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"To Fall Apart Like a Robert Hall suit"

post #1 of 8
11/2/11 at 6:31am
Thread Starter 

This was apparently once a common phrase in the USA, as a result of the poor reputation of the Robert Hall brand, one of the first really mass-produced clothing brands in the country. However I recently came across a Robert Hall suit and it didn't seem too bad at all. Clearly not top quality, but certainly not as bad as some contemporary mass-produced suits, with nice fabric and reasonable construction. And if it's survived over 40 years already, it's certainly stood the test of time.

 

So, was the company unfairly tarnished just for being too popular and successful? Are there any of their products worth picking up in thrift stores etc.? Or will they all just 'fall apart like a Robert Hall suit"?

 

And what other brands today suffer from a similar (undeserved) reputation?


Edited by FlyingMonkey - 11/2/11 at 12:22pm
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post #2 of 8
11/2/11 at 12:09pm
$31.95 for a wool flannel suit. "Alterations are included."
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post #3 of 8
11/2/11 at 12:18pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hall_Clothes,_Inc.
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post #4 of 8
11/3/11 at 7:22pm
Thanks. Bonds falls into the same category.
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post #5 of 8
11/3/11 at 8:15pm
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post #6 of 8
11/3/11 at 8:21pm
Robert Hall! This brings back some memories of the days of my youth. I remember some of their singing commercials about "Back to Robert Hall." However, I never patronized one of their establishments.
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post #7 of 8
11/3/11 at 10:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLibourel View Post

Robert Hall! This brings back some memories of the days of my youth. I remember some of their singing commercials about "Back to Robert Hall." However, I never patronized one of their establishments.

You showed admirable restraint. In the late 50s early 60s a Brooks Bros suit, from the University
Shop, could be purchased for +/- $50. Admittedly, one had to by very Ivy. Robert Hall was anything but.
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post #8 of 8
11/4/11 at 1:45am
I actually shopped at Robert Hall!

I am 56 years old, and my father used to take my brother and me to the store at Kings Highway near McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. Robert Hall had another, bigger store in downtown Brooklyn on Llivingston Street.

It was a no-frills store in one big room with rack upon rack of clothing for men and boys. I would liken the atmosphere to Syms. (Poor Syms is the next entry in the clothing retail cemetery. "The paths of glory lead but to the grave.")

An interesting point is that my father, a CPA in the prime of his professional life, did not buy his clothes there. He needed a higher level of quality, such as Number 6 tailoring. He went to a clothier in what is now the heart of Chinatown.

It was considered good but not great clothing. At least good enough for a youth.

At that time all tailored clothing was made in the USA. I believe that Robert Hall sold private label. At that time "designers" were unknown. Men bought "brands".
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