Martin & Osa Closing

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shana

Veteran

For all those who love M&O, stock up on items now as it will be closing by the end of Q2:

http://online.wsj.com/article/.....theadlines

I really liked M&O (except for my bad experiences with their knit tees) and am sad to see yet another brand targeted at a non-teenage demographic fail miserably (thinking Forth & Towne, Janeville, Ruehl).

I am hoping to score this military-inspired jacket in olive before they close:

http://www.martinandosa.com/we.....=1881_0345

I also tried this one & loved it:
http://www.martinandosa.com/we.....=1881_0328

16 years ago

Shopping

13 replies

Latest reply was from Kristen

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

How sad. I've never had a chance to even go in a store. Now I guess I won't ever get one.

16 years ago

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

:'(
I love M+O. I love their jewelry, their more mature but not OLD styling, and even their mens clothing. And their return policy is the best - probably why they aren't doing well, though.
I couldn't read the entire article because I don't subscribe to the Wall Street Journal online. What is the expected date to close?

16 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I've never been to one either, and I had no idea they carried up to size 18. They needed better advertising!

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I had actually never even heard of this store until I came here. Yeah, I would say that advertising was not a strong suit of theirs.

16 years ago

Anonymous

What a shame. I never did buy anything there. I felt it was directed towards a younger market.
I had my eye and a couple of denim jackets last year but they were the tattered look and so expensive. I just could bring myself to pay so much for tattered jackets.
However the 2 jackets you have picked out are great. I hope you get them, especially the short trench.

16 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Stores closing left an right...bummer:( Thanks for the heads up.

16 years ago

shana

Veteran

Oops, Sarah, it will reportedly be closing by end of Quarter two - so end of June. Here's another article:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg.....429-28.stm

I figured something was up because there seems to be next to nothing online right now. They usually have a much wider selection!

As I was googling the store closing, I found this article about Forth & Towne's closing and it made a really interesting point about this market (the forgotten 35 year old!):

"Mature women do not buy clothing as frequently or impulsively as their younger counterparts, making it harder for the new chains to show the kind of quick success executives had hoped for.

And the new stores failed to notice that women, who have gravitated toward designer clothing labels, had begun spending more time — and money — inside department stores, whose growth has overtaken that of specialty clothing chains."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02.....27gap.html

16 years ago

Vani

Veteran

shana, I saw a Talbots jacket at Marshalls the other day which is very, very similar to the trench jacket. Color too. It looked very good but was one size too big and I couldn't find a smaller size, boo. It was made of linen though, but a lot less expensive too.

16 years ago

Lee Hovey

Active Member

Oh how disappointing! I always admired M&O, but honestly never bought anything because it was a little out of my price range. I equate their audience with the same as the LOFT audience, which is where I do a good amount of my shopping (as a 28 year old professional). It's hard to find cute, stylish clothing for business that isn't too mature or dowdy at this age....

16 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Aw, I love that airfield jacket. Bummer that it's out in my size AND so expensive.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This makes me sad too. Just like when Fourth & Towne closed.

16 years ago

shana

Veteran

Vani, I really liked that coral trench when I tried it on but it didn't look so good in the pics (yes, I now take pics of EVERYTHING). I don't think traditional double-breasted trenches are very flattering on me.

I'm very sad! The quality of some of the items was excellent and the styling was definitely very appealing to me. I purchased a few M&O items including an amazing black and white graphic print skirt that's going to come out to play as soon as the weather warms up a bit more. But I bought everything on incredible sale (which probably explains why they're going out of business). It helps that we have a store in my local mall but they have had some great sales online too. I literally stalked the skirt for months before I snatched it up for a fraction of the original price.

16 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Awwwww, this is depressing. I worked at Forth&Towne and still miss it. I liked M+O but their prices were a little high. I'll still be stopping by my local one as much as I can before it's gone!

16 years ago

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