StyleForum Standards

[hossoso]

It may just be the season but I have seen a lot of threads here recently asking questions about merchandise most of us wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole like kenneth cole, mexx, h&m, and zara. I would hesitate to say that these brands can't be bought at a good value but it seems like most of the members here are looking for value and quality, be it retail, discount or vintage. Finding the balance between value and quality is a subject many members are obviously expert in. What would you (as experts in the field) caution people to avoid? Ferragamo Studio? Brooks Brothers outlet suits? Everything Kenneth Cole? Cole-Haan post-Nike? C.T. Loakes?

 

[sho'nuff]

i actually like lot of kenneth cole apparel: pants, shirts, etc. just not their shoes.

i also have a pair of ferragamo studio 'deeper' loafers and they are great. nice, sleek, relatively comfortable, and held up very well.

 

[epa]

I have a lot of Hugo Boss stuff, including shoes, sneakeres, shirts, bathrobe, odd jackets, turtleneck sweaters, cord jeans (and a pair of Hugo Boss orange label jeans with a lot of polyester in the cloth). I am very happy with most of the stuff (not with the polyester jeans, though), but I understand that the general opinion on SF is that the quality is likely to be low.

 

[hossoso]

Originally Posted by epa

I have a lot of Hugo Boss stuff, including shoes, sneakeres, shirts, bathrobe, odd jackets, turtleneck sweaters, cord jeans (and a pair of Hugo Boss orange label jeans with a lot of polyester in the cloth). I am very happy with most of the stuff (not with the polyester jeans, though), but I understand that the general opinion on SF is that the quality is likely to be low.

I know it was months ago that we discussed it but that picture of your dog is priceless!!!

As for the OP, I am just trying to cut down on redundant posts about brand quality.

I only got half of the additional dog pictures you tried to send me. You're keeping them in Madrid, right?

 

[California Dreamer]

I have an Arnold Brant suit (Loro Piana fabric) that is pretty ordinary - fused construction etc. I expect to keep wearing it for a long time, because the fabric is nice and attracts a lot of compliments. It is also really versatile in the colours of shirts and ties you can wear with it, which is a bit unusual for a pinstripe.

 

[grimslade]

Some Zara, H&M stuff is great for what it is. What bothers me (and others, I suspect), is not whether something is "up to standard." It's whether people are getting bad value by paying too much for a fused Hugo Boss suit (for example). I have a Jones New York suit in my closet. I wear it, too. I also have rubber-soled Sandro Moscoloni ankle boots. Sierra was selling them for $29, and I bought 3 pairs, and wear them when the weather is bad. They're actually quite an interesting soft, supple leather. But they are what they are. And at least I didn't overpay.

 

[mack11211]

Originally Posted by hossoso

It may just be the season but I have seen a lot of threads here recently asking questions about merchandise most of us wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole like kenneth cole, mexx, h&m, and zara. I would hesitate to say that these brands can't be bought at a good value but it seems like most of the members here are looking for value and quality, be it retail, discount or vintage. Finding the balance between value and quality is a subject many members are obviously expert in. What would you (as experts in the field) caution people to avoid? Ferragamo Studio? Brooks Brothers outlet suits? Everything Kenneth Cole? Cole-Haan post-Nike? C.T. Loakes?

I think you are missing the point. Yes, certain labels get more SF love than others, but the main goal of this forum, as I see it, is not simply to educate about labels but to educate about value, style and fit. Some low end brands are a good value if they are what you want and you don't pay too much. Re: style, some brands are the equivalent of the twice-a-day-correct-time-telling stopped clock. So why right them off entirely? Lastly, even the nastiest outlet brand suit can look great if it just fits properly.

 

[Bradford]

Originally Posted by hossoso

It may just be the season but I have seen a lot of threads here recently asking questions about merchandise most of us wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole like kenneth cole, mexx, h&m, and zara.

I think it's just because we seem to have a whole bunch of new posters on here. That's fine with me though, new blood is always good, although initially they may start by asking about things that have already been discussed. I'm sure that soon we will brainwash them into acceptable styles

 

[DocHolliday]

Grimslade and Mac beat me to it. Personally, I think it's possible to look a little too perfect -- if I see a guy wearing nothing but obviously expensive clothing, and it all looks new, I tend to think he's trying too hard. I like clothes that have a bit of personality, and sometimes H&M, for example, will have just the thing.

It's nice, too, when an H&M item turns out to be a real workhorse.

 

[trogdor]

Style Forum rule #238: If the price is right, anything can be justified ... except p*lyester.

 

[AlanC]

Hey, since when did we get standards around here?

 

[Nantucket Red]

Originally Posted by AlanC

Hey, since when did we get standards around here?

It looks strangely unlike the thrift shop. I'm disoriented!

 

[JBZ]

To echo the above, I think it's more an issue of not overpaying (or at least not overpaying to a ridiculous extent) for inferior merchandise. For example, being the quasi-trad that I am, I love L.L. Bean and do a lot of shopping there. Some might not like the styling, but I think most (other than some of the hardcore trads over on AA) would agree that, for the price, the Bean quality is pretty good. The same can be said for Lands' End or, for the streetwear folks, H&M. Thus, paying full price retail for merchandise from these brands represents a good investment in that you're getting reasonable value for what you're paying.

On the other hand, a good counter-example is the Hugo Boss suit. By just about everyone's account, suits by HB are ridiculously overpriced given the quality.

Finally, I think people here just hate Kenneth Cole shoes because they're ugly (and, from my one experience, very uncomfortable).

 

[acidboy]

I have read opinions in this forum that are unfavorable to H&M, Zara, Polo Ralph Lauren, Santoni non-FAMs, Ferragamo, Zegna, Lacoste polos, BB golden fleece polos, Gucci.... and I respect their opinions, but that doesn't necessarily mean I agree with them. In the end, what dictates my style are my personal preferences.

 

[adamm411]

What irks me the most about discussions of quality on this board hinges on the fact that the vast majority of clothes, regardless of brand, are rolling off the exact same "assembly lines" in third world sweatshops. To me, cotton is cotton and stitching is stitching.

Also, keep in mind that more expensive does not necessarily more durable. For example, higher quality/more expensive (i.e., higher wool count) suits are going to wear out faster. The material is softer to the touch, but significantly less durable.

Second example: mechanical watches. A lot of the components in high end mechanical watches are being purchased from other companies. Those components may be shared by watches costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars less.

The trend everywhere in manufacturing is towards cost cutting, outsourcing, lowering of quality. This is why discussions of quality and durability as being the sole province of high end brands is dubious. Now, if one can prove that one or a handful of craftsmen are responsible for producing a garment beginning to end, that's something else, but in the end, the last place a garment was worked on is where the manufacturer can claim country of production, even if 99% of the work was done elsewhere.

Adamm