A tumblr
follower asked… “Have you taken a gander
at the merchandise in the Vineyard Vines Georgetown store yet? What do you
think of the company's duds? It seems kind of expensive for stuff made in
China. Anything bear closer examination? (I realize that this question is
directed at a man that dropped $150 on a pair of shorts with polka dots that
were made in China. : ) )”
Obviously
I had more to say about Vineyard Vines than I thought…
“Damn
and Bam! You axked me a question and then you outed me on my capricious polka
purchase. One point of clarification—I waited till those shorts were 25% off.
I always
thought that Vineyard Vines was too “one seasonal” but they’ve seemed to thrive
and I’m all for anyone staying in business. I have, respectfully, corrected
those who’ve said those two boys are a rags to riches story similar to the guys
who started Nantucket Nectars. Not to take anything away from those guys but
they are from the Murray family and they had a huge kick-start—head
start—mentorship resource from the get-go. That aside, they are brilliant
merchants.
The
timing of your question is interesting. I just bought LFG a V.V. t-shirt the
other day and I didn’t look at the price till we got to the register. I didn’t
feel ripped off but I felt close to it. Bottom line for me is that even though
their stuff might be made all over the world, the quality seems to be pretty
good and the taste level is high. My bias says that the goods are better than
most of the garbage at their price point stuff that J. Crew offers—at least the
largest part of their offering.
However,
my thinking is that you can cherry pick the better spots of L.L. Bean and Orvis
for the representative amount of pastel resort-ish stuff that one needs and do
it for less dough. Dough that you may then capriciously spend on things like
Belgian shoes and women and toy soldiers and caricatures and martinis and…
Damn. I
never realized I had this much to say about Vineyard Vines.”
Onward.
Home from Gotham.
ADG II
