Band of Outsiders Rumor.. (don't worry, they're still alive)

[thekunk07]

who's copying BOO? pray tell.

 

[Get Smart]

maybe hickey sales will skyrocket if BoO folds....and I'm surprised JCrew hasnt made a trimmer line (their tailored fit isnt so slim) for all their shirts and trews since that's been the obvious trend in past couple years

 

[thekunk07]

^pretty much my point. i'd buy j crew before that overpriced crap from boo. evenm with tapering/tailoring, it's waaay cheaper

 

[whodini]

Originally Posted by Hummingbird

No, my point is that you'll only get rarified snobs with money as your core customer. You will make a killing on individual pieces, but if the economy and market doesn't contain as many rarified snobs, then you're in for a world of hurt. By lowering the prices by say, $50-$75.00/piece you'll pull in many more tightwads and do a greater volume of business.
I'm curious to see what you think the markup BoO puts on a shirt at wholesale and what the vendor puts as their markup. Feel free to also let us know how much you think it costs Band to make a shirt at their cost, an average as their fabrics run the gamut.

 

[KaiserSose]

Originally Posted by whodini

I'm curious to see what you think the markup BoO puts on a shirt at wholesale and what the vendor puts as their markup. Feel free to also let us know how much you think it costs Band to make a shirt at their cost, an average as their fabrics run the gamut.

I know you were trying to call him out, but as someone who knows nothing about this, I'm actually kind of curious.

I'm also curious how these shirts are made. Are the fabrics really on par with similarly priced dress shirt brands such as borelli, truzzi, charvet..?

I always assumed at $250-$300 a pop the margins must be pretty high, but after reading this thread maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by thekunk07

^pretty much my point. i'd buy j crew before that overpriced crap from boo. evenm with tapering/tailoring, it's waaay cheaper

Jcrew has made shirts with MoP buttons for around $120, they make oxfords as a staple that sell for $80 retail, all they'd have to do is adjust the pattern just a smidgen and they'd have a BoO shirt they could probably retail for $90-100 that could fly off the shelf, at least it'd be worth a shot at trying for a season. What BoO does isnt rocket science, it's not like they have a copyright on fit and their fit isnt that unique as it can be found in many shirts of varying price levels

 

[Brian SD]

Originally Posted by thekunk07

^pretty much my point. i'd buy j crew before that overpriced crap from boo. evenm with tapering/tailoring, it's waaay cheaper

No amount of tapering/tailoring on a J. Crew shirt will match the fit and finish of BoO.

It would be difficult to make a list of the brands biting off BOO's style and success. I'd probably start with N. Hoolywood as one of the most obvious offenders.

 

[thekunk07]

oh c'mon. i mean real brands. i'm not being a dick on purpose, i just never got the appeal of this brand.

 

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by Brian SD

No amount of tapering/tailoring on a J. Crew shirt will match the fit and finish of BoO.
really? while I like BoO shirts, I dont think what they're making is so unique that a company like the Crew couldnt replicate it to where it's 95% the same. esp as JCrew's CEO made that statement recently of how the luxury market is changing and they feel their product is competitive with designer brands and it sounded like they are trying to court that consumer segment, so it's not a stretch to make a "niche" shirt that wont fit everyone, but who it does fit they will buy every single color option

 

[Eason]

This takes me back to the thread about which brands had "staying power" and which didn't. Caaaaalled it! Guess the Japanese market doesn't buy as much as was thought?

 

[Dashaansafin]

Originally Posted by Brian SD

No amount of tapering/tailoring on a J. Crew shirt will match the fit and finish of BoO.

It would be difficult to make a list of the brands biting off BOO's style and success. I'd probably start with N. Hoolywood as one of the most obvious offenders.

I dont know...it seems all BOO has going for them is the fit of the shirt, not styles or quality. Is it that hard to replicate a fit of a shirt? Cant you just get a tailored bespoke shirt for cheaper than the ridiculous retail of 300?

 

[jskidder]

Originally Posted by thekunk07

Has anyone pondered the fact that perhaps BOO is in trouble because the clothes suck and are unimaginative?

you would feel much differently about BoO if you were my size, i can assure you. they are the only shirts that fit me or really even come close besides dior (though its sometimes a ***** finding a 37p). same for the blazers. and for the record, i am a xs in BoO shirts and a 0/34 in the blazers.

 

[Eason]

You can buy skinny/cropped button-downs anywhere in asia (or online asian shopping malls) for under $30.

 

[whacked]

Originally Posted by Brian SD

No amount of tapering/tailoring on a J. Crew shirt will match the fit and finish of BoO.

Wrong.

Originally Posted by Eason

You can buy skinny/cropped button-downs anywhere in asia (or online asian shopping malls) for under $30.

+1. And for that matter, there're no shortage of inexpensive sleek leather shoes, another hot commodity among SF/sufu crowds, either.

 

[crosswound]

i used to buy regular oxfords or supposed slim fit ones. they be either too long even when i'd tuck them in i look like a idiot.

not to mention there be a lot of bunching all over the place. just didn't ever look right. my solution simple never wear a oxford. then i came across band of outsiders i have many of their oxfords and i wear oxfords every week now.

if it doesn't look right on you simple move on and forget it. find something else that does stop trying to find reasons to hate it. theres plenty of other oxfords for you to find a intended fit for.

its like how people complain they are too short. i think its made this way because shorter guys have a hard time finding a oxford that fits nice. while taller guys have wide selection. then the taller guys come and complain saying they want taller ones. i'm lost at this point.