Australian Members

Originally Posted by Prince of Paisley

Click to expand...

A watch collector friend once told me that anything less than a 50% discount on a new watch still ensured a huge profit to the retailer. I thought he was having a go but he's probably right -

Without fail I've been offered 30% off the list price pretty much as soon as I show any interest in a watch, without mentioning competitors' pricing.... and not just in Australia.

Popular brands like TAG, Omega and Longines seem to initiate spontaneous discounting here, and Rolex would as well I imagine, though I've never had an interest in purchasing the latter so I can't say first hand.

I can't discuss Hermes watches at this time.

Yes, it is pretty standard to be offered 20% - 30% off a new watch from an authorised dealer, even in Oz. I have been offered discounts on new Rolexes from ADs in Melbourne, without hinting that I was serious about purchasing. Having said that, I think you would need to be slightly mad to purchase a Rolex new when there is a thriving second hand market. Moreover, new Rolexes are generally bling / fugly.

Originally Posted by Doctor

Click to expand...

Really much better than I expected, actually! They're very, very nice. Seemed to run a smidge larger than some other Loake styles though (which is actually a good thing - the Bayswaters gave me pins and needles for a fortnight).

Good to hear! I am tempted to buy a pair but will try to resist until next summer comes around.

Originally Posted by Alexander Scriabin

Click to expand...

American Tailors in Melbourne are having a sale at the moment. They're clearing out a bunch of Crockett and Jones Handgrades. I snapped up a pair for $495. Not many sizes left though.

Thanks for the heads up. Well done on your purchase - great price!

Originally Posted by Prince of Paisley

Click to expand...

A watch collector friend once told me that anything less than a 50% discount on a new watch still ensured a huge profit to the retailer. I thought he was having a go but he's probably right -

Without fail I've been offered 30% off the list price pretty much as soon as I show any interest in a watch, without mentioning competitors' pricing.... and not just in Australia.

Popular brands like TAG, Omega and Longines seem to initiate spontaneous discounting here, and Rolex would as well I imagine, though I've never had an interest in purchasing the latter so I can't say first hand.

I can't discuss Hermes watches at this time.

Would Hermes give a big discount on a green breast wallet do you think?

Just a heads up to those in Melbourne looking to resole/repair their Loakes. I dropped by Beggar Man Thief the other day and had a chat to Scott (who runs the store) and he said they'll send back your shoes to Loake for resoling for $125 (repairs + shipping) which i thought was a good price, considering Rekaris charge $120 for resoling as well (may as well send it back to the makers for $5 more).

Speaking of Rekaris, the guy there claims he sends if off to someone who does the repairs for RM Williams (at home?)...however i thought RMs get sent back to the SA factory for repairs?

Originally Posted by yoshii

Click to expand...

Just a heads up to those in Melbourne looking to resole/repair their Loakes. I dropped by Beggar Man Thief the other day and had a chat to Scott (who runs the store) and he said they'll send back your shoes to Loake for resoling for $125 (repairs + shipping) which i thought was a good price, considering Rekaris charge $120 for resoling as well (may as well send it back to the makers for $5 more).

Speaking of Rekaris, the guy there claims he sends if off to someone who does the repairs for RM Williams (at home?)...however i thought RMs get sent back to the SA factory for repairs?

AUD120 is very expensive for a resole. In the uSA this gets you a full recrafting at AE etc. In Australia a resole should be AUD75 tops.

Yeah, but everything costs too much over here.

Strange question:

What would be a good store (physical or online) to buy some reasonably lightweight flannel(lette) fabric (general tartan sort of pattern)?

I have some wool pants to break out in winter that unfortunately itch like crazy so I want to get my tailor to line them with the fabric, and I want the insides the have a bit of warmth/colour hence the flannel.

Thanks

Originally Posted by lachyzee

Click to expand...

Strange question: What would be a good store (physical or online) to buy some reasonably lightweight flannel(lette) fabric (general tartan sort of pattern)? I have some wool pants to break out in winter that unfortunately itch like crazy so I want to get my tailor to line them with the fabric, and I want the insides the have a bit of warmth/colour hence the flannel. Thanks
Flannellette is easy to get but I'd think it will be way too heavy and hot to wear. And I'd think you'd get a very funny look from the tailor when you asked to have it made as lining. I like shiney lining because it makes pants all slidey and not grabbing. btw - good fine wool usually doesn't itch on most people.

Originally Posted by elvish

Click to expand...

On another note, ANS Fashions is coming to Brisbane soon and I am going to be getting a few things, hopefully at a discount if anyone is interested?

Originally Posted by Journeyman

Click to expand...

I mentioned quite a while ago - perhaps even earlier in this thread - that I had a pair of trousers made by ANS Fashions a few years ago.

They are both good and bad.
I was able to get a nice, checked fabric of the sort that you would never, ever see in stores here, I was able to ask for the features that I wanted, and get the measurements that I wanted. In all those respects, the trousers were spot-on.

In terms of construction, however, they are poorly made. Thankfully, however, that's all internal and hidden from sight. Uneven stitching, cheap lining, and a lack of the usual features that we tend to desire in high-end trousers. However, as I've said, that's all hidden from sight and the exterior looks very nice and I quite often have people tell me that they like the trousers, although I'm sure that is more due to the checked fabric than to the actual trousers themselves.

Originally Posted by elvish

Click to expand...

@Journeyman thanks for the heads up, I am still learning how to spot craftsmanship soI take your comments on board and will only order what I cannot find here... a couple of club collar shirts.

Personally speaking, I don't know if I'd choose something a bit offbeat like a club collar shirt as my first commission with a travelling tailor, but it would be an interesting project. I would say go for it if the tailor appears to know what a club collar actually is, but if you have to explain it, I'd reconsider placing an order.

American brands such as Brooks Brothers, J.Press and RL Polo quite often have club collar shirts amongst their offerings - check out their online stores (at least in regard to BB and J.Press, as they ship to Australia) and eBay, too. It's sometimes also known as a "round collar" or "Eton collar".

Here's an example from the BB website:
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatP...lor=Pale-Grey#

And a version from 2010:
http://thetrad.blogspot.com/2010/03/...ub-collar.html

And finally, here's a slim-fit one by RL Polo with a contrast collar, but I don't believe that Australians can order from the US RL Polo website (although perhaps you could use a shipping proxy company):
http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/i...ductId=4373805

Originally Posted by fxh

Click to expand...

Flannellette is easy to get but I'd think it will be way too heavy and hot to wear. And I'd think you'd get a very funny look from the tailor when you asked to have it made as lining. I like shiney lining because it makes pants all slidey and not grabbing.

btw - good fine wool usually doesn't itch on most people.

Nevertheless it does itch unfortunately - must not be the best quality. They're just casual pants.

Flannel lined pants can definitely be done and is being done at the moment:

http://www.rugby.com/shop/item.aspx?...d=3138682&cp=0

http://toddland.bigcartel.com/produc...-universe-gray

So as I said, any suggestions?

Originally Posted by Journeyman

Click to expand...

Personally speaking, I don't know if I'd choose something a bit offbeat like a club collar shirt as my first commission with a travelling tailor, but it would be an interesting project. I would say go for it if the tailor appears to know what a club collar actually is, but if you have to explain it, I'd reconsider placing an order.

elvish - are you in Melb?

I was in a small place in Clarendon St South Melb the other day - having a sneak peep at the shoe store that sells a range of Loakes - forget the name - - I think the shirt place was called Cuffs and Collars - and they had a few club collared shirts - I didn't pay a lot of attention but they seemed to be only in what I would call casual shirt colours of dark grey etc and the collars seemed a bit of that fashiony narrow - they were "on sale" @ $40 or so.. They were Brooksfield - so possibly if you looked for Brooksfield in Myers you'd find some. I can't imagine club collars working in anything other than white in my mind.

ah there it is down below: Beggar Man Thief

Originally Posted by lachyzee

Click to expand...

Nevertheless it does itch unfortunately - must not be the best quality. They're just casual pants.

Flannel lined pants can definitely be done and is being done at the moment:

http://www.rugby.com/shop/item.aspx?...d=3138682&cp=0

http://toddland.bigcartel.com/produc...-universe-gray

So as I said, any suggestions?

I wasn't suggesting yours don't itch. and it certainly can be done.

I don't go looking for flannelette - you can get flannelette sheets but that possible not the strong tartan look you are after.

I'd start at Spotlight stores and ask them where you might get it. If you are in Melb you could try the run down looking warehouse full of material near American Tailors. Its worth going in just for the experience - don't go in alone though.

Originally Posted by fxh

Click to expand...

I'd start at Spotlight stores and ask them where you might get it. If you are in Melb you could try the run down looking warehouse full of material near American Tailors. Its worth going in just for the experience - don't go in alone though.

What's the go with that place anyway? I would be scared to enter.

Oh, before I forget for the Melbourne boys.

Originally Posted by meister

Click to expand...

AUD120 is very expensive for a resole. In the uSA this gets you a full recrafting at AE etc. In Australia a resole should be AUD75 tops.

Uggghhhh $120. That's like half of the price of a Loake 1880 and Almost same price as shoes I bought. Now why would I bother resoling when I can buy new ones for just a bit more than that price. Say instead of resoling every 2 years for 10 years when I can buy 5 pairs of different styles and rotate among them for the next 10 years.