Yesterday a deal between Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A Bank was reached. No doubt JAB sealed it with a “buy one company, get three free!” kind of deal.
There was a time when Jos. A Bank, which was often called a poor-man’s Brooks Brothers, sold American-made traditional staples such as dark herringbone suits, flannel blazers, and Harris Tweed jackets.
Assistant editor Zach DeLuca, who runs Newton Street Vintage, has had plenty of these specimens pass through his hands. Here are some standouts. — CC & ZD
> Yesterday a deal between Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A Bank was reached. No doubt JAB sealed it with a “buy one company, get three free!” kind of deal.
I had a sensible chuckle at that, but then I realized I couldn’t share this with any of my friends.
I bought the tweed blazer on sale for $100 last year, and wear it all the time with a fedora from Goorin Bros., which has a hat shop in Harvard Square. I get a lot of compliments.
Say goodbye to the predominately conservative look of JAB and hello to the predominately hip styles of MW. And I guarantee it!
They’ve basically been the same awful company for years now, so I don’t imagine very much will change because of this.
Oh great, another vendor of men’s “pretty boy” clothes on its way!!!
You’re gonna hate the way you look…I guarantee it
Belatedly, it’s great to have Zach DeLuca as Assistant Editor. He’ll bring a wealth of information and a broad perspective to the discussions here. The jackets and the suit pictured here are wonderful. Anyone whose chanced across Newton Street Vintage knows Zach’s discerning eye and some of the remarkable finds he puts on offer.
I was introduced to Bank when I was a young lawyer. Some senior fellows directed me to it as a source of traditional clothing more modestly priced than the usual shops. I still have my first Bank suit: a 3 button, undarted hounds tooth. But, I guess you don’t get to a $1.8 billion market cap on TNSIL alone.
@ AEW Mason
In my experience/perspective, if one knew his true “size” and some basic style rules (inseam, sleeve length, etc..), and dressed in exclusively modern Banks, in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, he would still look better than most in finance or law. He would actually look better than most of his co-workers, unfortunately.
Terrible collar on the first shirt – pinned and button down. The shirt equivalent of belt and braces?
So maybe this type deal is the reason George Zimmer was ousted from MW. In my opinion, MW does not offer much to like. Jos Banks was better but the quality level was below average & prices were high unless it was a big sale. Really $59 for a bow tie made in China that was machine made & poorly pressed! At present, the only quality product I see at Jos Banks [& which I buy] are their high quality classic cut cotton boxer shorts in numbered waist sizes not that used to be $18 but now are $24 each so I just wait for a sale to stock up at 50% to 70% off. My guess is that theBanks quality will erode further with MW taking over.
I thought MW was a jobber, buying year end inventories from “normal” retailers.
Maybe some mdse but most clothing is available in a full range of sizes. Furnishings are very low quality. But then I only was there for an unsuccessful seeking of a wedding tux; I should have bought the pair of black patent leather Chuck Taylor’s ; maybe I will go back for them.
While at school in Ann Arbor, I took a position at our local JAB…It was a decent job, and they treated me fairly well. Some of our older clientele gave me an education, with respect to ivy/trad dress, that far exceeded any company manual.
I’m sad to see JAB absorbed by MW, as it would be similar to seeing Brooks absorbed by Macy’s or some such. However, with all that has been said about JAB, I always liked the OCBD’s and “Signature Series” suits…and when on promotion, a decent deal.
“In my experience/perspective, if one knew his true “size” and some basic style rules (inseam, sleeve length, etc..), and dressed in exclusively modern Banks, in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, he would still look better than most in finance or law. He would actually look better than most of his co-workers, unfortunately.”
This is 100% correct. Their stuff is fine. Especially for those with a more athletic, less slender build, a cheapo JAB suit taken to half decent tailor will put its wearer WELL ahead of the curve. Sad but true.
When I was in college I worked at a Brooks Bros in the middle-western provinces during the summers and holidays. This was when M&S was selling it: the fear at the time was that Mens Wearhouse would buy Brooks — apparently Zimmer was really interested. This had the old-timer salesmen distraught ; consequently, Del Vecchio was viewed as something of a savior…
Considering what Brooks Brothers has become, I daresay JAB is still the poor man’s Brooks.
Turned out to be a terrible deal from which either chain may recover from.