[GeeBee]

That is a fine coat, bit rich for me at that price, but a fine coat nonetheless.
I bought a nice wool coat last winter so unless they about quartered the price it ain't gonna happen. . .
Be worth checking the outlets in a few months though, a lot of the very expensive adidas gear ends up sold a lot cheaper . . . not sure how limited this coat is though?

[Lorrie]

The DB peacoat is CDN499 and the NBHD peacoat is CDN700. I tried the NBHD coat on and it's nice, but a little too 'trendy' so you'd probably be well sick of it/embarrassed to wear it after a couple of years.

[Shellshock]

It just doesn't work for me, a sportwear company making dress coats and knitwear etc. It's like if Hugo Boss started making trainers and "streetwear" it'd suck hard. This is the same to principle to me. adidas should concentrate on getting their mind right when it comes to their bread and butter instead of fuckin around pretending to be Louis Vuitton with this bullshizzle

[Samo]

^Word!

[steve-o]

I half agree, I quite like that they are making outerwear, but my main problem is that adidas originals is a fun energetic brand, and the DB range looks quite boring & old... and theres no real branding on it, most of the items look like run of the mill clothing with a small adidas label sewn on

[Shellshock]

Very true Steve-O. We don't need it creeping into the Originals arena, surely this type of stuff would be better served under the Y3 branding if they must insist on trying to be "fashion" or whatever it is they're trying to do.

[Lorrie]

disagree about the DB stuff. the quality is high and the minimal branding is a plus. would you really want to wear something with Beckham's name and maybe face all over it?

[steve-o]

not his name and face... but a few stipes and a trefoil would be nice

[Shellshock]

I dunno, maybe it's a thing that differs from country to country but in the UK I'd embarrassed to be seen out in smart/formal clothes with adidas branding, it just screams “chav who knows nothing beyond sportwear manufacturers”

I don’t like it when any company with a massive reputation and huge heritage in a particular field start diluting their brand by flogging all manner of weak products not associated with their company. Porsche designed toaster and kettle anyone? Or golf clubs, why the fuck would anyone serious about his game buy Porsche golf clubs? Or a BMW mountain bike? “All the gear and no idea” type of people, that’s who buys shit like that.

I buy my sportswear from sportwear companies and my err..other clothing from..err...you know, proper well established clothing companies, who've been doing that type of shit for years. I’ve not explained that very well but hopefully you get my drift!

[Battosai]

I see both sides of the coin on this one.

Lorrie's point about the minimalist approach to the 'db' thing being essential is spot on - I would not be seen dead in anything heavily garnished in 'db' insignia, never in a million years. But the understated elegance, and the quality of the garments, sets them apart from most of the artsy stuff adidas try when they step out of their comfort zone. Most of the Y3 and the Porsche stuff looks like they're trying too hard to disassociate from their own brand, in my opinion. Too pretentious.

I think, Shellshock, that this should be seen for what it is - a new and very nicely designed range of clothing that shouldn't have to be recognised as sportswear just because it's made by adidas. If you're saying you'd pick up the garments, really like them, suddenly realise they're made by adidas and then put them back, you're being pretentious and buying labels for the sake of who made them and not whether you like them the most.

If the garments made can compete with the expensive fashion houses for both style and value for money, then there's no reason not to pick them up. Obviously, if Versace, or whoever have better/nicer garments for the same price, then it's a no contest, but I wouldn't actively avoid an expensive adidas garment because it's adidas and not something they should be doing.

Besides which, you can look like an absolute chav twat in the most expensive designer gear - it's not sports company exclusive. Some of the biggest wankers I've seen when out and about have being 'labelled up' from head to toe complete with £100+ Burberry cap on their heads.

It's down to how you pull it off as to how you'll be received, no matter the label on yer back/front. The fact someone would have to be real close to you to even know the db range was adidas suggests that the designers purposely went for extremely understated and that hardly anyone who eye-balled you would even know it's a fashion piece, which is the antithesis of the chav or wankerish 'look at me and my fancy labels' approach to dressing up.


Just my $0.02.

[Shellshock]

You've made some good points and presented them well Battosai. But....

this should be seen for what it is - a new and very nicely designed range of clothing that shouldn't have to be recognised as sportswear just because it's made by adidas.

That's just it though, it aint recognised as sportwear

If you're saying you'd pick up the garments, really like them, suddenly realise they're made by adidas and then put them back, you're being pretentious and buying labels for the sake of who made them and not whether you like them the most.

Ah c'mon man, that's not even close to what I'm saying. I'd never not buy something if I liked it, regardless of who it's made by. I'd just never consider buying that type of coat from that type of company as in my mind there's other companies who appear to have way more expertise in that particular field.

I wouldn't actively avoid an expensive adidas garment because it's adidas

Me neither but I would avoid an adidas garment if I thought it was grossly overpriced in a futile bid to appear more upmarket/designer label-ish in order to appeal to a market that wouldn't normally be seen dead in adidas. Particularly when the garment isn't all that special.

Besides which, you can look like an absolute chav twat in the most expensive designer gear

Yup, I agree with that 100% I'm in no way advocating the tacky, crass display of wealth favoured by many a man who thinks draping himself in heavily branded "designer" clothing is cool. That aint me at all B! When it comes to that type of clothes I much prefer understated, subtle brands without external labels/slogans. No walking advert for Tommy Fishfinger or some other tosser, none of that shit for Shellshock.

It does seem to me that we're getting a little too excited about an average looking garment with a crazy price tag simply becasue it's made by our favourite sportwear brand. If that coat was manufactured by anyone else and you saw it in a shop window, I bet my left bollock (yup, the shiny one!) that it wouldn't even warrant a second glance from you, it'd just register as "Generic peacot, move along, nothing to see here" and you'd be off, boppin street and trying to make eye contact with that fit girl coming out of Subway. Or is that just me?

[steve-o]

I totally get ya

what I mean by "some stripes and a trefoil would be nice" is that there needs to be a visual connection with the branding

perfect example is the DB leather jacket, it has the black leather stripes down the arms, still very subtle, but its a visual connection back to adidas.

edit: actually I just realised caliroots had more photos and noticed the black trefoil on the right sleeve... thats good enough for me lol

[Battosai]

You've made some good points and presented them well Battosai. But....

That's just it though, it aint recognised as sportwear

I just get the impression you want to bracket it with something or other. Be that designer gear or associate it with the sports brand that adidas is. The pricing is obviously far removed from the norm and would probably propel it into the designer bracket, but, unless adidas actively pursue shop-space in those upmarket '1-piece-for-one-shelf' stores, I wouldn't really say they're trying to move in on that market or even compete directly with it... consider it an alternative for both the casual adidas wearer and some of the more pretentious 'I'll only wear it if it's got a label' folk. A niche, if you will.

Ah c'mon man, that's not even close to what I'm saying. I'd never not buy something if I liked it, regardless of who it's made by. I'd just never consider buying that type of coat from that type of company as in my mind there's other companies who appear to have way more expertise in that particular field.

I've got a fair amount of designer gear, and from the look of that coat, I don't see any difference in quality to suggest adidas are out of their depth - of course, I've yet to feel the quality or try one on, but I bet you'd have no qualms at all if that exact same coat had an Armani label or whatever on it.

Essentially, what you've said is a reverse process of elimination - adidas are seen as too low-brow to be pitching their tent so high. i.e. if you're gonna spend big(bigger), it'll be on an associated label. I agree with the logic - I've done so many times in the past, but still think it's a little harsh.

Me neither but I would avoid an adidas garment if I thought it was grossly overpriced in a futile bid to appear more upmarket/designer label-ish in order to appeal to a market that wouldn't normally be seen dead in adidas. Particularly when the garment isn't all that special.

That, for me, is the majority of Y3 and Porsche stuff that has been made. I don't want to like the db range, but think a lot of it is very nice and certainly impressive as an entry-level set of clobber to what could very well turn out to be a strong niche marketplace for adidas.

If they keep churning out this level of db gear, it'll soon have a market of it's own like Jordan got in the end. That's my bet.

I don't agree that their trying to appear upmarket, which was my point further up. This stuff is what it is, and, you have to admit, you've seen Beckham wear very similar styled - and therefore believable for the range - clothing for at least a decade now.

It's a niche market, not an attempt to muscle in on highbrow. I wouldn't buy this coat in lieu of something else, for example. I just like the coat and would/will get one at a price I think it's worth.

Yup, I agree with that 100% I'm in no way advocating the tacky, crass display of wealth favoured by many a man who thinks draping himself in heavily branded "designer" clothing is cool. That aint me at all B! When it comes to that type of clothes I much prefer understated, subtle brands without external labels/slogans. No walking advert for Tommy Fishfinger or some other tosser, none of that shit for Shellshock.

I've got a few bits and bobs from my much younger days that look like walking adverts for Armani etc. I'm ashamed I even bought them now.

Funnily enough, the closest I feel comfortable to wearing any big, brandished label would be the tops I've still got with the massive Trefoil on the back. There's an adidas 3-piece leather coat I saw about 15 years ago that I've wanted ever since that has the three stripes down the arms and the Trefoil on the back. But I digress.

It does seem to me that we're getting a little too excited about an average looking garment with a crazy price tag simply becasue it's made by our favourite sportwear brand. If that coat was manufactured by anyone else and you saw it in a shop window, I bet my left bollock (yup, the shiny one!) that it wouldn't even warrant a second glance from you, it'd just register as "Generic peacot, move along, nothing to see here" and you'd be off, boppin street and trying to make eye contact with that fit girl coming out of Subway. Or is that just me?

Well, I'm curious about the opinions this range has engendered, so have enjoyed our little chat. To the contrary of what you've said, I've got a lot of really nice (imo) unlabelled coats as well as some designer bits - I'm easy like that. My girl has classed me as a bit wierd in the past cos I can just as easily pay heavy bones for stuff as I much as I'll rock a £20 top from Asda's George range. Truly, I go by what catches my eye. Always have done.

adidas didn't dupe me with the Y3's etc - I think they're taking the piss with it, personally - but I think the db range has something to it.

I tell you what though, the price is what would determine whether I'd stop to try or buy the coat. If it matched what I felt it was worth in my head, I'd be interested; if it looked like a big steaming pile of dung for the price, I'd fuck it right off.

Lastly (phew) I don't think it's fair to only say what you've said about the db stuff, cos those fashion houses are the absolute best at taking the longest streak of piss in the clothing world! They get away with murder at times by simply putting their label on a standard bit of tat!

[Shellshock]

Fo' real B, can't really argue with too much of what you've written there, it actually looks like we're both singing from the same hymn sheet largely. Besides, these lengthy, serious posts are straying into Olskool72 territory, so we should leave it here!

[Battosai]

No problem. Was a break away from the norm'. Enjoyed it.