Random Fashion Thoughts (Part 3: Style farmer strikes back) - our general discussion thread

[Chaconne]

So ... despite living in the area the past 10+ years, I made my way over to Self Edge in Austin for the first time this past week. I was looking forward to seeing the various Iron Heart jean and jacket options and compare some FCL jackets after my experience owning a few of them years ago.

I gotta say, I am not feeling that store at all. Is there a lot of stuff? Sure, one of everything is out on display, but taking a step back it's basically raw denim (duh), flannel shirts, t-shirts and jackets. I looked through every piece and it took maybe 5-8 minutes total in and out. The workers there seemed a bit dismissive of me and, yeah, they asked if I needed help with anything (from a seated distance, not even bothering to get up to greet me) a few times while I walked around and browsed. But I didn't feel comfortable, nor "believable" as a customer. I felt judged.

Store-wise, the shop feels empty and souless. It's small-ish. Square. White walls and hanging racks. Whoop-dee-do. Feels temporary or unfinished.

Clothes-wise, I didn't buy anything because I didn't want to even be there after a few minutes and frankly, the clothes became redundant. It's like, "ooh, they have a flannel check shirt in orange, or blue, or black, or white..." and "oooh, another by-all-appearances pair of raw denim in a slightly darker hue and slub." I get it, it's an aesthetic, this whole work-wear cosplay thing, but unless you're specifically seeking that out there's not many options there.

I don't see myself ever stepping foot in that place again. And this is coming from a guy who likes Stag Provisions and spent $1k there the same day.

Don’t you think you might be just a bit jaded having gone through so many leathers and stuff? I imagine the reaction of someone who is just getting into this type of thing might be very different and rewarding.

 

[Understatesman]

.

 

[Understatesman]

Jaded? Nah. I didn't criticize the leathers, did I? They had what they had and if I was looking to buy, they had a few pieces that were great.

I just feel like they seem to have invested so much on the bad ass sign outside, walking in feels like they ran out of budget. Literally devoid of any personality, unlike what I've seen of pictures of their California stores.

 

[nahneun]

have you tried adding tennis balls to your brain to make sure it fits in your noggin?

 

[LA Guy]

This type of comparison is dumb. Japan has a whole different structure of retail, not to mention the absurdly weak yen is distorting prices for people who shop using the dollar, not to mention the shipping and import taxes retailers pay just to have the product here.

In Japan I can have a great sushi meal for $15 and a world class ramen for $7. Should I trash every Japanese restaurant around me in america for not being able to match those prices?

Basically this. Imports are always more expensive. You can go to Japan and complain about the price of European and American brands there. Even with the much lower markup, the final price is typically 30% higher than in the US. I usually prefer domestic retailers - it’s just much more convenient and communication is much easier. Of course some are going to play the proxy roulette, and I will for items that are simply not available here, but I understand that it’s much more of a gamble as well.

I’ve not been to Self Edge Austin, but have been to the San Francisco flagship, the older store there, the Portland store, and the store in New York, many times. Mostly I like their accessories as jewelry these days, but they clearly have a very defined aesthetic, differing a bit regionally. The Portland store, which is in a little arcade, is a bit more toned down than the SF and NYC stores, for example.

 

[Understatesman]

have you tried adding tennis balls to your brain to make sure it fits in your noggin?

Got it. Having an opinion is unwelcome.

 

[Understatesman]

One thing I'll add is despite living in and around Austin since the 1990's, this isn't a slag on the vibe. I'm mellow and DGAF as well, very much an Austinite in that respect. So this isn't me not understanding the environment. I consider Austin home. This experience, however, didn't feel comfortable to me, aesthetically or interactively.

 

[ppk]

New & Lingwood store window on Jermyn St, London.

Captioning contest.

 

[Understatesman]

New & Lingwood store window on Jermyn St, London.

Captioning contest.
View attachment 2313753

Found out where this guy shops.

 

[whorishconsumer]

So ... despite living in the area the past 10+ years, I made my way over to Self Edge in Austin for the first time this past week. I was looking forward to seeing the various Iron Heart jean and jacket options and compare some FCL jackets after my experience owning a few of them years ago.

I gotta say, I am not feeling that store at all. Is there a lot of stuff? Sure, one of everything is out on display, but taking a step back it's basically raw denim (duh), flannel shirts, t-shirts and jackets. I looked through every piece and it took maybe 5-8 minutes total in and out. The workers there seemed a bit dismissive of me and, yeah, they asked if I needed help with anything (from a seated distance, not even bothering to get up to greet me) a few times while I walked around and browsed. But I didn't feel comfortable, nor "believable" as a customer. I felt judged.

Store-wise, the shop feels empty and souless. It's small-ish. Square. White walls and hanging racks. Whoop-dee-do. Feels temporary or unfinished.

Clothes-wise, I didn't buy anything because I didn't want to even be there after a few minutes and frankly, the clothes became redundant. It's like, "ooh, they have a flannel check shirt in orange, or blue, or black, or white..." and "oooh, another by-all-appearances pair of raw denim in a slightly darker hue and slub." I get it, it's an aesthetic, this whole work-wear cosplay thing, but unless you're specifically seeking that out there's not many options there.

I don't see myself ever stepping foot in that place again. And this is coming from a guy who likes Stag Provisions and spent $1k there the same day.

Yes, they are more expensive than buying directly from Japan. My view is that if they provide a level of service that I experienced, it is worth it. If not, well, it'll be a struggle for them.

What PPK said.

Despite being on the jawnz Internets since 2005, I only started shopping at Self Edge starting very recently, once in LA and again a few weeks ago in SFO. In both cases the staff were very assistive in finding my partner a pair of denim and she got to try on many pairs before landing on her decision. That brick & mortar experience is increasingly worth the mark-up for me (both of us). But I also acknowledge it as a luxury, given, as was also noted, businesses like SE are targeting a particular income bracket. And I enjoy a good deal and frequently check the Japanese market for my size when shopping Japanese goods. Although Redcast Heritage in Spain offers very competitive pricing.

As for the vibe of the place, that's fine if it didn't work for you. Frankly, I find much of newer Austin to be pretty dead-inside (I spent a good deal of my life before 2017 there), so it makes sense the environs of any newly-established business would match. Stag, though now established, was always one of those blueprint clothing retailers you find that sell those odd liminal brands you only find in blueprint clothing retailers (Save Khaki, anyone?). It looks like they stock Kapital now, though, so good for them. I do enjoy Uncommon Objects, which some of Stag's founders also own (or owned).

There's something to be said regarding the perception/expectation of customer service received, but I've probably opined enough.

such an empty feeling, devoid of any kind of personality

You just described South Congress and South Lamar.

 

[Understatesman]

You just described South Congress and South Lamar.

Really miss the Kerby Lane Cafe of old. Though I still love and regularly visit South Austin Music and Saxon Pub, literally next to Self Edge.

 

[nahneun]

Got it. Having an opinion is unwelcome.

y so srs

 

[symphvaria]

This type of comparison is dumb. Japan has a whole different structure of retail, not to mention the absurdly weak yen is distorting prices for people who shop using the dollar, not to mention the shipping and import taxes retailers pay just to have the product here.

In Japan I can have a great sushi meal for $15 and a world class ramen for $7. Should I trash every Japanese restaurant around me in america for not being able to match those prices?

Even if we return to pre-weak yen exchange rates where it was about $1 = ¥100, Self Edge still cannot be compared at all to Japanese MSRP. Those chinos I bought would be closer to $170, which, for someone who travels to Asia semi-regularly, is still a pretty gigantic difference when we look at bigger ticket items that Self Edge is trying to sell for $400-500 that would be available in Japan for half or less. And maybe their service is really just so good that it justifies their business model, but like I said earlier, I was speaking from personal experience. I don't live in NYC, SF, Portland, or Austin, and I have never been to a Self Edge store in person nor am I likely to. All I see is an online webstore selling products that are readily available elsewhere for far cheaper, with little in the way of explanation.

I think it's not unreasonable to point out that the cost of eating out (and food in general, and rent, and pretty much every aspect of cost of living if we're being honest) in America is oftentimes ludicrous and wildly overpriced relative to other first world countries regardless of cuisine when the cost of tipping alone here is enough to buy oneself a comparable meal, but that's a topic for an entirely different thread.

 

[gardenvariety]

I have a lot of great memories of buying stuff in physical places, because it often comes with a little story of what else I did that day, where I ate, who I was with. While on a road trip around Ireland I bought a snow peak jacket from The Bureau Belfast, which was closed when I arrived. I was so bummed after watching their amazing EG lookbooks online for years. I shrugged and got a coffee next door and afterward tried TBB’s door again, still locked. Ugh.

But as I turned away, one of the owners rode up on a bicycle, wearing a bleached Kapital Kountry old man and the sea cap. It looked just like the one I used to own (and regret selling) and I felt instantly at home. The store was amazing, the people very kind and open to chatting, and I happily went away with a new indigo cotton/nylon parka and recommendation for breakfast, where we ate a porridge with apple compote so good that I even made it a few times after getting back from vacation.

Not to mention, I made Irish porridge again today!! It’s become a tradition for me now to learn to cook something delicious I ate in another country. And to pick something up from a local menswear shop.

Am I willing to spend more on a jacket for that set of memories, and the weird ripple effect that led to me still making porridge at home today many months/years later? Absolutely.

Please, somebody show me a cardboard box showing up on a doorstep from a price-comparison-fueled order that creates an experience remotely like the one I described.

(Btw, I really hope people who *could* afford to shop in a retail store aren’t just trying stuff on to nail their sizing so they can order $50 cheaper from somewhere else. TBH I’ve done this too, but it’s definitely parasitic to deliberately do it.)

I’m not saying you have to buy everything at an expensive store, but… just do it sometimes and try to engage with the people there, it can be well worth it.

Edit: if you’re only shopping online and can’t visit a store in person or can’t find an item at a store you have visited in person and feel loyal to, then I fully support price comparison shopping

 

[Understatesman]

I have a lot of great memories of buying stuff in physical places, because it often comes with a little story of what else I did that day, where I ate, who I was with. While on a road trip around Ireland I bought a snow peak jacket from The Bureau Belfast, which was closed when I arrived. I was so bummed after watching their amazing EG lookbooks online for years. I shrugged and got a coffee next door and afterward tried TBB’s door again, still locked. Ugh.

But as I turned away, one of the owners rode up on a bicycle, wearing a bleached Kapital Kountry old man and the sea cap. It looked just like the one I used to own (and regret selling) and I felt instantly at home. The store was amazing, the people very kind and open to chatting, and I happily went away with a new indigo cotton/nylon parka and recommendation for breakfast, where we ate a porridge with apple compote so good that I even made it a few times after getting back from vacation.

Not to mention, I made Irish porridge again today!! It’s become a tradition for me now to learn to cook something delicious I ate in another country. And to pick something up from a local menswear shop.

Am I willing to spend more on a jacket for that set of memories, and the weird ripple effect that led to me still making porridge at home today many months/years later? Absolutely.

Please, somebody show me a cardboard box showing up on a doorstep from a price-comparison-fueled order that creates an experience remotely like the one I described.

(Btw, I really hope people who *could* afford to shop in a retail store aren’t just trying stuff on to nail their sizing so they can order $50 cheaper from somewhere else. TBH I’ve done this too, but it’s definitely parasitic to deliberately do it.)

I’m not saying you have to buy everything at an expensive store, but… just do it sometimes and try to engage with the people there, it can be well worth it.

Edit: if you’re only shopping online and can’t visit a store in person or can’t find an item at a store you have visited in person and feel loyal to, then I fully support price comparison shopping

You could always return the jacket since you already paid for the experience and memory, too. Then go buy it cheaper online when you come back home. Win-win.