Should I or shouldn't I buy... (clothing item)?

It doesn't even seem like there's a substantial difference between mainline and diffusion items though. Why would I ever buy mainline? Pretty happy about this--maybe I can actually afford Thom Browne finally..

While at Barney's today they had both a mainline, and diffusion shirt, the only noticeable difference was the striping in the button placket.

The sweatpants fit strangely loose at the waist, I had to buy the smallest size they had TB1, and I could have fit into TB0 if they had it most likely, and I'm a 32 waist.

Originally Posted by sq4you

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you know, i used to think this too, but i have a feeling there is very little considered "mainline" anymore. A bunch of the runway pieces are part of the "diffusion" line. I.E. the tags just say

Thom Browne.
New York.

I have a feeling he simply decided to reduce the price of almost his entire line.
All the 400-500 dollar shirts are now hard to find. Even colette only have 5 or so shirts at that price range and barneys even fewer on their website. Im going up to ny tomorrow so ill be able to see how much of the 'mainline' even exists at the barneys on madison and/or the thom browne store.

a buddy of mine from barneys co-op told me that its not even technically a "diffusion" line in the normal sense. the intention of the lower priced TB stuff is that it is supposed to be worn more often (i.e. on a daily basis) whereas the "mainline" stuff is for more special occasions.

This doesn't make sense to me, you'd think the more logical alternative to this mess would be to simply reduce the price of the mainline and keep the special pieces at their normal price.

Originally Posted by sq4you

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you know, i used to think this too, but i have a feeling there is very little considered "mainline" anymore. A bunch of the runway pieces are part of the "diffusion" line. I.E. the tags just say

Thom Browne.
New York.

I have a feeling he simply decided to reduce the price of almost his entire line.
All the 400-500 dollar shirts are now hard to find. Even colette only have 5 or so shirts at that price range and barneys even fewer on their website. Im going up to ny tomorrow so ill be able to see how much of the 'mainline' even exists at the barneys on madison and/or the thom browne store.

a buddy of mine from barneys co-op told me that its not even technically a "diffusion" line in the normal sense. the intention of the lower priced TB stuff is that it is supposed to be worn more often (i.e. on a daily basis) whereas the "mainline" stuff is for more special occasions.


Yea, they have to be careful not to **** that up and make sure boutiques/dept stores separate them. They don't want to have happen to them what happened for John Varvatos. There are so many varvators diffusion lines (varvatos mainline, varvatos converse, varvatos usa) and most boutiques and dept stores put them all right next to eachother sometimes on the same rack. When they're right next to eachother people can see that the quality/styling difference is pretty slim and the prices are very different. If a guy was looking at the varvatos section for a shirt and trousers, why would he buy the varvatos mainline if the varvatos usa one next to it was pretty much the same and $200 cheaper? Plus, it just lowers the prestige of mainline and makes it seem cheaper than it's supposed to be.

Originally Posted by XenoX101

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This doesn't make sense to me, you'd think the more logical alternative to this mess would be to simply reduce the price of the mainline and keep the special pieces at their normal price.
i think the concept of "mainline" may be more reserved now for the handmade stuff. some of the handmade shirts aren't THAT expensive (i have one that was $255 new from barneys ny - before the lower priced stuff came out). its a solid colored shirt. the striped handmade ones were usually 300+. i just recently bought a shirt from his "diffusion" line. it is not hand made but it feels basically just as awesome and cost 210 dollars. it's also solid color with one little ribbon detail on the pocket. some of the more avante gard stuff from his runway collection is available at colette for "diffusion" prices. see additional comment below because it applies to you and chrono's comments

Originally Posted by chronoaug

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Yea, they have to be careful not to **** that up and make sure boutiques/dept stores separate them. They don't want to have happen to them what happened for John Varvatos. There are so many varvators diffusion lines (varvatos mainline, varvatos converse, varvatos usa) and most boutiques and dept stores put them all right next to eachother sometimes on the same rack. When they're right next to eachother people can see that the quality/styling difference is pretty slim and the prices are very different. If a guy was looking at the varvatos section for a shirt and trousers, why would he buy the varvatos mainline if the varvatos usa one next to it was pretty much the same and $200 cheaper? Plus, it just lowers the prestige of mainline and makes it seem cheaper than it's supposed to be.
yeah i agree. varvatos is a complete mess. i never buy anything from them. i dont think its good to think about thom browne in a mainline versus diffusion line anymore. i think one should just think of it as thom browne. some of the stuff is handmade and more expensive. some of it is not hand made and less expensive. some of the runway pieces are more available then others (and translate to lower prices). im guessing the suits may follow suit....haha. get it. but then i could be completely wrong. who knows whats going on in thom browne's ****-erotic mind (besides all the young boys in mini-skirts)

I havent' really looked into the TB thing tbh. From the sounds of it it sounds kinda like a drkshdw situation where certain items are just made under the drkshdw line. Some just happen to cost less (tees, jeans and jean jackets) but the quality is p much the same.

This:



or this:

MMM cream suede travel ling bag / duffle

or this:

Raf Jacket

or Bauhaus Rick Owens jacket (not in this leather)


or RO Mollino in dust or black kangaroo:



Or save my money and put into IRA?

the last is best. I tried it on yesterday and it was crack

Black RO Mollino.

bag is sweet, get it if you don't have any bags

Mollino in dust

http://www.cheapmonday.com/#collecti...stomized-party What do you guys think?

caveat emptor, mollino is tight fitting. i'd wait for fall mollino in hammered lamb or calf. spring-weight kangaroo is not substantial enough for the price.

Originally Posted by user7

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This:

or this:

MMM cream suede travel ling bag / duffle

or this:

Raf Jacket

or Bauhaus Rick Owens jacket (not in this leather)

or RO Mollino in dust or black kangaroo:

Or save my money and put into IRA?

Originally Posted by oneeightyseven

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the last is best. I tried it on yesterday and it was crack

you're in toronto right? where'd you try it on?

Originally Posted by thekunk07

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caveat emptor, mollino is tight fitting. i'd wait for fall mollino in hammered lamb or calf. spring-weight kangaroo is not substantial enough for the price.

Quite true. I was unimpressed with it in kangaroo. It felt so thin and, as kunk put it, unsubstantial. I liked the Julius moto I tried on a lot better, but then again, the Mollino is the best out of what you listed. Oh yah, the sizing is really small with the kangaroo. I dont know if its for all of the leathers, but I know the Kangaroo in small was way too small for me. I'm a small in virtually everything else ( 2 in Julius ) and I need an M or L.

Originally Posted by avery

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you're in toronto right? where'd you try it on?

Sydney's. It's a clothing store on Queen right where Manning starts. It's beside an epic record store too! lol