anyone remember shopping at Structure in the 90s?

[crazyquik]

Originally Posted by jgold47

That said, if they can lean out the balance sheet, get some free cash to really 'tune up the model' as we say, I think they can bounce back.

Well, as many mall properties as have entered bankruptcy, maybe they get get some cheaper leases.

 

[Douglas]

So far as I know, it was always Express. They were always next to Express stores and you could pass between the two stores. Now they're Express men.

I still have, and even wear, some of their stuff. I had two white linen shirts that I wore all the time... they were baggy and oversized as hell, but it wasn't til I hit SF that I really became too embarrassed to wear them and retired them... but they're still getting use as sleep shirts for my gf. I had some linen pants from there that I think I have somewhere in a pile of stuff to give away because they don't fit anymore. And I do have a belt I still wear from there.

 

[crazyquik]

Structure seems to be a strong source of belts.

 

[jgold47]

Originally Posted by crazyquik

Well, as many mall properties as have entered bankruptcy, maybe they get get some cheaper leases.

I would have to imagine that they would use the bankruptcy process to renegotiate or discharge any unfavorable leases

 

[Tck13]

Originally Posted by CunningSmeagol

Auntie Anne's + Structure = Win

+1

 

[edmorel]

In the 90's I was too cool/big time for Structure. By '91, already had my first big time job, mail room clerk on Wall Street. Perry Ellis suits, Giorgio Brutini shoes, random italian maker ties from Century 21 (from the $9.97 rack), custom shirts from Mohan's in NY ($40-50 a pop, made somewhere in India). I was so money.

 

[Lone Wolf]

I have a fond memory of a former GF buying me a bunch of pull over sweaters, turtleneck shirts, and a zip up sweater at Structure one afternoon. Think I also still have at least one button down shirt that I picked up on my own. Given that I live where it's fairly warm year round, I don't have as much opportunity to wear the former anymore, but they seem like well-made garments.

 

[robbie]

It was similar to two man ********** iirc.

 

[why]

I think I had a few shirts or shorts from there, but in high school that stuff was considered 'too expensive' so I just kept wearing my rags.

 

[rnoldh]

Originally Posted by edmorel

In the 90's I was too cool/big time for Structure. By '91, already had my first big time job, mail room clerk on Wall Street. Perry Ellis suits, Giorgio Brutini shoes, random italian maker ties from Century 21 (from the $9.97 rack), custom shirts from Mohan's in NY ($40-50 a pop, made somewhere in India). I was so money.

How have you done with your Giorgio Brutini glue jobs? I hope you bought some of their reptile skin stuff. They specialized in "affordable" exotics as I recall

I've posted pictures of my pre-SF Kenneth Coles and other glue jobs like Aldos ( which have all fallen apart ). I hope you've had better luck with your GBs.

As to Structure stuff, I still have a few tops left. I guess they will last for a long time since I don't wear them anymore. They were OK for what they were. If I can find then, I'll give them away.

 

[unexpected]

I was too young when structure changed to Express Men, but have always wondered something that was touched on earlier...

What was structure's "target audience"? What were they trying to be? Why did they change to Express Men?

To my uneducated 14-year-old eye, it seemed that Structure and Express Men were the same thing....

 

[jgold47]

Originally Posted by unexpected

I was too young when structure changed to Express Men, but have always wondered something that was touched on earlier...

What was structure's "target audience"? What were they trying to be? Why did they change to Express Men?

To my uneducated 14-year-old eye, it seemed that Structure and Express Men were the same thing....

It was more of an evolution. Structure had jeans and buttondowns in the mid 90's, but they also had 'work wear' black pants, ties, etc... , as the trend changed to more 'clubby/business casual', they started making it more and more the mix. this was starting to sync up more with what express was selling for women, so I guess to keep the brand image the same, they decided to make the change. Plus it cut down on staffing, real estate costs, advertising costs, so it wound up being a good deal for them.

 

[flashback]

^while they were going through the transition, I think they realized that their real brand equity was in Express and the associations that it carried with it, as opposed to the Structure brand which had picked-up some negative (or just old, in-line with their 90's era style) associations. They also maybe aimed to target women shopping for men as opposed to men shopping for men, and women would be more likely to patronize a store that they already knew and shopped at themselves. This is just my speculation though.

 

[musicguy]

Yeah I had a structure credit card years ago. I remember I bought a bright orange down vest from them and wore it on new years 2000. Insane...

 

[inq89]

I vaguley remember Structure, but my brother still has a few things from them. I have a pair of cargo shorts and a leather belt from Express Men right after they made the brand switch (this was in early high school for me, before I knew better about cargo shorts...) I also remember when all the teen stores like Hollister, AF, AE, Old Navy, etc. were actually cool places to shop at.