With every designer from Roland Mouret to Carlos Miele entering the menswear market, you’d assume it’s one area that’s seemingly recession proof, or at least suffering on a smaller scale.
It looks like that may not be the case. If Men’s Vogue going under wasn’t the first indication of trouble on the menswear home front then Thom Browne might be the perfect warning to those considering suiting up the boys in the near future.
Browne’s known for his too-cool-for-school designs – outfits that look like you picked them up off your bedroom floor and suits practically built around bow-ties. But apparently investors just realized said suits cost about $5,000 a pop and they’re not holding their own on the rack. Which means canceled orders for Spring and Fall from small boutiques to big department stores and the possibility of bankruptcy.
It’s a bit of a surprise for two reasons:
1. Thom Browne has quickly become the fashion world’s sweetheart.
2. His multi-million dollar partnerships with Harry Winston, Moncler and Brooks Brother continue into 2011.
With that much established success and future potential, how could anyone not be surprised he’s flailing? Is this an omen for all the designers we previously assumed could ride this out and a warning to those trying to expand?
-CARSON GRIFFITH
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OMG!!!
I hope this doesn’t happen.
And I hope I can find his clothes in Toronto in the coming seasons.
That male model pictured is HENRY BARNACLE! He’s making a serious comeback this season!!!!
I’m still wondering whether Carson is a girl or an extremely fashionable gay guy. I haven’t made my decision yet.
I don’t think he is hurting as much as he would like us all to believe!
Thom Browne’s clothes look stupid and the prices are criminal… it’s not surprising the investors are worried: only the strongest brands are going to come out of the recession well, i.e. the ones that sell things that peple want to buy, and prices that aren’t too unreasonable.
Unsurprisingly, hardly any men want to wear suits pants that are cut too high (buuuut it’s Thome Browne, they’ll cry), or suits with micro shorts, or stupid male skirts with sports motifs on.
Bottom line IS the bottom line: his clothes don’t sell.
Stupid, gimmicky clothes for men don’t sell for $5000. What a shocker.
i would
i just cant
drop it and i would
lol
whats a bit gutting for thom
is that every one just goes topman
and gets sum £30 trousers and a blazer and styles them a thom brown for cheap
visonary yes
shame the people that want his stuff cant afford it
a bigger shame that the peple that can afford it are just well
un amagernative and vulgar (or not vulgar enough i cant decide)
i havent heard from thom in a really long time and, funnily, wondered about him two days ago. guess that answers it…
I think in the days of excess, collections like Thom Browne’s were considered an acceptable risk for both boutiques and larger stores alike.
Now that everyone’s talking the big D instead of recession, frivolous offerings,while well made, aren’t in the budget for most.
If Thom can start making quality menswear that pairs fashion with workable function, he’ll withstand this crisis.
Hopelessly bad and faddish clothes, less savvy investors got caught in the updraught now the maelstrom has begun. Let’s hope it washes clean and a world of intelligent, beautiful menswear will be born.
Who is the Designer of the short pants suit? The look looks a little bit like the man had forgotten his pants. Cause he was in a hurry in the morning. lovely Greetings, Kathrin
who did design this? The model looks a bit as if he had forgotten to put on his pants, as he was in a hurry in the morning. lovely Greetings, Kathrin http://www.twoforfashion.de
his clothes have never been seriously selling at any point in time. That includes his eponymous collection and the Black Fleece collection for Brooks Brothers. That whole collection stays at 50 -60% off and still grows hair on the rack.
fluff chance
http://emperorsoldclothes.blogspot.com/