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Random Fashion Thoughts (Part 3: Style farmer strikes back) - our general discussion thread

LA Guy

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random fashion thought / grievance :

I’m starting to dislike any kind of “limited” shoes because you can’t easily replace them after they wear out.

I want to be able to go to a store and easily pick up another identical pair when the old pair gets cooked, if it’s something I love and have come to rely on.

this is currently more in theory than in practice as I just kicked off my Bode Nikes, and probably half of my shoe rotation is still some kind of limited release. but i’m finding it more annoying lately!

even limited in the sense of “available for a season as part of a collection, but not permanently after that” im not crazy about.
Just get extras? I always have a few pairs of Ann D sneakers, for example. I'm guessing you are talking sneakers?
 

double00

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i have a pair of busted chucks that are * special occasion beaters * if that makes sense . the gentle senescent sunset of street footwear . how now brown cow .\\\\

the answer is this : the universe is telling you to move on
 

ChetB

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Just get extras? I always have a few pairs of Ann D sneakers, for example. I'm guessing you are talking sneakers?

yeah. on the extreme side, I had 6 pairs of Engineered Garments x Vans white slips on at one point, years ago. Wore out 5 of them before eventually getting tired of Vans altogether.

which, i guess goes to show you probably get tired of anything eventually anyway. but still, I want to know that I COULD get an endless supply if i wanted.

not just sneakers. I have some 18 East x Padmore Barnes that are some of my favorite shoes but are on their last legs. or some ACG or Merrell 1TRLs that aren’t sneakers but aren’t recraftable boots either. can’t replace them — so will enjoy them while they last then find something else.
 

gettoasty

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i remember seeing some storefronts on IG that can resole sneakers. might not be 1-to-1 but it'll give your broken in pair another life & miles again.
 

symphvaria

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So ... despite living in the area the past 10+ years, I made my way over to Self Edge in Austin for the first time this past week. I was looking forward to seeing the various Iron Heart jean and jacket options and compare some FCL jackets after my experience owning a few of them years ago.

I gotta say, I am not feeling that store at all. Is there a lot of stuff? Sure, one of everything is out on display, but taking a step back it's basically raw denim (duh), flannel shirts, t-shirts and jackets. I looked through every piece and it took maybe 5-8 minutes total in and out. The workers there seemed a bit dismissive of me and, yeah, they asked if I needed help with anything (from a seated distance, not even bothering to get up to greet me) a few times while I walked around and browsed. But I didn't feel comfortable, nor "believable" as a customer. I felt judged.

Store-wise, the shop feels empty and souless. It's small-ish. Square. White walls and hanging racks. Whoop-dee-do. Feels temporary or unfinished.

Clothes-wise, I didn't buy anything because I didn't want to even be there after a few minutes and frankly, the clothes became redundant. It's like, "ooh, they have a flannel check shirt in orange, or blue, or black, or white..." and "oooh, another by-all-appearances pair of raw denim in a slightly darker hue and slub." I get it, it's an aesthetic, this whole work-wear cosplay thing, but unless you're specifically seeking that out there's not many options there.

I don't see myself ever stepping foot in that place again. And this is coming from a guy who likes Stag Provisions and spent $1k there the same day.
In my experience, Self Edge is just a hawker of Japanese workwear and repro marked up 2-3x from JPY MSRP. It’s a wonder anyone shops there at all really.
 

double00

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In my experience, Self Edge is just a hawker of Japanese workwear and repro marked up 2-3x from JPY MSRP. It’s a wonder anyone shops there at all really.

what stupid slanderous drivel . you really ought to be ashamed . whose cock are you even sucking here ?
 

symphvaria

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what stupid slanderous drivel . you really ought to be ashamed . whose cock are you even sucking here ?
It's what I'm seeing from comparing the prices listed on their website against the MSRPs from the brands themselves in Japan. For example, here are a pair of WW2 repro chinos I bought while in Japan last week.
They want $230 for these. I paid $110 for them and I didn't even get a tax refund from the store.

You seem a tad upset about some simple comparison shopping. Really makes you wonder why someone would bat for a business that makes a living serving exclusively as a middleman.
 
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double00

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It's what I'm seeing from comparing the prices listed on their website against the MSRPs from the brands themselves in Japan. For example, here are a pair of WW2 repro chinos I bought while in Japan last week.
They want $230 for these. I paid $110 for them and I didn't even get a tax refund from the store.

You seem a tad upset about some simple comparison shopping. Really makes you wonder why someone would bat for a business that makes a living serving exclusively as a middleman.

no I don't take my phone shopping .

yes , japan was on sale last year and cannibalized domestic retailers . I myself bought two bass guitars with jdm serials from an American wholesaler last year . that doesn't mean that I slag American retailers , in a post-pandemic environment no less . bravo you .

and ZOMG YES : retail is middleman . self edge sold ROY back when . you'd think there'd be a bit of grace from relentless lowest common denominator opportunism , meanwhile this guy's got his phone out in the shop . truly shameful ngl .
 

symphvaria

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no I don't take my phone shopping .
I’m glad you’re content with living in 2005, but where I’m standing, I’m just going to retail shops in Japan and marveling at the difference between their MSRP (before tax refunds and department store discounts, mind you!) and the markups that Westerners are suckered into paying by upper middle class retail stores that, according to you, are supposedly still struggling from a pandemic that literally happened half a decade ago. At that point, I think the problem is with their business model, not because of woe-is-me circumstances outside of their control.

If you want to cough up double or sometimes even triple the Japanese MSRP to pay the rent of failing American retail stores, no one is stopping you; much like no one is stopping me from pointing out the vanity in doing so when the same product is available for far more reasonable prices. And I’m not even the one who brought them up in the first place; the guy who did was complaining about unenthusiastic salesmen and lazy, barebones interior decor. You gonna get down on your knees and lick that boot too, or is it only verboten to criticize their markups and their markups alone?
 

ppk

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I think both of you are making good points.

I was a bit surprised by the original poster's experience. My experience was completely different albeit at the San Francisco store.

I was interested in Japanese Repro and wanted to learn more. The SA took me through the different styles and cuts, explained raw denim, talked me through nep and slub and the various brands. Picked out a variety of pants and had me try them on to help me decide which silhouettes I liked etc. He easily spent over an hour with me in a pretty busy store (he was simultaneously helping a few others). I ended up buying a PBJ denim and Samurai chinos. Both of which are part of my regular rotation.

His attitude was very earnest and clearly enjoyed explaining and teaching, and not condescending.

Oh and they hemmed them for me after measuring. I learned what chainstitching was.

Personally, that was worth the markup. I could not have learned all that without going to Japan and maybe not even then.

Every time I've been in there, they are always super helpful.

Also, they do have to pay rent, salaries & benefits, carry inventory, insurance, etc.

Yes, they are more expensive than buying directly from Japan. My view is that if they provide a level of service that I experienced, it is worth it. If not, well, it'll be a struggle for them.
 
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DorianGreen

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I think both of you are making good points.

I was a bit surprised by the original poster's experience. My experience was completely different albeit at the San Francisco store.

I was interested in Japanese Repro and wanted to learn more. The SA took me through the different styles and cuts, explained raw denim, talked me through nep and slub and the various brands. Picked out a variety of pants and had me try them on to help me decide which silhouettes I liked etc. He easily spent over an hour with me in a pretty busy store (he was simultaneously helping a few others). I ended up buying a PBJ denim and Samurai chinos. Both of which are part of my regular rotation.

His attitude was very earnest and clearly enjoyed explaining and teaching, and not condescending.

Oh and they hemmed them for me after measuring. I learned what chainstitching was.

Personally, that was worth the markup. I could not have learned all that without going to Japan and maybe not even then.

Every time I've been in there, they are always super helpful.

Also, they do they have to pay rent, salaries & benefits, carry inventory, insurance, etc.

Yes, they are more expensive than buying directly from Japan. My view is that if they provide a level of service that I experienced, it is worth it. If not, well, it'll be a struggle for them.

It sounds like a very pleasant purchasing experience, I wish more salesmen would be so dedicated and helpful. It really makes a difference.
 

RedVelvetWounds

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In my experience, Self Edge is just a hawker of Japanese workwear and repro marked up 2-3x from JPY MSRP. It’s a wonder anyone shops there at all really.

Even things like Rick Owens are marked up like crazy by SE. I remember multiple pairs of shorts being sold that could easily be found for half the price in Europe. Even now they have multiple of those shorts up albeit heavily discounted. With that said SE also has exclusive Rick denim that only they sell, and those are more geared towards that Japanese workwear aesthetic that SE is known for. I think SE fills a very particular niche in that aspect and they're a cool store for a very particular customer. How many of those specific customers are out there? No ******* idea.

Side note but the way they present their products on the website is incredible. You don't get that level of detail anywhere else, especially not for Rick Owens.
 

Rookoobay

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don't care much about this particular niche independent business either way but it doesn't seem very cool to me to slag them just because you can find the stuff cheaper in Japan. proxying has existed for this reason (in large part) for decades now. a lot of people don't want to deal with that and would rather try clothes on in person & support a small/local business.
 

sushijerk

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This type of comparison is dumb. Japan has a whole different structure of retail, not to mention the absurdly weak yen is distorting prices for people who shop using the dollar, not to mention the shipping and import taxes retailers pay just to have the product here.

In Japan I can have a great sushi meal for $15 and a world class ramen for $7. Should I trash every Japanese restaurant around me in america for not being able to match those prices?
 

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