Oh Peterman

[Matt Deckard]

I remember the days when I would await your catalog. Month in month out I'd rush to the mailbox hoping to pull out a little white catalog with future purchases on the pages... safari shirts and true Norfolk jackets, sold in sizes for talls and shorts alike. You were a company on the cutting edge when it came to brining back all the designs I admired from the 30's and 40's men's clothiers now long demised or grinded to their current dull forms. your materials were a reprise for that era in clothing that was all about taking risks and breaking sartorial rules by just doing the simple little things like adding that bellows pocket to the sport jacket or making a true Prince of Wales Check in the right brown rather than the incorrect black and white... it looks good too but that's not what he wore and you knew it.

Those days look as though they have passed and I see now a shriveled document that sometimes arrives in the mail carrying within the pages several items repeated over and over and over again with little excitement to speak of in innovation or style. Get it back JP, get it back before it's too late.

A concerned admirer,

Matt Deckard

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I believe they almost were gone at the time the writers of Seinfeld introduced the character as Elaine's boss. That caused a little resurgence and John O'Hurley (the actor playing the part) bought into the company to bring it out of bankruptcy and help it keep rolling and growing.

But I know what you mean - I used to love Banana Republic in the late 80's, early 90's. The catalogs were unique, both in style and content, as were the stores when they came along. The Gap bought them out because they were so unique, had great sales, etc. to expand the chain. Instead, they morphed them into what is pretty much a differently-named Gap for the middle-aged, completely changing the product line and cache. Then they wonder why sales declined.

 

[scotrace]

You're so right, Matt. I have saved every catalog from them, and they used to be amazing. Now they may as well mark them "printed with recycled material."

 

[Fletch]

But I know what you mean - I used to love Banana Republic in the late 80's, early 90's. The catalogs were unique, both in style and content, as were the stores when they came along. The Gap bought them out because they were so unique, had great sales, etc. to expand the chain. Instead, they morphed them into what is pretty much a differently-named Gap for the middle-aged, completely changing the product line and cache. Then they wonder why sales declined.

I don't even think of BR as Gap Sr. anymore. More like Yuppie Gap, where Gap itself has gone Gen-Y.

As for uniqueness, apparently it no longer fits into the comprehensive big-company culture, where everything is focus-grouped, spreadsheet-modeled, and sprayed with a nice dull plastic sheen. Going shopping these days is about as exciting as huffing a mousepad.

 

[AdmiralTofu]

about as exciting as huffing a mousepad.

lol
Priceless... I have to save that one.

 

[scotrace]

The man to blame:

Buy up all retail, and make it all look, sound and smell exactly alike.

 

[Randy]

There used to be a J. Peterman brick and mortar store where I lived (Lexington, Kentucky). Wonderful place - the shop was decorated with all sorts of fascinating artifacts from the past, and you could try stuff on, or try stuff out, and it was a real blast. They even had all sorts of stuff that never made into the catalogs, and often had a wide selection of vintage clothes and other items - very cool! I went to the going out of business sale. It was very sad. I never realized how much fun that place was until it was gone...

- R

 

[Vintage Betty]

There used to be a J. Peterman brick and mortar store where I lived (Lexington, Kentucky). Wonderful place - the shop was decorated with all sorts of fascinating artifacts from the past, and you could try stuff on, or try stuff out, and it was a real blast. They even had all sorts of stuff that never made into the catalogs, and often had a wide selection of vintage clothes and other items - very cool! I went to the going out of business sale. It was very sad. I never realized how much fun that place was until it was gone...

- R

It's funny you mention this. I was back in Connecticut a few months ago, and walked into an upper crust Ralph Lauren store. I was absolutely shocked that it was just like you described above. Vintage items were for sale in the store - vintage accessories, that is. The vintage-looking clothing were very nice reproductions, with most starting at $150 or above.

If I could have afforded the $650-$2000 items that I coveted, I would have had no problems purchasing one each. While they didn't have the same "flavor" as Peterman's stuff, they were very nicely done and some were tastefully modeled to today's marketplace.

And on a side note, I have a pretty full library of those Peterman catalogs if anyone needs any info from a particular catalog.

Vintage Betty

 

[Matt Deckard]

Ralph's rugby shops are sort of like Peterman's old stores though Peterman's shops were more old fogey chic and had more vintage to the attitude, not just more vintage, they were more elite.

 

[mtechthang]

I couldn't agree more!!!

All- I totally agree with the assessment that BR and Peterman both *sold out*- or is it a new *sold up* notion. I also can't blame them - Peterman seemed a different sort of problem but the solution seems to be the same. There does seem to be an item or two per catalog- but I think you will have better luck finding the old style BR and Peterman items on eBay than in the stores or catalogs. And nothing has stepped in to take it's place.

The closest I know of is the utility of some hunting specialties (Kevin's Catalog associated with Kevin's Guns in Thomasville, GA comes to mind) and some local or small family run places like Vermont Country Store.

 

[John K Stetson]

I used to love Banana Republic in the late 80's, early 90's. The catalogs were unique, both in style and content, as were the stores when they came along.

You are so right, Mike. That was one of my favorite catalogs and stores - there was a brick and mortar BR on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. I recall going there to stock up before heading abroad. The store was decorated in an "adventurer's" theme - it was fun to shop there.

I still have a photographer's vest (lots of pockets for lenses, films, filters), khakis, and, yes, a fedora from BR.

 

[Matt Deckard]

They did have a shop at Fashion Island. I was going to return to pickup a tweed Norfolk they had though that was the week they shut all doors and I had no notification...

I know he's been back for a while, though I do hope Peterman gets that shop back in shape!

 

[MrBern]

You are so right, Mike. That was one of my favorite catalogs and stores - there was a brick and mortar BR on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. I recall going there to stock up before heading abroad. The store was decorated in an "adventurer's" theme - it was fun to shop there.

I still have a photographer's vest (lots of pockets for lenses, films, filters), khakis, and, yes, a fedora from BR.

I still have that `80s BR photg vest as well. It was highly regarded amongst hobbyists as well as professionals.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Arrr... the catalogs are getting more and more paired down. Same items over and over again just in different fabrics. He needs to bring back the awesome velvets smoking jackets and loud plaid pants.

 

[Fletch]

Circling the drain of retail hotness. Not a pretty place to be.

 

[rue]

Arrr... the catalogs are getting more and more paired down. Same items over and over again just in different fabrics. He needs to bring back the awesome velvets smoking jackets and loud plaid pants.

I noticed for the men it seems to be that way, but the women's clothing seems to be quite plentiful

 

[Oldsarge]

That seems to happen to almost all catalogs. They start with great, interesting stuff for men and women and then slowly the men's stuff goes away. It happened to Coldwater Creek, it's happening to J. Peterman. I guess we don't spend enough money or something.

 

[carldelo]

I've noticed that JP jackets have a fairly slim cut - this is fashionable, of course, and good for young men. But the men who can afford to buy their clothing are, I would wager, neither particularly young nor particularly thin. I'm speaking of myself and the mass of men over 40 or 50 who don't mind paying for quality clothes, but would like them to fit our 'successful' proportions. Instead of a slim fit that won't fit most men, why not a slightly more generous fit that can be taken in by the thin guys?

Now I see they are introducing more jackets with functional sleeve buttons, effectively putting them one step farther away from being accessible to most men. How many men want a slim-cut jacket, and just happen to have the right arm length to go with surgeon's cuffs? It's just nonsensical. The trousers waists are not as high as they should be either, as long as I'm complaining...