Borrelli Boston = Closed

[ThinkDerm]

Originally Posted by NAVY71

That just about covers everything that needs to be said about Boston and its failed aspiration to become a world class city , when in the end its destined to remain just a place that offers great medical care ( MGH - Beth Isreal Deaconess- Children's H ) , higher learning establishments ( Harvard , MIT ..)....and yes , damn fine clam chowdah

thanks for your insight

it is a shame, because Boston could be so much better

 

[comrade]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

Hmmm. Here are my thoughts.

1. Louis. Many Americans on this forum can trace what they like and they way that they dress to the period when Louis was quite influential. Murry Pearlstein was one of the instrumental retailers who helped to establish the RTW Neopolitan brands like Borrelli and Kiton in the United States, and also various RTW shoe brands like Lattanzi and Vass.

His daughter, who has been running the shop for about ten years, has certainly applied her lack of command of mens tailored clothing to the decline of the store. So, in a niche area...high end imported tailored RTW...Louis was about as influential at one time as a boutique operation can be. No more, however. The store's swan song was an attempt in 2000 to sell Oxxford like a true bespoke garment...and that was a complete failure which took the wind out of the sails of the shop permanently.

2. Brahmins. The type of retailing that we are talking about has nothing to do with "Brahmins." Most of the old money types around here dress indistinguishably from middle class Americans, and even when assembled in relatively large numbers together at charity events or the BSO season opener still do not form a populous enough cohort to have caused the either the rise nor the fall of Newbury Street retailing. Older and conservative males among them just continue to do what they've always done and get their RTW or MTM from BB, Press, Andover shop. The ones who care about clothes will be in NYC tailors or Savile Row. At any rate, there really aren't many.

3. Provincialism. Boston's recent and dissippating flirtation during the 80s and 90s with poking its head a bit above being entirely provincial was simply due to the influx of new money and the new people it brought. At the top end, the massive expansion of the mutual fund industry, and the success of various old line firms (and industries that served them like law and insurance) produced a greatly increased clientele of "executives" for retail stores. At the youth end, there was a large increase in the already massive collegiate population in the city bouyed by aggressive marketing by some universities to attract wealthy foreign students...and overall, the students everywhere had more spending cash than before.

During the last decade, however, a large percentage of formerly independent old line Boston corporations have been swallowed up by larger national and global operations, depopulating the layer of people who run companies who actually live in the city. The mutual fund industry has become a more marginal business. And the technology, biomedicine and new industry companies that are doing well are not known for their management dressed in tailored clothes. The recent financial downtown just has accellerated what was already happening for a long time.

How's that?


- B

Trenchant analysis. This is worthy of Tocqueville or Max Weber.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by dopey

What clothing retailers do you think Boston needs to become a world-class city?

LabelKing could just move here.

I think that would do it.


- B

 

[comrade]

LabelKing could just move here.

I think that would do it.

Label: A pet form of the Yiddish name Leib, meaning "lion."

Funny, he doesn't look Jewish.

 

[Bartolo]

Originally Posted by ThinkDerm

it is a shame, because Boston could be so much better

If you had a choice between the Farber closing up and leaving Boston, and Borrelli, which would you ship out of town?

Boston could be so much worse, too.

 

[Christofuh]

Azn (HK/Taiwan/Japan) and Gulf Arabs made up the bulk of high-dollar spenders as far as foreign students used to go.
Most of them were your typical Versace/Gucci/Armani-type customer. I should know as I'd run into them whenever I'd take my vehicle for service.
Then came the meltdown in Asia, followed by 9-11. Azn kids took off one way, while Arabs simply refused to deal with all of life's hassles in the new Dickcheneyland

Anybody recall AutoExchange on Brighton Ave. in Allston ? They folded shortly after that exodus.

 

[stant62]

Originally Posted by NAVY71

higher learning establishments ( Harvard , MIT ..)....and yes , damn fine clam chowdah

thanks for your insight

Let's not forget about Boston University

 

[jamesbond]

Originally Posted by Bartolo

If you had a choice between the Farber closing up and leaving Boston, and Borrelli, which would you ship out of town?

Boston could be so much worse, too.

Huh? What does that have to do with anything. Try the political forum.

 

[Bartolo]

Originally Posted by Christofuh

For an old school retail experience go see Dana in Newton or Gary in Cambridge.
Not only do these guys know their product inside out - which I mean literally - but they're also anxious to make their shop your final stop.
In that sense, Dana is a complete riot. The guy would actually empty half of his shelves until you find whatever it is you came to him for

On top of that, he would offer you a break on a multi-piece purchase.

Can you elaborate on who you're referring to (which shops)? Thanks.

 

[NAVY71]

Originally Posted by dopey

What clothing retailers do you think Boston needs to become a world-class city?
Its much more complicated than having a bunch no names around , if a city has to become true world class .
First of all , a city must be attractive both Nationally and Internationally . To give you an example : there's a very small shop in Antwerp , coincidentally named " Louis " , I would not hesitate to make the trek for , as they feature exclusive Belgian designers often not found anywhere else . That small Flemish city offers a fabulous Demeulemeester boutique ( entire collection featured ) , Dries Van Noten boutique ( entire collection ) .....plus a great number of attractive places ( hotels , Art Galleries , Museum , restaurants , architecture ) to make it an actual destination .

I am not really sure what could change the current status in Boston ...Many have tried with disastrous results .....

 

[Christofuh]

Originally Posted by Bartolo

Can you elaborate on who you're referring to (which shops)? Thanks.


Dana and Gary

 

[Metlin]

I'm an ethnic Brahmin living in Boston. I wonder what that makes me...

Originally Posted by mack11211

What is this 'ivy' you speak of? Can you weave it into fabric, like hemp or bamboo?
Isn't there a hemp store somewhere around Cambridge? Or maybe it was on Newbury street. Anyway, for "true" Ivy art, there's always that anti-capitalist dude who sells his t-shirts around the Harvard Square T. And the $3 canvas shoe store around there somewhere. Wear those two and you're all set.

 

[ThinkDerm]

http://cgi.ebay.com/BORRELLI-NAPOLI-...d=p3286.c0.m14 borrelli lives on in cashmere ties on the interwebs. proceed.

 

[Bartolo]

Originally Posted by Christofuh

Dana and Gary

I was driving back to my office this morning and caught Drinkwater's out of the corner of my eye. Gary was with a customer, but nevertheless took the time to chat me up and show me what they do. What a great guy; I'll surely give him some business. These days it's quite rare, at least for me, to go into a mens shop and actually deal with the owner.

 

[unpainted huffheinz]

Originally Posted by NAVY71

I am not really sure what could change the current status in Boston ...Many have tried with disastrous results .....

Boston might well become a refuge for artists fleeing the hipster hell of New York.

I sent you a Private Message.