Month / July 2020

by Mike Strange

Fashion News: Shopping in Covid-19 Times.

For months (most) New Yorker’s have been cooped up at home (or wherever they are) under quarantine orders and now that some states (a handful like New York) are slowly opening back up, people are ready to (been ready) venture out again and try to regain some semblance of social activity which includes shopping for things, other than food, medicine, and other essentials.

20200628_111204Yes……shopping for clothes and other things (just to get out of the damn house!) and beactive outside. And of course dining out (outside literally!) Hooray! However there are rules (standing 6 feet apart, and wearing masks when not possible) that must be followed when doing so.

20200628_111316So when going out to shop during Covid-19 times has it’s pros and cons. One of the pros: is that you wont have to deal with crowed shops (as they are only letting a certain amount of people in at a time) and they are some really great deals, sales, and promotions happening right now to lure shoppers out.

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You can find some great bargains for some great clothes, but one of the cons: is that your size might not be available (and may have to order online) which may leave you with fewer choices for deals.

20200628_112153Shopping online has surged and seems to continue to so, and who knows what the retail/shopping landscape will be in the coming months, but for now we all must wait as covid runs its course and see how it shapes how and the way we shop.

by Mike Strange

Fashion News: Famed Brooks Brothers Files for Bankruptcy.

On Wednesday July 8th, the famed and over 200 year old men’s luxury retailer filed for bankruptcy protection as they seek a buyer. Brooks Brother’s has also closed some of it’s stores as well as getting ready to close their U.S. factories. The famous company was founded in 1818, and has dressed many U.S. presidents being a major men’s luxury U.S. company.

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Globally operating 500 stores (half of them in the U.S.) the company has defined the dressy and “preppy” classic style of American gentleman. From 1988 to 2001 it was owned by Marks & Spenser, which after it was acquired by Claudio Del Vecchio who’s family founded Luxottica.

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Brooks Brothers has been struggling in the industry from online competition and the advent of casual attire in the office become more popular. Before the pandemic they were already in the process of looking for a buyer, Covid-19 simply expedited it and lead to a chapter 19 filing.

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Assets and debts they reported is between 500 million and 1 billion dollars. The company stated that it is determined to survive as it said that it will close 51 stores in the U.S.

100569574-20130308-7345-087Joining the ranks of other majors retail brands like Barney’s, J Crew and Neiman Marcus which Covid-19 has toppled, the future looks very uncertain as the U.S. fights from under the heel of the pandemic.