It’s amusing to think of DeLuca and Giuseppe of An Affordable Wardrobe, who also began selling online recently. Both live in Cambridge and thrift from the same wellsprings. It’s not hard to picture them showing up at the same shop and wrestling over a vintage Norman Hilton suit, kind of like those women at bridal warehouse sales who claw each other over a Vera Wang gown at 90 percent off.
Says DeLuca:
Newton Street Vintage specializes in tailored clothing and accessories for men. Its primary focus is mid-century collegiate style and Americana, with the occasional nod to Savile Row. We strive to curate the most desirable, highest quality vintage collection available and ensure that all items sold are in excellent condition.
While we believe that true vintage clothing is of pre-1970 provenance, we do include in the collection items of more recent origin that fit our style, such as Brooks Brothers and J.Press from the ’70s and ’80s. All items are priced according to age, rarity and condition. We source clothing constantly, with new items added weekly.
Note to US readers: 17 of Newton Street’s past 21 sales have gone to the United Kingdom. Help do your part as a patriot to keep American clothing in America. — CC
This is really pushing the boundaries of thrift pricing. No wonder the sales are all going to the UK. Far less supply in the UK, and many ebay sellers will not ship.
$120 for a suit that costs no more than $20 a Urban Renewal? $45 for a shirt that costs $4.99 at Good Will? That’s quite a bit of profit for this middleman-ery. I live in the Boston area and will reconsider where I donate my unwanted clothing to avoid such profiteering.
And cheers to Giuseppe for keeping his prices reasonable.
Interesting. These shops in New York seem to have only ladies clothes. The best for vintage Brooks I have ever known is near St. Louis, Clayton, called the Scholar Shop.
They are willing (want?) to pay more in the UK. It actually makes them feel better to pay more. You know, elitist secret club and all that nonsense.
Their love/hate thing with the USA is very strange.
Russell must be fuming that his (no doubt condescending and self-aggrandizing) retort will not be read by the masses. He definitely has a love/hate thing with you CC. He can’t go one single day without obsessing about you on Talk Ivy. It’s bizarre.
Russell honestly believes that he singlehandedly created the contemporary interest in Ivy through the power of the interwebs, his magically bitchy persona, and a wormhole from his alternate universe (wherein LL Bean is elevated to something other than your Mom’s go-to-source for polar fleece.)
Apparently, I unknowingly have him, and John Simons, and a bunch of other UK folk to thank for all my clothing choices over the last 25-30 years. With his backwards time machine, or ESP or something.
“Ivy really doesn’t exist. And yet it does.
^ This is probably the most honest & clearest thing ever said on the subject.
And you read it here!”
The subtext is: “Blimey I am one clever little bugger! I can’t wait to see how the Yanks get confused by my profoundly inane brainfarts!”
The reality: readers just shaking their heads and rolling their eyes.
Another:
“America is wonderful & so is Ivy, but it’s all made up.”
(sigh….) hey “Russell” (or Jim, or whatever) here is a newsflash: Everything single thing on the f*cking planet created by humans is “made up”! Including your inflated ego and delusions of importance. You didn’t “make up” the Ivy League Look”. Of that I’m sure.
Once again the “English Patient” (love that moniker) has gone crackers and insists that *I* am CC’s alter-ego. He “knows” this because….
“How do I know that he is ‘Scooby Dubious’? Because his cheap & shonky site is an open door to a hacker.”
WOW. Just wow. Is this an attempt at comedy, or does he think people really believe this stuff? Guy has gone off the deep end on another CC obsessive rant.
Yes, seems to be a common trait amongst that UK crowd to fabricate elaborate lies and distortions to hide behind. Makes you wonder what they’re hiding…..but then you realize it’s all a costume ball for them. Pretending to be Americans, while simultaneously snidely knocking America. Just insecurities really. To paraphrase that clown Robert Palmer….they hate themselves for loving you.
Money is often used to purchase other people’s time, as well as their effort, not to mention their knowledge. Thrifting requires a lot of all three, but especially time.
People with the knowledge of quality products, but without the time to go to thrift stores, or perhaps even without access to them, seem quite happy to pay Giuseppe and Zachary to go for them.
I simply don’t see what’s wrong with that.
You get your tax deduction; some guy in Far Dingleberry gets a nice piece of quality clothing (one he probably would never have found or been able to afford otherwise), and G and Z get a few extra doubloons in their purses for their time, effort, and knowledge. Sounds like a win-win-win situation to me!
@Henry — I agree with you. I think these guys provide a valuable service for those of us who don’t have the time and energy to play the thrifting game in earnest.
True that these thrifters are providing a service, but $120 is an awful lot to risk on an old, used jacket that you cannot try on or return. At that price, I would probably purchase on sale at retail rather than take a risk.
Because sizing and cuts have varied over the years, my experience has been that many of my ebay finds have not worked out.
The old Brooks jackets were cut very narrow in the shoulders, with high armholes. Jacket length has also varied. Even if the measurements provided seem to match mine, I have still had some difficulty.
I’m afraid his stock is a bit beyond my preferred price point. I’m a fan of Giuseppe’s pricing – excellent quality, spot-on measurements at an, in my humble opinion, entirely affordable price. Fitting considering the title of his blog. I’m very happy with the blazer i purchased and I’m looking forward to more items in my size popping up.
I just bought the grey three piece sack. In regards to price, I have more money than time right now, so rather than $400 to $700 dollars spent on a new suit style (I have no sack suits) I get one that’s been inspected for me, measured and cataloged at just over $100. Even if I don’t love it I can re-list it on ebay or give it to my brother and not feel like I’ve lost too much.
I wonder if Mr. DeLuca has an actual store or not. I live in Boston and I would like to pay a visit. The items are of good quality, yet I would like to try on personally(I have an unusual body size) if I have the chance.
Great shop!!!
great shirts as they were in the 60’s
Great collars so diferents that the collars of Bean and Land’s end and some modern Brooks Brothers!!!
Thanks
Josep Rovira
Barcelona
Spain
Giuseppe lives in Somerville, technically. I don’t recall us wrestling too much, but plenty of horsetrading goes on.
Brooks Brothers could easily use that photo to convince customers to switch to non-ıron shirts.
Does Mr. DeLuca consider it infra dig to use an iron and spray starch?
This is really pushing the boundaries of thrift pricing. No wonder the sales are all going to the UK. Far less supply in the UK, and many ebay sellers will not ship.
$120 for a suit that costs no more than $20 a Urban Renewal? $45 for a shirt that costs $4.99 at Good Will? That’s quite a bit of profit for this middleman-ery. I live in the Boston area and will reconsider where I donate my unwanted clothing to avoid such profiteering.
And cheers to Giuseppe for keeping his prices reasonable.
Interesting. These shops in New York seem to have only ladies clothes. The best for vintage Brooks I have ever known is near St. Louis, Clayton, called the Scholar Shop.
I was just cleaning the toilet when Russell Street tried to leave a comment. How strangely appropriate.
I knew that line about keeping American clothes in America would bring out the English loonies.
His comment unapproved, the English Patient sent me an email that is now making the rounds BTS.
Responses so far are an even split between laughter and pity.
They are willing (want?) to pay more in the UK. It actually makes them feel better to pay more. You know, elitist secret club and all that nonsense.
Their love/hate thing with the USA is very strange.
Russell must be fuming that his (no doubt condescending and self-aggrandizing) retort will not be read by the masses. He definitely has a love/hate thing with you CC. He can’t go one single day without obsessing about you on Talk Ivy. It’s bizarre.
As human beings go, he’s definitely FUBAR.
Russell honestly believes that he singlehandedly created the contemporary interest in Ivy through the power of the interwebs, his magically bitchy persona, and a wormhole from his alternate universe (wherein LL Bean is elevated to something other than your Mom’s go-to-source for polar fleece.)
Apparently, I unknowingly have him, and John Simons, and a bunch of other UK folk to thank for all my clothing choices over the last 25-30 years. With his backwards time machine, or ESP or something.
This self-quoting nonsense from the other day is a classic. Notice how many people chime in agreeing with him afterwards:
http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?pid=152925#p152925
The guy’s rants are completely ignored even by his own people, and yet still he goes on ad nauseum.
I love how Russell constantly answers his own posts. It’s a self-perpetuating fantasy machine.
And when he denounces the Internet as BS compared to real life. Meanwhile he’s got 13,000 posts.
Here is a Russell gem of inanity:
“Ivy really doesn’t exist. And yet it does.
^ This is probably the most honest & clearest thing ever said on the subject.
And you read it here!”
The subtext is: “Blimey I am one clever little bugger! I can’t wait to see how the Yanks get confused by my profoundly inane brainfarts!”
The reality: readers just shaking their heads and rolling their eyes.
Another:
“America is wonderful & so is Ivy, but it’s all made up.”
(sigh….) hey “Russell” (or Jim, or whatever) here is a newsflash: Everything single thing on the f*cking planet created by humans is “made up”! Including your inflated ego and delusions of importance. You didn’t “make up” the Ivy League Look”. Of that I’m sure.
OK, let’s not bore people.
Moving BTS…
Yes, well you don’t want to become the thing you deplore, right?
But rest assured, he’s eating it up.
Once again the “English Patient” (love that moniker) has gone crackers and insists that *I* am CC’s alter-ego. He “knows” this because….
“How do I know that he is ‘Scooby Dubious’? Because his cheap & shonky site is an open door to a hacker.”
WOW. Just wow. Is this an attempt at comedy, or does he think people really believe this stuff? Guy has gone off the deep end on another CC obsessive rant.
OK, that’s it.
Trolls never provide proof of anything. They don’t have to: Their point is simply to plant the seed of doubt in anyone gullible enough to listen.
Yes, seems to be a common trait amongst that UK crowd to fabricate elaborate lies and distortions to hide behind. Makes you wonder what they’re hiding…..but then you realize it’s all a costume ball for them. Pretending to be Americans, while simultaneously snidely knocking America. Just insecurities really. To paraphrase that clown Robert Palmer….they hate themselves for loving you.
Or was that Joan Jett? I get my crappy 80s tunes mixed up.
George,
Money is often used to purchase other people’s time, as well as their effort, not to mention their knowledge. Thrifting requires a lot of all three, but especially time.
People with the knowledge of quality products, but without the time to go to thrift stores, or perhaps even without access to them, seem quite happy to pay Giuseppe and Zachary to go for them.
I simply don’t see what’s wrong with that.
You get your tax deduction; some guy in Far Dingleberry gets a nice piece of quality clothing (one he probably would never have found or been able to afford otherwise), and G and Z get a few extra doubloons in their purses for their time, effort, and knowledge. Sounds like a win-win-win situation to me!
@Henry — I agree with you. I think these guys provide a valuable service for those of us who don’t have the time and energy to play the thrifting game in earnest.
True that these thrifters are providing a service, but $120 is an awful lot to risk on an old, used jacket that you cannot try on or return. At that price, I would probably purchase on sale at retail rather than take a risk.
Because sizing and cuts have varied over the years, my experience has been that many of my ebay finds have not worked out.
The old Brooks jackets were cut very narrow in the shoulders, with high armholes. Jacket length has also varied. Even if the measurements provided seem to match mine, I have still had some difficulty.
Scooby – It was Joan Jett.
Anon – I have had the same experience with ebay finds. Seems fit doesn’t always work out.
I’m afraid his stock is a bit beyond my preferred price point. I’m a fan of Giuseppe’s pricing – excellent quality, spot-on measurements at an, in my humble opinion, entirely affordable price. Fitting considering the title of his blog. I’m very happy with the blazer i purchased and I’m looking forward to more items in my size popping up.
I just bought the grey three piece sack. In regards to price, I have more money than time right now, so rather than $400 to $700 dollars spent on a new suit style (I have no sack suits) I get one that’s been inspected for me, measured and cataloged at just over $100. Even if I don’t love it I can re-list it on ebay or give it to my brother and not feel like I’ve lost too much.
Thanks a lot Giuseppe!
I sold you the 3 piece, David, and I hope it serves you well.
Dear sir,
I wonder if Mr. DeLuca has an actual store or not. I live in Boston and I would like to pay a visit. The items are of good quality, yet I would like to try on personally(I have an unusual body size) if I have the chance.
@chenlong: Email me at newtonsuit@gmail.com
Best
Zach at Newton Street
Great shop!!!
great shirts as they were in the 60’s
Great collars so diferents that the collars of Bean and Land’s end and some modern Brooks Brothers!!!
Thanks
Josep Rovira
Barcelona
Spain
Hello
Dear Zach
Did you finish of sell Ivy League?
Best
Josep
Dear Zach
Newton street vintage has disapesred?
Thanks for some answer