All Saints - YouLookFab Forum

After Dashielle posted her All Saints blouse color choice, I began thinking about the brand.
They definitely have had a shift in the last few years to much more conventional design. Sorry Una, I don't see UWP at all.
eg this skirt
http://www.us.allsaints.com/wo.....tegory=502
And seriously I do not like the styling at all.
This is SO Rachel Comey
http://www.us.allsaints.com/wo.....tegory=502
http://www.us.allsaints.com/wo.....tegory=502

Buy out in 2005, then major expansion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AllSaints
Then it almost went under
http://www.theguardian.com/bus.....d-collapse
La Senza and American Apparel...not exactly edgy. Also American Apparel has had and ongoing major financial difficulties.

So in my estimation...they're going pretty commercial. And struggling in the meantime.
I wouldn't be surprised if the store in Seattle closes soon. I hardly ever see anyone in there, or enough to justify the giant space.
In searching around I did find this bit of gossip about one of the founders
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....aints-foun

9 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Add them to the Jones New York Club? Just couldn't differentiate themselves enough anymore and lost their core market?

Diana

I agree. I have both new and old AS pieces and while I like both, the new stuff is definitely far more mainstream. I mean, I can't see them making my bubble skirt or my crazy lace wrap dress any more. I do still occasionally troll ebay for the older pieces.

rachylou

Have the prices come down?

UmmLila (Lisa)

Well, it was sold to a private equity firm a couple of years ago and I think the original founder left. These PE guys usually demand changes in any businss they buy with the intention of either making it profitable or grooming it for resale to another company or both.

I've been shopping at All Saints off and on since they opened in Boston a few years ago. I've always had the same feelings about them: some of their stuff is weird and ugly, and some of it is weird and appeals to me. This winter I had very good luck with their sweaters. That jumper you pointed out is beyond hideous, though.

Anonymous

I'm intrigued. Thanks for posting your thoughts, Anna. I've never been in a b&M store, but have of course seen their pieces on-line and here on the forum. Disappointing to hear they are losing their edge as I have liked what little I've seen of this brand and wished I had better access to it.

catgirl

Haven't found them all that interesting or creative in a while, and they are way overpriced too. Sigh.

jackiec

Well I'm woefully way behind the times. When I shopped in the Vegas store in the summer I was in love. But hey, I'm a mainstream kind of a gal Would I like to be cutting edge? Absolutely! But realistically?....plain ole me.

So what is your All Saints alternative? Where are you finding creativity?

Firecracker (Sharan)

Interesting, Anna. It stands to reason that about the time I take notice of a store is when it has lost whatever renegade spirit or unique style it had. Tee he! (I am also one to come around to a trend just as it is on the way out, if not afterward.) Glad I got my olive moto jacket from them before they go!
And is Rachel Comey a bad thing? (I have no clue.) Or is it just a way of pointing out that AllSaints has lost its identity?
I wonder what will happen to all the old sewing machines in the windows. . . . I love that part of their decor.

annagybe

(website)

I actually love Rachel Comey. My much worn culottes of last summer are by her.
http://www.shopbop.com/titan-c.....;fm=other-
http://www.shopbop.com/brighto.....038;fm=oth
But she is a relatively small NYC based designer, and a completely different aesthetic than All Saints.

There's Vince, but they have gotten pretty basic.
Helmut Lang seems to retread the same few styles over and over again.
I wondering if fashion in general has moved beyond All Saints original look.
It's too expensive for the young that can wear that style, doesn't have the cache of Rick Owens or Ann Demeulemeester. So who is their target market?

Marlene

I'm in the same boat as Firecracker. Just when I noticed AllSaints, and was in a position to AFFORD AllSaints, and I went to actually GET AllSaints and was all...meh. I hate it when business gets in the way of creative fashion....

Vicki

I think you nailed it and you're on to something, Anna. Glad I had a chance to visit the Seattle store while it was abuzz with YLF Women who know how to make a store come to life.

Aha! Those denim pieces definitely didn't look like what I've come to think of as AllSaints. I like the cheeky raw-edged jumper, nevertheless. And I really like your Rachel Comey culottes.

CocoLion

Interesting observations. The little experience I have with this brand, is that it did not fit me well. And I was not that wowed with fabric and construction. I do like the look of their leather jackets but am I getting something worth 2-3x the price of something similar from Zara? I don't know.

Astrid

I was once in the Berlin store because I was curious after reading so much about them here on the forum. Of course it's not my style, but I was very underwhelmed all the same comparing quality and price.

Janet

I've noticed the change as well. I've found some of their stuff appealing in the past, but the fits have never worked for me. In one hand, it seems like they're adding more structure to their style, but I'm not sure how that will translate to their market.

psychedelicate

Active Member

I like their leather jackets because they come in colors that seem to be in tune with my season, but their other stuff doesn't seem worth the price. It pretty much does look like stuff I could pick up at Zara for much less, and from what I've read in this thread, the quality isn't better enough.
I do just want cutting edge stuff that is in other colors besides black or brights. Where is it?!

Mellllls

their prices have always been out of my reach for anything i was interested in

annabelle

I think I must have discovered All Saints when they were in their transition phase of paring back their edge from being original, and not yet having pared back their pricing to be comparable to a great leather jacket at Burning Torch or ASOS or Nordstrom...

Category