Robert Hall

[dhermann1]

Anybody remember, "Clothing values go up, up, up, while the prices go down, down, down.
Robert Hall this season, will show you the reason, low overhead, low overhead!"?
I'm wearing a nice pair of heavy gray wool trousers today with the old Robert Hall label that I recently picked up at a vintage shop. The fit is perfect, nice high waist, fine heavy wool material.
When I was a kid Robert Hall was huge. They went out of business in 1977. But when my family took a trip abroad in 1962, on an ocean liner that required men to dress for dinner, my brother and I each got a nice Robert Hall suit for $27. Can't beat that, With alterations.
I'll try to get a shot of myself in the trousers later today.

Here's what Time Magazine had to say about Robert Hall in 1949:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,856259,00.html

 

[Marc Chevalier]

"Robert Hall" spelled the beginning of the end for such high-priced manufacturing retailers as "Oviatt's". Robert Hall --and stores like "Zachary All"-- took more of a share of Oviatt's market than anyone had expected.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Of course I remember! Those radio/TV commercials were everywhere in the NY area back in the 60s. But I recall a slightly different variation of the lyric:

When the values go up up up,
And the prices go down down down
Robert Hall will show you,
The reason they give you
High quality - e-conomy!

I recall shopping there with my Mom a bunch of times too. It was THE store for back-to-school clothes (which back then included jackets and ties!) Though very reasonable, their stuff was pretty good quality (i.e., vastly better than today's imported synthetic junk.)

 

[ottawa_adam]

Robert Hall hats are back in production. I recently bought a new one from a local clothing shop - a stingy fedora. The felt is pretty nice and cost about $119 CAD. The salesman told me they are made in Montreal and can make almost any style to order.

 

[Tomasso]

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,856259,00.html

 

[dhermann1]

Uhhhh . . . that's the same article I started this thread with . . . .

 

[Tomasso]

Ooops.....gotta start perusing posts more closely.

 

[filfoster]

I remember Robert Hall and have, somewhere at home, a vintage overcoat with that label.