Meh. They are okay. Some interesting looks. Decent, but not great quality--particularly given the price point. Polos tend to be quite blousy.

 

Current quality is alright - similar to Lands End in my experience. Their polos can be purchased very cheaply at places like TJ Maxx.

 

Although stuff from Vineyard Vines seems okay to me, it's never really interested me. I tend not to like their rather busy ties, for example. Some of their things are nice, but I never really seek them out.

 

I like their belts.

 

Current quality is alright - similar to Lands End in my experience. Their polos can be purchased very cheaply at places like TJ Maxx.

Ahhh, that explains the eBay action then. I tend to be a vintage Lacoste/Custom Fit Polo man, but I could see washing the car in one of their polos, if small enough. Even the small in PRL regular fit is a bit big.

 

I must admit, I enjoy their ties and belts. Their items have been in Filene's Basement now for a few years and it seems they are really over producing.

Their quality is par, for the price they ask you can find much better. Their ties are the only thing I really haven't seen in discount stores and in my opinion are the only thing I would purchase at regular price. You can usually get them on sale at their flag ship stores, they seem to have coupons frequently these days...

KM

KM

 

With the exception of a button-down given to me by an ex-girlfriend, about the only things I own from VV are emblematic belts and ties from schools and colleges with significance to me, sold only by their respective bookstores or websites, that were given to me as presents. I have a belt from my current girlfriend's high school alma mater, two ties (one a bow tie) from my college, and a tie from my sister's high school. With the exception of these items, everything else I see from VV is inferior (in either style, cut, quality, price, or a combination of all four) to what is available elsewhere.

 

Ian and Shep Murray started the company in 1998. Their ties are okay. Made in the USA of imported silk. Sort of that crowded Hermes tie look, with a bit of a preppy twist.

According to this archived copy of their website from 2000, their old product range consisted of 32 patterns of necktie in a bunch of colors, with lengths for men and boys, 2 scarf patterns, an advertising t-shirt, and an offer to do custom designs for wholesale. Not sure when they expanded into other stuff... most of it seems to be "imported".

Ties:

"Bass & Fly Rod"

"Bluefish"

"Cat Boat"

"Christmas Trees"

"Flip Flops"

"Golf"

"Greenwich Signs"

"Guitar"

"Horse"

"Labrador, Black"

"Labrador, Yellow"

"Martini & Cigar"

"MV Isle & Whales"

"MV Signs"

"Nantucket Signs"

"Nantucket Isle & Whales"

"Rainbow Trout"

"Santa & Mistletoe"

"Santa Whales"

"Seagull"

"Sea Plane"

"Shark"

"Snowman & Cane" (image above is "New for 2002" - A redesign, maybe?)

"Sportfisher"

"Woody & Tree"

They also did the tie styles, "Fish & Buggy", "Lighthouse", "Mountain Bike", "Palm Tree", "Skier", "Tennis", and "Wheelbarrow", but there weren't any archived images of them. Anyone own those?

Scarves:

"Cat Boat"

They also did "Christmas Trees", which I imagine was a scarf version of the necktie pattern.

 

I must admit, I enjoy their ties and belts. Their items have been in Filene's Basement now for a few years and it seems they are really over producing.

Their quality is par, for the price they ask you can find much better. Their ties are the only thing I really haven't seen in discount stores and in my opinion are the only thing I would purchase at regular price. You can usually get them on sale at their flag ship stores, they seem to have coupons frequently these days...

KM

KM

I bought a couple of VV bow ties from Filenes a couple weeks ago. They were $20 apiece. It's tough to find any bow tie for that price, and I liked the designs, although they were all in a GTH summer motif--cigars-and-martini-glasses, cows and moons and stars, etc., which was convenient. I certainly didn't get ripped off. There was a ton to choose from, and I spent a good 20 minutes pondering, which, I guess, is a good sign.

 

I bought a couple of VV bow ties from Filenes a couple weeks ago. They were $20 apiece. It's tough to find any bow tie for that price, and I liked the designs, although they were all in a GTH summer motif--cigars-and-martini-glasses, cows and moons and stars, etc., which was convenient. I certainly didn't get ripped off. There was a ton to choose from, and I spent a good 20 minutes pondering, which, I guess, is a good sign.

Nice find on the bows - all I've ever seen are the polos and a couple of long ties in the Filenes/TJ Maxx-type stores. I'd definitely get a $20 VV bow tie just for summer fun.

 

I think they have decent ties, but they are overpriced. Also I'm not a fan of the whale logo on all of their shirts. This is why I don't own any of their items

 

^

Whales, polo players, makes no difference. Shirts with logos suck, period.

 

Ian and Shep Murray started the company in 1998. Their ties are okay. Made in the USA of imported silk. Sort of that crowded Hermes tie look, with a bit of a preppy twist.

According to this archived copy of their website from 2000, their old product range consisted of 32 patterns of necktie in a bunch of colors, with lengths for men and boys, 2 scarf patterns, an advertising t-shirt, and an offer to do custom designs for wholesale. Not sure when they expanded into other stuff... most of it seems to be "imported".

Its all "imported" now at least everything I have seen the last two times I went into one of the shops. I get annoyed when "American" companies ship everything in from PRC.

 

^

To my surprise, the bow ties I got are made in USA.

 

They definately try to cultivate an upscale image. There's a Vineyard Vine's store here on Greenwich Avenue that's owned by Richard's and the Greenwich Types seem to really enjoy them. I, however, think that they're a tie company that's overreaching.

 

Their emblematics are too crowded. I do think it will work well enough for clothing for the girls, since longevity isn't a big issue when they are growing. Sad to see that they are losing some of their "heart" for cash. But from what I've seen, there wasn't a ton to start with.

Oh well, can't be awesome all the time.

 

There's GTH and there's just ugly. VV is just ugly.

 

I have seen some of their stuff and it looks better in internet photos than for real. I passed. Nice concept, but I have moved past their quality/price point. If you haven't, take a look. There is nothing wrong with it but there is nothing great about it either.

 

I have a a few shirts and a polo from VV.

Quality is fine. Got them all from Filene's Basement on discount. VV also has outlet stores.

Their polos are blousey. You need to buy one size down. They have a new collegiate polo which is a tailored fit. Haven't tried it yet. The quality of their polos, however, in my opinion, is equal or better than PRL or Lacoste.

 

They definately try to cultivate an upscale image. There's a Vineyard Vine's store here on Greenwich Avenue that's owned by Richard's and the Greenwich Types seem to really enjoy them. I, however, think that they're a tie company that's overreaching.

+1 Well said. They are way over reaching, opening too many stores, and over producing. When they started to move away from ties I was interested. I went into their Boston store this weekend and felt as if I was in a department store. Cluttered with all sorts of junk. They should stick to ties and perhaps their bags.

 

I don't like them on bit. Preppy means PRL or BB in my world.

 

I like their belts a bit, but not for retail price. I would much rather have a BB polo than a VV polo, but the one I have was $2 at Goodwill, and its different than anything else I have so I like it. I'd probably pay no more than $30 for a polo from them, but at that price I'd rather have a BB 346 outlet polo.

 

I like their belts a bit, but not for retail price. I would much rather have a BB polo than a VV polo, but the one I have was $2 at Goodwill, and its different than anything else I have so I like it. I'd probably pay no more than $30 for a polo from them, but at that price I'd rather have a BB 346 outlet polo.

As I've said, I've compared their polos to RL (which I own) and Lacoste (which I've tried on), and their construction is, in my mind equal or better. Rugged but soft. Well made seams. Again, I would only buy them at discount prices. But then, I wouldn't pay full price for a Ralph Lauren Polo either. The only issue is their sizing. I think the Collegiate polo (tailored fit) addresses the "blouse-like" nature of their polos.

Regarding the preppy ethos, I think they capture it quite well. If you want to wear a polo shirt to work, then wear RL, Lacoste or BB -- all of which are "serious" brands. They have status and cachet. If you want to enjoy yourself on the weekend at your summer house on Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, or the Outer Banks, wear the VV polo. The whale is playful and, to some extent, very "Go to Hell". It has more of that un-selfconcious ease and grace that seems in line with that East Coast WASPY prep school culture. You don't wear VV to impress.

 

I also like their belts. The quality of the leather portion is the best I've found. It's thicker and more durable than the others I have. I wish I could find another company that uses the same manufacturer. The Vineyard Vines ribbon choices are quite limited and very similar to each other.

 

to 32rollandrock: I am starting to agree with the no logos thing. I think it is more grown up and trad to wear no logo shirts. The only ones I will wear now are mostly Polo and BB