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An item does not need to be upscale to be popular. Also, Kohl's is actually one of the most financially stable department stores, so I don't see your point. H&M, one of the most well known fast fashion brands, is extremely popular. Think of the auto industry, do more people drive Chevys and Fords or Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs?
And actually, I do shop at Walmart and buy Fruit of the Loom, but only for basics such as some T-shirts, socks, and underwear, never for shirts or pants that I want to wear to go out.
My grandmother refered to that as "hiu and fui" which loosely translates to "icing on cheap cake". I did not think about that in a long time.
I think Calvin Klein is outdated too... they are owned by the same co. as Tommy Hilfiger i think...
I thought Calvin Klein was outdated too but they literally have a store in every outlet mall in America, so
someone is buying it. They’re really big on underwear and cologne.
Here's how I see some of the brands mentioned (and a few others for comparison):
Upper Upscale: Armani
Mid Upscale: Polo Ralph Lauren
Entry Level Upscale: Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Calvin Klein
Mid Range: Izod, Chaps
Cost Conscious Consumer Brand: Fruit of the Loom
These are from the standpoint of mens' clothing. There may be some others that could be added to these categories.
That’s not a bad ranking but you’re forgetting department stores
Brooks Brothers
Banana Republic
J. crew
Express
Gap
Hollister
Etc.
Either way, the nice thing is many clothing stores don’t have big logos (save for polo shirts) so you can wear something cheap off eBay and it looks like you got it from Banana Republic
That’s not a bad ranking but you’re forgetting department stores
Brooks Brothers
Banana Republic
J. crew
Express
Gap
Hollister
Etc.
Either way, the nice thing is many clothing stores don’t have big logos (save for polo shirts) so you can wear something cheap off eBay and it looks like you got it from Banana Republic
Location: As of 2022….back to SoCal. OC this time!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocko20
I thought Calvin Klein was outdated too but they literally have a store in every outlet mall in America, so
someone is buying it. They’re really big on underwear and cologne.
That is what makes them outdated in "fashion"....cause they are all about the outlet malls
I thought Calvin Klein was outdated too but they literally have a store in every outlet mall in America, so
someone is buying it. They’re really big on underwear and cologne.
Calvin Klein long ago ceased being mostly if not exclusively a top designer brand. Mr. Klein like many others (including Michael Kors) have made tons of money aiming at mid-tier and below markets. That is where nearly all American, and some European so called "designer" names make their money today; licensing agreements that slap their names on products for the masses.
Calvin Klein brings in more revenue from licensing agreements (undergarments, perfume, and God only knows what else), than whatever TOL fashions that place still makes.
Want further proof? Calvin Klein recently announced it is shutting down their "collection" division.
Collection divisions are the high end side of designers like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, etc.... That is the stuff sold in either their own private retail outlets or high end shops like Barney's, Bergdoff Goodman, Nordstrom, Saks, etc...
If you wanted to know who started this whole mess; it was Coco Chanel. For those who couldn't afford the couture line, Chanel came out with perfume (at first) and then other little accessories. So if one couldn't afford a couture Chanel suit or from their ready made line; at least one could buy earrings, a handbag or something with that coveted name.
Chanel to its credit (and largely under the late Karl Largerfeld) kept the Chanel brand on a tight lead. That is to extent possible restricting the sales/distribution channel so only those select few could purchase.
Case in point; in past year or so Chanel looked around and realized too many persons "without style" or whatever were walking around with their coveted handbags. So prices were raised and numbers produced cut to limit amount on market. *That* is how you run an exclusive brand.
Chanel also has a vast and bewildering array of requirements/demands by any retail location that wishes to sell that line say such as Bloomingdales.
Chanel retains power to decide where in a shop it will be located, and who will be surrounding. So if you are an upscale mall attempting to lure Chanel they will decide what stores are going to be to left or right.
OTOH Michael Kors (especially handbags/leather goods) are nearly everywhere.
Calvin Klein is a little different because of the multiple lines in the company. There's Calvin Klein at Neiman-Marcus and Calvin Klein in the discount department stores and outlets. It's a similar model to Ralph Lauren that has multiple lines of clothing from tailored luxury to mass production.
Nautica and izod are clothing, not fashion, and the rise of business casual to be defined as a polo shirt and khakis has not done much to change the focus of the brands. Under David Chu, Nautica had the sailing-inspired jackets and did have a preppy influence. Tommy Hilfiger had a similar preppy influence when the line started, especially with the crest logo, but changed when the company chased the hip hop markets in the 1990s with giant flag logos. Compared to offerings from The Andover Shop, J. Press, Lilly Pulitzer, Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Barbour, Burberry, Sunspel, Jack Rogers, Gucci, Ferragamo,and even newer companies like Kate Spade and Vineyard Vines, they are not in the same league in terms of materials, quality, and workmanship for everyday brands.
The preppy style tends to be exuberant and confident, sporty, playful yet classic, and can be individually tailored to reflect the wearer's personal style, whether that be a mix of modern and vintage, playful bags like Kate Spade's dinosaur, penguin, dogs, etc. (I have a pre-teen niece who collects them). Izod's advertising reflects this, but the proportions and cuts tend not to be as sporty as the image of the brand, and the quality of construction and materials tends to be mid-tier, but expected when dealing with large clothing corporations, not fashion brands that exercise control over suppliers.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
Dont overlook the upscale versions of basic brands. There is Levi's and the 3x$ Levi's, re creating old designs.
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