissed that I would disagree with her, until she checked the tag. I mean, that's basic, basic, knowledge.

So you have shitty styling of the brand. And when you are selling $500 jackets, in Ballard, the brand is not something that is particularly hard to find, and your markup is higher than pretty much every other retailer online, you need good styling, because you are going to need to sell to the walk-in customer who is more comfortable with Obey prices. And you are going to have to sell the shit out of it. And when your SAs are dressed in Rick Owens tees and are not really that interested in the brand, that's just not going to happen.

I would agree with Robin that the Americana branding at BB doesn't fit well with the goth ninja of Odyn Volk, etc.., but at the field house it's another story; it is certainly part of that vibe and done really well IMO. As for Nicole my personal experience, although limited, is positive. She was more than willing to act as my personal shopping assistant once she determined what I was looking for and this is all I can ask for when one is planning on spending a lot of pennies. The others are a mixed bag of individuals: some are too cool for school; some are clueless and some are genuinely helpful, knowledgable and interested. Either way, I can't complain, regardless of the cost associated with the pieces they are selling, this is still only a retail job for most and not a career. I don't expect them to have Ph.Ds in Americana only a willingness to help to the best of their ability.

I have met Nicole and I think she is quite a nice person. Definitely a straight shooter, which is good too. I even think that the Feild House is really well done and a lot of the products in their as great. I've only had good experiences. But just when it comes to specific buys of certain brands, I guess I find it slightly confusing. Not neccesarily Blackbird or any paricular person, but I think shops sometimes try to put their own spin on their buy a little too much, rather than just going with the easy items that are easy to wear, easy to sell and just overall good. IE Maine Guide Jackets...(to bring it back to the thread)

Try calling Union Made, I think they might be carrying it.

the sizing between the brands seems pretty similar in my experience.

Bought a pair of navy WWM trousers in 36x34 from Barneys. I like them, not love them and am considering selling them. If any one should be interested, PM me.

It interesting what you state here Ry'on, because I always thought Inventory did the opposite. That you purchase what you find most appealing and not necessarily most marketable of a particular collection. If they are one in the same great, if not oh well you are staying true to your own personal aesthetic and how it relates to the Inventory theme. Are you saying that entering the retail environment forces one to change or am I simply misinterpreting things?

^I think that we do buy the things we personally like and wear on a daily basis, and that is the theme of Inventory from the content to the collaborations. But I do believe that a lot of retailers buy what they think will be cool, or different or will seem like they put their stamp on a collection as a buyer. We may do that, but the result is something cohesive that I feel like works together. I don't think that everyone has the same perspective and approach, and of course not everyone can just buy what they want to wear - but I do feel we try to do that ourselves. In regards to your comment, I think they happen to be one in the same.

I would agree Ry'on. They do seem to be one in the same. In reference to the current WWM collection, I can't say it is my favorite above the previous offerings. Its not that I don't like it, quiet the opposite, however I do find it one demonsional and wish there wasn't such a monochromatic emphasis. Its not that I don't like hunt noir, to use BB's description, its that I wish there was some departure, even if ever so slight from the blue and black. However that being said, this is his last winter collection for WWM and it certainly does stand as an effective final statement.

She doesn't know it yet, but I'm going to bang my wife on a pile of FW10 WWM and EG tonight. Just before she sees the balance in our checking account.

That fabric is amazing. I'm getting the poncho sometime this week so I'll try to get some pics of my current buys in this thread sometime soon.