Billy Reid

Curious too.  Another case of, "Do you have more money than sense? Here's the shirt for you." Also, why do people, in effect, pay clothing and other companies to advertise for them by buying clothes with their names on them? To name two, Old Navy and Panama Jack.

When I was about 14 or 15, my mother and I went to Little Rock to shop for school clothes and a suit for me.  We were picking out a tie, and one of them had the designer's logo on it.  This is the first instance that I can remember of that.  It was about a year or two before Izod shirts with the alligator on them came out.  My mother looked at the tie, and said to the salesman, "we don't wear our labels on the outside."

Times have changed.

I feel the same way about Victoria Secret bras and panties. I have found comparable items for a fraction of the cost. I think labels matter to some people. Not to me. Unless I have found that a certain clothing manufacturer actually does a superior brand I don't purchase for name alone. 

Here is another example of a local clothing designer that I can't understand or justify the price of their goods. I have a very similar top that I bought in Nashville this summer for $30.00.
http://alabamachanin.com/a-line-top

There is another thread on the Alabama Chanin people.  I think the general consensus was that no would pay their prices to look like a hobo.

Reid has well designed clothing, but his sizes and styles tend to be for those very thin, and young,. Part of the attraction is the detailing -- which sets designers apart from much of the off the shelf clothing one sees at clothes marketed to the mass market.

Spent most of my professional life wearing Brooks Brothers and Burberry. Not quite as pricey as top designers brands, but not cheap, either.  Both of those clothiers have professional tailors to complete the fittings for their ready to wear.  Does Reid?  If so, that is another reason for the higher price. 

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And worst of all--Tommy Hiffleflinger or whatever his name is, which is often written in huge, over-sized letters on the clothing made offsh o r e for his company. He should pay those who wear them a fee for advertising his overpriced merchandise.

Billy Reid is not for just anyone to go into.

Crusty,

My shadow will never cross Billy Reed's doorstep.

I have several Orvis items of clothing, all purchased at garage sales at no more than $3.00 per item. All are in great condition with no visible wear, no imperfections of any kind.  It is well-made stuff. Same with Land's End.  My latest garage sale purchase of that brand was two very nice long-sleeved shirts for $2 each.  Also in great condition.  

I bought a Jack Victor cashmere sport coat at a local thrift shop for $5.00.  That brand is truly elite. The store price for that item is around $500-600.. See:   http://www.destinationxl.com/1...mere-sport-coat.html     Fits great; looks good. I own about 25 sport coats bought at garage sales or thrift stores, and have never paid over $5.00 for any of them.I'm talking about respected labels, too--Brooks Brothers, Palm Beach, Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear, Evan-Picone, Hart, Schaffner & Marx, etc.). Garage sales and thrift stores are the way to go, especially if you wear a very common size.

Call me Cheapskate if you wish, but I get plenty of compliments on things I buy from those two primary sources. 

For my less formal non-business wear, I prefer Off Fifth Saks -- usually have the same stuff as Saks about a week after their high end stores -- much cheaper. 

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Okay, help me out here.  How so?

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Yes, he is grossly overpriced, too.  The difference though is that he had very distinctive, creative, and fresh look.  Billy Reid looks like Sears or JC Penney or half a dozen other places in the Mall to me. 

I shop Ried for the occasional piece but it is annoying to be there selecitng something and feel the presence of someone who has been handling J C Penny only a few moments ago. Most of my things come from NY or Paris.

-Tommy Hiffleflinger or whatever his name is,

A few years back, I looked at some TF shirts, (made in SE Asia) in a store beside some similar made in America shirts. The appearance was the same, the price of the TF was about 10 times the made in America shirt. The only difference was the pretty insignia on the front and the one made in America might not shrink 2 sizes the first time it was washed. But, if you want a pretty insignia, go for it.

For those not old timers, Reid's store is located in what was the Anderson's bookstore.  And, the store he renovated as a entertainment venue was the previous Anderson's bookstore location.  Good luck to him.  

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LOL!

Anytime I shop my tailor personally picks up my selections and assures the quality is there, if not that is addressed before it is sent to me by currier.  I hate those noisy brown what-ever-they-are rumbling down the street trespassing on porches with nasty boxes packed by slave labor.

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Is that the "currier" that used to be partnered up with "Ives"? And have those noisy brown trucks failed to provide you with the dictionary you seem to need?

oops! Courier. Sorry contendah. I had Xmas on my mind.

And I hope earthmomma flogs you mercilessly for beginning a sentance with "And".