White St and W Broadway

Field Testing Filson's in the Rain

The rain will form droplets initially.  But then after some fifteen minutes walking in the rain with a puny umbrella, the waxed tin cloth absorbs some of the down pour but I see or feel no water seeping through the fabric.  Somewhat water repellent but just don't wear it as a raincoat because it isn't.  The messenger bag from J. Crew (it's called Bowery by the way) is some what waxed but definitely not as waxed or I guess as water repellent as the Filson's Levi's trucker jacket.  It doesn't mean it's bad, just know your gears and their limitations.  (note:  I am into waxed clothings now, everything got coated with wax--I'm not waxed though.  Got to be a fire hazard.)

J. Crew in good company

Retail is such a tough business especially when the national unemployment rate stands in 10% or there about.  J. Crew, an quintessential American brand that got White House seal of approval from day 1 still holds its edge against also ran Gap.  That doesn't mean J. Crew is resting on its laurels, it's reinventing itself by selling other brands that kind of jibe with J. Crew's style and aesthetic.  Most other stores, notably H&M, Target and Uniqlo have partnered with famed brands (read ridiculously high prized merchandise) to create a one off collection that is affordable to the fashion conscious yet cash strapped crowd.  J. Crew's "in good company" brands however are for the most part equal or slightly higher echelon merchandise that have the same or in most cases a higher price point.  In that regard, J. Crews is really thinking sort of outside the box and against the trend of collaborations.  A very clean very minimal Mackintosh is retailing for $800, hardly a bargain for most people.  I am pleasantly surprised it also carries one of my all time favorites, the Blundstone 500 for $145, a seemingly reasonable price.  And finally one can buy a pair vintage looking Levi's from J. Crew that you can't even buy from Levi's.  As ridiculous as it seems, that's what it is now, the US Levi's site would only sell affordable Levi's in the $30 to $60 range.  I think it's time for Obama to get on with the J.Crew band wagon, just like his wife and daughters.  The guy got a good physique yet he continues to wear high waisted loose or comfort fit old man jeans.

J Crew and Levi's

I don't know what Levi's was thinking.  But I guess if the price is right, one can sell his mother.  That's what I feel about the transaction between J Crew and Levi's.  Allegedly Levi's sold its LVC, or Levi's Vintage Clothing (Collection?) to J. Crew.  If you were to do a relevant search on Google you probably can find traces of this relationship.  I don't know it's made public or if it's even true but that's what I have gathered from my source.  The collection typically sells for $200 for a vintage 501 replica and I guess J. Crew would probably jack it up maybe 25% more why 25% because that's what Google cache is telling me.

UPDATE 2 seconds after the above and some Google result reading:
The above was indeed old news.  I found reports on that in August.  So it's a done deal.  My post trying to be a fashionista fails. Miserably.  I guess the LVC is not offered online.

My Comme des Garcons H&M Experience . . .

I finally succumbed to the hype and the brainwashing H&M spam in my inbox . . . I visited the H&M store on 51st and 5th Avenue. I am telling you, there are still merchandise left a day and a half after the Thursday launch, both for the men and women. Like I said before, New York people are pretty jaded. I found at least two size 42 men's suits. It was my size and I actually tried them on. But since I don't wear suit anymore so I left them for somebody else. I heard people say the quality is so and so. But gee for $249 I think the quality is not bad at all actually pretty top-notched. Even the buttons on the sleeve are functional. I don't see that too often for a $249 wool suit. The pants are reasonably cut, meaning not for somebody who is an adult but weighs 90 lbs and with prepubescent waist like 28, I heard Dior and Prada are pretty good at making miniature suits for boy-men. There are plenty of polka dot polo shirts and peacoats. As for the women's side, there are plenty of shirts, pink and polka dots varieties and trench coats too. I say the quality is very much what I expected or a bit better. If you want the real thing, prepared to pay like ten times more.

I say if you find something you like and fits you, it's a buy.

Addendum:
You know I can see why Gap is slumping, even the Sartorialist is no longer saying any good thing about the Gap any more. Instead he is doing a video interview for H&M in praise of its Comme des Garcons collaboration. And Jcrew, the hopelessly unapologetic preppy brand is sliding after few years of success. People need change and nothing changes faster than the clothes at H&M.

Fall Jacket

Bottom Photo: Ryan Pfluger

Ruby Lin (literature and economics) is in a Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière wool jacket, $2,575, and scarf with silver chains, $5,595. At Balenciaga, 542 West 22nd Street. Trunk LTD. T-shirt, $90. At www.trunkltd .com. Lucky Brand Jeans, $98. At Lucky Brand Jeans stores. Melet Mercantile belt. Yarbourough ring.

The top one is what Jcrew calls the Lexington jacket, $250. The bottom one is from Balenciaga costing $2,575; picture and words sourced from The New York Times. Jcrew picture from their online store.

The Balenciaga jacket as seen on runway.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The piracy paradox.

From myself.