Opinions on John Bartlett

[porcelain monkey]

I have been seeing a lot of John Bartlett clothes in the mens mags recently - Suits, jackets, etc. A lot of it seems to be Claiborne by John Bartlett. Anyone know any information about this line. Given the price point, I assume the quality is not extraordinary, but I do like the styling. I believe Bartlett has a boutique in NYC, but where else is it sold?

 

[Get Smart]

have no idea what Bartlett is like these days. In the mid 90s he seemed a larger player than now, and I used to have a couple shirts that were really well made and fitted. I seem to remember him doing the military/safari influence back then when it wasnt so de rigeur as it is today

 

[Film Noir Buff]

Bartlett, along with Bosch, make a nice pear.

 

[Steven Aver]

Originally Posted by Film Noir Buff

Bartlett, along with Bosch, make a nice pear.

Dont forget about Anjou and Forelle, also very notable people.

 

[Film Noir Buff]

Originally Posted by Steven Aver

Dont forget about Anjou and Forelle, also very notable people.
Four of a kind beat two pears

 

[porcelain monkey]

Anyone else have any thoughts, pear jokes aside.

 

[TC11201]

Tend to see loads of them at the Barney's Warehouse sales (at least in NYC). Can't say I've paid much attention to them, other than to marvel at how many there appear to be at the end of the sale, but they seem passable, but perhaps not much more than that - perhaps on par with the similarly plentiful BNY Varvatos suits and the non-Caruso BNY label stuff. I suppose they wouldn't be a bad deal at the end of the sale pricing (when they're often around $200).

 

[polar-lemon]

I've seen the suits in various off-price stores. The fit was awkward for me, built up, narrow shoulders, but boxy through the waist. Quality isn't anything to write home about, and some fabrics are very weird. If it fit me, it would be a decent value at $200-$300 in a non-weird fabric.

 

[Shirtmaven]

I have know John for at least 10 years.
I have made fashion show samples for numerous shows.
He was quite the gay Icon before Thom Browne showed up.
the difference is John is quite normal and easy to talk with.
He is quite talented.
He has had ups and downs in business over the years.
He liscenced his name to a large suit company for a few years. they made mid priced clothing. It was not a good match.

He has a small shop in the west village. that has his more interesting designs.
He is now men's design director at Liz Claiborne.
I have not see the items yet. I can imagine that quality and fabrics are OK, nothing amazing considering it is a department store brand where cost has to be low to allow Macys to offer the usual huge discounts at sale time.
I would guess that the styles are much better then the awful things that claiborne was selling in the past few years. I will have to stop in at Macys and have a look.

Carl

 

[porcelain monkey]

Many thanks to everyone who responded, especially Carl for the personal insight. This is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Shirtmaven]

and I made no pear jokes!!!!

again, John is one of the nicest, and knowledgable designers I have worked with over the years.
we did inside out seams years before Steven Alan.
Carl