Rubato

[JelleKelle]

Does anyone have experience with the sizes of the Brushed Shetlands Sweater?

My true size is M. But I wear L in the Standard Knitwear range.

 

[13.characters]

I think I got plastic bags from the summer already for smaller orders or items. I don't mind it that much - smaller items like shirts or shorts, t-shirts, etc. is more convenient for me to receive in a bag instead of a box. Bigger items would be nice to still receive in boxes though, which Rubato still send in. Fireman's jacket had it's own very nice box it came in, will see if storm coat will have nice packaging as well. Some cloth bags would be nice, of course, as a nicer packaging, but again, I don't mind smaller packaging for smaller items.

Does anyone have experience with the sizes of the Brushed Shetlands Sweater?

My true size is M. But I wear L in the Standard Knitwear range.

Yes, I had both L and M, but I settled down on M. My true size is also L, but for Shetlands from last season I tried both and found that the L was too oversize for me and the M was just a touch too small - but I ended up getting M and stretching it out just a bit to have chest 59 cm - which worked for me a lot better than L, which I received kind of stretched I think already, it was just too big, specifically on my back as the fabric was bunching up when I tried wearing it with coats/etc.

 

[antoinezula]

Hi guys,
does anyone know whether Rubato offer any discount for SF members or for first time customers? I'm placing my first order with them and I usually take advantage of 10% discount with other companies, but I don't really see they offer anything like that? thx for your help

 

[13.characters]

Hi guys,
does anyone know whether Rubato offer any discount for SF members or for first time customers? I'm placing my first order with them and I usually take advantage of 10% discount with other companies, but I don't really see they offer anything like that? thx for your help

They don't.

 

[13.characters]

I wonder if it's tailoring or some new outwear, overcoat? Possibly a bicycle What are your guys bets?

 

[lockstock]

Nonpareil bike saddle in aligator leather?

 

[htinlinn]

I’d buy that dark brown blazer.

 

[mspen99]

On the same general topic - This pic (first below) is from a recent Mr Porter editorial piece "Everything You Need for Winter in the City -- The luxe knit". I've written them asking for identification, but nothing back so far. Anyone recognize it? I thought Rubato or Speciale but seems not. Maybe it is, perish the thought, the Row (second pic below). From appearance it looks cotton to me, even though it's supposed to illustrate "Winter in the city"... ?? I like the very slouchy very dropped shoulder with some stitchwork, and the color.

 

[Markus123456789]

I am in the European Union, and the prices for standard Rubato knitwear are still ok (300 EUR for a crewneck sweater including 20 percent VAT, so EUR 250 without VAT), the trousers and shirts are overpriced in my opinion.

What I don't like about Rubato is that they hardly have any information about their items. Compare that to Colhay's.

 

[13.characters]

I wonder if it's tailoring or some new outwear, overcoat? Possibly a bicycle What are your guys bets?

Okay, they're just having a selection of their products available at a physical location in London at taillour;'s. Nothing new in terms of products or a collab yet.

On the same general topic - This pic (first below) is from a recent Mr Porter editorial piece "Everything You Need for Winter in the City -- The luxe knit". I've written them asking for identification, but nothing back so far. Anyone recognize it? I thought Rubato or Speciale but seems not. Maybe it is, perish the thought, the Row (second pic below). From appearance it looks cotton to me, even though it's supposed to illustrate "Winter in the city"... ?? I like the very slouchy very dropped shoulder with some stitchwork, and the color.

I think it's this one: https://www.therow.com/en-eu/products/olivio-top-beige

 

[kubalondon]

Nice re London location.

As a side comment, I feel like this brand is increasingly polarising though.

PS appears to be rather positive about it all and indeed to me appears they are using their platform to spread the brand awareness and put it in a positive light (Simon is open about Rubato owners being his friends). I don’t really like that because I think he is otherwise appearing very impartial on other brands (some less positive comments I made about their pricing under his articles seem to have gotten lost in the approval process).

The style - initially I was really into it seeing some styling on Instagram (not from Rubato). But then someone from Sweden commented under the most recent Rubato PS article saying that their style is like Scandinavian furniture - bland and lacking something special (in terms of colour and lack of any pattern). Like walking into modern houses - all grey, rigid, lacking soul. And after that I had my questions as cannot unsee this in my head.

Re pricing, a lot has been said so I won’t repeat it all. But one quote is revolting to me. Comes from a PS article about Rubato in 2019:

“PS: OK, so that’s the cut. How about the material?

Rubato: Cashmere’s great, but we loved how vintage pieces wore and aged, and they were usually lambswool.

Plus we wanted something that was easy to care for, that you could wear with everything from jeans to flannels, and that was a little more accessible too.

I think sometimes it’s easy to make expensive garments, because you just pick the most expensive materials, and you have plenty of money to put into design. Sometimes cheaper clothing just doesn’t have the same attention to details.”

So now we have no change to the accessible materials but premium pricing 🤔


All in all, the bar to pick things up in the London shop is rather high to me given all the above. But I do not want to rule it out completely so will give it a chance.

 

[SailingIvy]

To be honest I do not understand the price-ranting. Regarding the knitwear or anything from the permanent-collection the price points are pretty fair. Especially if you compare those to prices of bigger brands. And also considering that they are a small brand and the whole business part will need to be priced in more into each single garment.
250€ for a uniquely cut high quality lambswool sweater which is available in very tasteful basic colors aswell as in uncommon colors is very fair in my opinion. In my mind there are no alternatives at this price point. Especially if you are looking for a deep v-neck in a color other than navy or grey and in lambswool and not looking like you grandpa is also wearing one.
Regarding the belts, they are expensive, yes but are also of the highest quality I could imagine. And, again, the style is quite unique. I own a Berg&Berg Belt and a Rubato. And the latter is certainly higher quality.
Other brands charge around 200€ for a highest quality belt aswell. But most of the time, they lack a unique or tasteful design. A C&J Woven Calf Belt is also 240€ but lacks the style of the Rubato o ones.... (but I love their shoes!)
I cannot comment on their chinos, I think they are very expensive, even compared to something like The Real McCoys's. But I will try them in the near future and report back If they are worth it..
Regarding the belts and the knitwear I could not be happier and will purchase again.

 

[Aszatk01]

Nice re London location.

As a side comment, I feel like this brand is increasingly polarising though.

PS appears to be rather positive about it all and indeed to me appears they are using their platform to spread the brand awareness and put it in a positive light (Simon is open about Rubato owners being his friends). I don’t really like that because I think he is otherwise appearing very impartial on other brands (some less positive comments I made about their pricing under his articles seem to have gotten lost in the approval process).

The style - initially I was really into it seeing some styling on Instagram (not from Rubato). But then someone from Sweden commented under the most recent Rubato PS article saying that their style is like Scandinavian furniture - bland and lacking something special (in terms of colour and lack of any pattern). Like walking into modern houses - all grey, rigid, lacking soul. And after that I had my questions as cannot unsee this in my head.

Re pricing, a lot has been said so I won’t repeat it all. But one quote is revolting to me. Comes from a PS article about Rubato in 2019:

“PS: OK, so that’s the cut. How about the material?

Rubato: Cashmere’s great, but we loved how vintage pieces wore and aged, and they were usually lambswool.

Plus we wanted something that was easy to care for, that you could wear with everything from jeans to flannels, and that was a little more accessible too.

I think sometimes it’s easy to make expensive garments, because you just pick the most expensive materials, and you have plenty of money to put into design. Sometimes cheaper clothing just doesn’t have the same attention to details.”

So now we have no change to the accessible materials but premium pricing 🤔


All in all, the bar to pick things up in the London shop is rather high to me given all the above. But I do not want to rule it out completely so will give it a chance.

in regards to the style being like scandi furniture/lacking something special/soul... I get it (and probably wouldn't have a full wardrobe of Rubato but they do what they do well) BUT- texture is what is difficult to see online. So the suede belt, chunky ribbing on the v neck, thick knit, etc...that all goes a good way to adding interest in the absence of pattern.

 

[kubalondon]

Re pricing, let me summarise how I see it (based on my observations)...

There were a few keen enthusiasts of the brand at the start who liked the accessibility of the product that the owners pitched and which was visible even in that PS article (say like the selling point for Natalino). "You get good cuts, good quality, but you may know not which mill the fabric is coming from." So you pay less than Anglo Italian or Drake's which have better finishes/materials or a long standing brand reputation with a shop at Saville Row (to your point about high costs of a smaller brand).

As time passed, the price increases resembled those of Church's under the new ownership a few years ago, i.e. zero change to materials/quality but merely hiking prices because they are repositioning the brand into a higher category. Fair enough - it's a business decision. But do not obfuscate this by giving some lame excuses around import taxes. Own up to it and move on. Either way, people have the right to be unhappy both in this case but also with Church's, and they would have the right to be frustrated if Natalino hiked prices closer to those of Anglo-Italian (for instance because you could say "the Neapolitan cut they have is very unique and difficult to think of similarly priced alternative" - which I think is true btw).

The above applies to their knitwear btw. I am not commenting on the chinos - I can get a bargain at .. Drake's (which is something).


Re me buying, I was 'late to the party' as got into menswear a little over a year ago. I was not impacted as such by those price increases so observing only the aftermath. When buying clothes however, often to me a lot depends on how a brand makes me feel. As an example, attitude from guys at Anglo Italian or Natalino makes you want to wear their clothes. The discussion on this forum, as well as some responses around the launches of new products, make Rubato guys seem somewhat arrogant to me (I would not buy Churches for instance simply because I know I am buying £900 shoes that should cost closer to what C&J does).

That said, if the cut and overall look are excellent then I can look through some of this because as you say the cut of the v-neck is fairly unique. I believe Casatlantic had a similar design before (Meknes v neck) but not sure why it's no longer there. Maybe will be released this week as they refresh their Fall/Winter offering tomorrow.

 

[SailingIvy]

I am not commenting on the chinos - I can get a bargain at .. Drake's (which is something).

I do not get that. The comparable Drake's Chino is 380€ while the Rubato are 330€. In my mind the Rubato ones are of a cleaner and more pleasing design.