Sample Sale pleasures
On Thursday I went to the sample sale at Oak, on 28 Bond St.
I was on assignment. A forthcoming story on multibrand men's stores needed a news hook, and Brooklyn-based Oak's immanent opening in the city was it. I interviewed some shoppers.
The store is long and narrow, like the building. It seemed dark, but this may have been because the big front windows were still covered with pages of the Oakazine. The official opening is February 1st, during Fashion Week.
I like writing about Oak because they like selling clothes. Yes, it's a business, but it should be fun also, and for them it is. The mix of high and low price points, and of obscure and very mainstream brands, shows intelligent taste at play. Other stores like 10 Corso Como or Collette do this in Europe, but there is no reason why NY can't do it as well.
Some of the sample sale staff was designers who Oak sells but will also present in the showroom beneath the store, for instance, Harmon's Andrew Harmon. He had me try on a double breasted blazer in a bold black and white African print. He has these made in the Martin Greenfield factory in Williamsburg, that also makes the Golden Fleece line for Brooks Brothers, so this is a well tailored coat which is conservative in every detail but the fabric. Even the pattern matching of the hip and ticket pockets is quite careful. He said it drove them crazy, but he got it. They retail for $1200 but were at the sale for $350. It did fit well, but the challenge is imagining the life I would have to have to wear it. Harmon noted that Louis Terline wears his in a rumpled and casual way, but bearded Louis looks like Mad Max' friendly younger brother and I do not. Plus as a clothing store owner and designer he has to wear nice clothes every day. I don't -- I am a writer. If you could see what I am wearing now, you would be very sad.
Still thinking about the coat, though.
I was on assignment. A forthcoming story on multibrand men's stores needed a news hook, and Brooklyn-based Oak's immanent opening in the city was it. I interviewed some shoppers.
The store is long and narrow, like the building. It seemed dark, but this may have been because the big front windows were still covered with pages of the Oakazine. The official opening is February 1st, during Fashion Week.
I like writing about Oak because they like selling clothes. Yes, it's a business, but it should be fun also, and for them it is. The mix of high and low price points, and of obscure and very mainstream brands, shows intelligent taste at play. Other stores like 10 Corso Como or Collette do this in Europe, but there is no reason why NY can't do it as well.
Some of the sample sale staff was designers who Oak sells but will also present in the showroom beneath the store, for instance, Harmon's Andrew Harmon. He had me try on a double breasted blazer in a bold black and white African print. He has these made in the Martin Greenfield factory in Williamsburg, that also makes the Golden Fleece line for Brooks Brothers, so this is a well tailored coat which is conservative in every detail but the fabric. Even the pattern matching of the hip and ticket pockets is quite careful. He said it drove them crazy, but he got it. They retail for $1200 but were at the sale for $350. It did fit well, but the challenge is imagining the life I would have to have to wear it. Harmon noted that Louis Terline wears his in a rumpled and casual way, but bearded Louis looks like Mad Max' friendly younger brother and I do not. Plus as a clothing store owner and designer he has to wear nice clothes every day. I don't -- I am a writer. If you could see what I am wearing now, you would be very sad.
Still thinking about the coat, though.
posted by schloffshow at 3:16 PM
1 Comments:
Interesting to know.
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