Can anyone say anything good about TIP TOP TAILORS?

[SuitMyself]

Simple enough question. What are your answers?

Just curious.

 

[SuitMyself]

No comments thus far? Surely a lot of you (e.g. Canadians) have something to say, bad or good!

I'd like to know. I'm just curious.

 

[sm332]

Originally Posted by SuitMyself

No comments thus far? Surely a lot of you (e.g. Canadians) have something to say, bad or good!

I'd like to know. I'm just curious.

None of their stuff is attractive in SF sense of the word. I also find them highly overpriced for what they offer. But then again .. that is a general prob with most Cdn retailers when we compare them to our US option.

 

[Dakota rube]

They seem quite good at alliteration.

 

[SuitMyself]

I remember, back in the late 80s and early to mid 90s, they had some pretty decent stuff. Well, at least they had more variety in their sports coats and suits offerings back in those days. They had patterned suits and sports coats with pizzazz that were still made in Canada. Nowadays, virtually all their suits are black (most are imported) and all their sports coats are either black or charcoal. Their ties, nowadays, leave everything--and more--to be desired.

I personally think the new owners, GFI Inc., messed up a great Canadian icon. TTT started off as a made-to-measure business in 1909 and ever since Dylex went bankrupt and TTT was purchased by GFI was when their clothing started going downhill. Their clothing buyers really have no fashion sense whatsoever, to say the least.

It's a great company, I think, but it's just the people behind the scenes (corporate brass and buyers) who are ******* it up.

So sad.

 

[von_fackenheim]

Originally Posted by SuitMyself

I remember, back in the late 80s and early to mid 90s, they had some pretty decent stuff. Well, at least they had more variety in their sports coats and suits offerings back in those days. They had patterned suits and sports coats with pizzazz that were still made in Canada.

My double-breasted, herringbone tweed overcoat by Wm. H. Leishman for Tip Top Tailors probably originates from this era. It was made in England and used fabric from "West of England". The quality is slightly better my Burberry topcoat, but not quite as nice as my Aquascutum.

The current selection of merchandise, however, is pretty sad.

 

[intent]

Horrible. The shirts are crap, the retail staff is ignorant, and the promoted looks are unworthy.

 

[SuitMyself]

Originally Posted by intent

Horrible. The shirts are crap, the retail staff is ignorant, and the promoted looks are unworthy.


A lot of the customers that TTT caters to are pretty fashion ignorant/fashion illiterate, as well. Besides the businessmen and other professionals who buy suits there, the majority of the men who shop there only wear suits for weddings and funerals. Most of these guys just want an affordably-priced suit to last them for the rest of their lives and they have no sense of fashion and really don't care about fashion. I think a lot of the sales staff notice this and pretty well give up with these sorts of customers and just sell them what they're asking for and not bother to sell them something that's considered fashion.

What I'm saying is that these customers are there to buy clothes, not fashion. The businessmen and professionals are after something more fashion-savvy--well, fashion-savvy in the TTT sense, anyways.

The sad thing is that, over the years, in my opinion, TTT has been in the business of strictly selling clothing and not fashion.

THAT, in my opinion, is what must change if TTT is to survive the 21st century. They have to start selling FASHION, not just CLOTHING.

 

[MyOtherLife]

Tip Top, Moore's & Internat'l Clothiers, etc, target the 'I need a suit less than 6 times a year' gents. They already have a good thing going.
Why would they need to change anything? They cater to the masses, being 98% of men.
They won't go after 'fashion' because they don't need to.
There is a much larger demand for conservative low end than conservative high end.

As for the Tip Top of long ago, they did have some good quality clothes back then.
I hated their shirts in the 1980's because they never ironed well but the jackets were satisfactory.
Today I have no idea what their QC is like.
Interestingly I think Moore's has sigifigantly upped their quality in the last 10 years.

 

[R-H]

Originally Posted by SuitMyself

THAT, in my opinion, is what must change if TTT is to survive the 21st century. They have to start selling FASHION, not just CLOTHING.

Like others have said in this thread, Tip Top doesn't offer anything of value. Every suit, literally, is black or near black. They don't stock any decent shirts either. All the shirts seem to be gaudy solids; no subtle stripes or even checks. No shoe selection.

I don't remember Tip Top ever offering a decent selection of goods. If they go out of business, it won't make a difference to the well dressed.

 

[SuitMyself]

Originally Posted by Man Of Lint

Tip Top, Moore's & Internat'l Clothiers, etc, target the 'I need a suit less than 6 times a year' gents. They already have a good thing going.
Why would they need to change anything? They cater to the masses, being 98% of men.
They won't go after 'fashion' because they don't need to.
There is a much larger demand for conservative low end than conservative high end.

As for the Tip Top of long ago, they did have some good quality clothes back then.
I hated their shirts in the 1980's because they never ironed well but the jackets were satisfactory.
Today I have no idea what their QC is like.
Interestingly I think Moore's has sigifigantly upped their quality in the last 10 years.

That's a very interesting point.

Originally Posted by R-H

Every suit, literally, is black or near black.

I blame this on their "weddings and funerals only" customers.

Originally Posted by R-H

They don't stock any decent shirts either. All the shirts seem to be gaudy solids; no subtle stripes or even checks. No shoe selection.

Yeah, you're right. I hate their solids and it appears they restock those same gaudy solid colours year after year after year after year after year. Again, TTT sells clothing, not fashion, and I think they cater to the lowest common denominator (the "weddings and funerals only" customers).

Originally Posted by R-H

I don't remember Tip Top ever offering a decent selection of goods. If they go out of business, it won't make a difference to the well dressed.

As I've said, back in the late 80s and early to mid 90s, their suits and sports jackets selections were far better than what they are today. A lot of their suits and jackets, back then, featured the same colours and patterns I'd see at Harry Rosen and other high-end retailers. Unfortunately, I think those days are long gone.

 

[UserNameToronto]

Best thing about TTT is their old factory (now lofts) at Lakeshore:

 

[EZETHATSME]

Originally Posted by Dakota rube

They seem quite good at alliteration.

 

[arirang]

Tip Top is like Moore's - they cater to the lowest common denominator. They really aren't style oriented at all.

That said, if you look hard enough you can find a decent look at Tip Top, but there is no question that you could do better elsewhere. The Bay, for instance, sells at a similar price point, but with better quality and lower prices - The Bay's sale prices blow TTT out of the water.

Last suit I bought at Tip Top was when I was a student over five years ago. It served its purpose, but I haven't seriously considered anything from there ever since.