Men's Wearhouse is the Natty Light of Suiting

Just read THIS article, and boy was it piss poor. To sum it up, the author is lauding Men's Wearhouse as a one-stop destination for men's suiting. Though it seems like an almost flipping the bird to Dave Mustaine, who I have never heard of but who seems pretty ignorant, the article jumps too quickly onto the Men's Wearhouse bandwagon. I tried reading the whole thing, but I could barely finish, which hasn't happened to me since college when a guy in my class asked me to edit his term paper, and it was so...fucking awful that I had to stop and hand it back to him. This article isn't quite that bad, but it was disturbing enough that it made me sit down and bang out a quick piece before going out on a Friday night. 

This is a stupid picture from the article.

See, things like this upset me. They upset me because I find it particularly aggravating when people follow the lowest common denominator because it is cheap or easy. I could jump straight into a diatribe on how many Americans are intensely hypocritical when it comes to the economics of manufacturing, and how consumers demand a product at the lowest possible cost without regard to its production location, material or method, thereby reinforcing an economic model that flies directly in the face of what most claim to believe in. I could do that. And I still might. But probably not. I’m going to sit on this, let it stew, and come back.  Right now though, I’ll tear this article apart quickly, because it’s Friday night and I’m trying to go out.

Men’s Wearhouse is NOT the end-all, be-all of mens suiting in the same way Natural Light isn’t the end-all, be-all of beers. Have you ever had Natty Light? It sucks. It sucks hard. BUT, it’s cheap, right? And you know why it’s cheap? I’m not exactly sure of their production process, but I’m willing to guess it involves using the dregs of what would’ve been Bud Light, canning them, and selling them for $15 a case. 

Natty Light is cheap because it costs next to nothing to make. And because so little is invested in its production, it is shitty (which only further reduces its value).

Men’s Wearhouse is like the Natty Light of the suiting world. Again, I’m not 100% on their production or sales structures (and I’ve got half a mind to get off my ass and research in-depth), but again I’m willing to guess that the suits at Men’s Warehouse cost very little to make. Cheap fabrics, with cheap production methods (I’m looking overseas, East to be specific), lead to a cheap cost. That savings is passed on to YOU, the consumer! So hooorraaaaayyy! Walls of ill-fitting suits! Ties upon ties! $20 pocket squares! (Which, by the way, isn’t a bargain, as higher-quality pocket squares can be found elsewhere for cheaper). 

This author is as in love with Men’s Wearhouse as a suburban mom of 4 is in love with Old Navy. Prices are low. Consumer satisfaction is high (because most people can distinguish good beer from bad beer easier than they can good clothes from bad clothes). And, most of all, it makes shopping easy. One-stop, no muss, no fuss from men, who just hate hate HATE shopping (if we’re to learn anything from most sitcoms). If Ms. West does have a friend who is a fashion designer……..I have nothing nice to say about him, because I can’t see a legitimate designer recommending Men’s Warehouse. But that’s presumptuous of me, and a bit ass-holish. Fuck that Dave Mustaine guy, he seems like he sucks. But so does Men’s Wearhouse.

PEACE OUT,

MD