Love Eileen Fisher clothes, although I’ve never bought her pants (an area where I am seriously hard to fit). My solution to the price point is to buy them on sale. Occasionally I will pay full price when a piece is too flattering to take the chance it will sell out before I can get at a reduction.
What I find curious is that EF has this reputation of being designed for older women when it is clear from the comments that some women have been buying/wearing EF for 20-30 years. They weren’t old when they started!
Interestingly, I,too,subscribe to both the NYT and The New Yorker, but I also am a long time reader of Vogue. The fashions in Vogue wouldn’t look good on me, but I like looking at them. The writing and the articles in Vogue keep me coming back. It’s an intellectual fashion magazine, if that makes any sense.
Eileen, please don’t retire any time soon. We gals who like uniforms need you!
35
Love her clothing and love the experience of shopping in an EF store. The sales people treat every woman like royalty, there is no competition among sales people, and they will knock themselves out to help you find the most flattering fit and style. Everything you buy will look beautiful and flattering for many years.
24
I love Eileen Fisher clothes. I’ve been wearing EF since its inception. Timeless clothing, for work and play. Comfortable, unfussy. Dress up or dress down. Still wear pieces from the 80s. Love all things Eileen Fisher.
32
Eileen Fisher clothes are boxy and tent-like, and the silhouettes are aging. Merely opening a store in Brooklyn will not magically change EF's "older woman" market demographic or reputation.
17
I have worn this brand for over twenty years. I’m 5ft.9in.tall, and 165 pounds, very strong and busty. The clothes fit me well, they are roomy and allow movement. When I’m NOT wearing scrubs and going out of town, EF is my go to brand. The quality is almost always excellent. I buy at least five to ten pieces per year, and still have almost all the pieces I’ve purchased. You can get them on sale at better Department stores. It truly is investment dressing, they are made to last. I especially like the natural fabrics, and the Ethics and spirit of the Woman owned and operated organization.
Well Done, Ms. Fisher. And, MORE Linen, please.
46
I’m a long-time customer but have noticed, over the last few years, a significant decline in quality and increase in price. EF products are not what they once were. Not surprisingly, the amount of space devoted to this product line has shrunk, or even been eliminated altogether, at the stores where I shop.
20
In my 50s, been wearing EF for 20+ years. Many of my pieces are 10+ years old (some are approaching 20) so that $150-250 price tag is an investment in a long term wardrobe. I added a new piece here and there when I could afford it.
And I laughed to see that EF customers read NYT and New Yorker -- that is my universe of print reading.
46
@Midwest
Me too !! The NYT and the New Yorker are my primary reading, other than for work. Hilarious, and very accurate.
Cheers.
18
One EF skirt > ten Banana Republic skirts
31
Love her cloths but one needs to buy smaller sizes they are always big, looking at her picture it figures.
She is wearing an oversize outfit.
9
Eileen Fisher also sells 'gently worn' clothing--online and now in their stores (you can also 'sell' EF pieces you don't wear back and get $5/item credit toward a future purchase). I wear a handful of EF pieces pretty much all the time because I like the clothes and (more importantly) I appreciate the values of the company (quality, value over time, reuse/recycling, transparency in business practices, etc.).
36
I wish she would design some patterns for Vogue patterns. It would allow us to fit the patterns to our bodies.
16
Love Eileen Fischer but HATE not having pockets. If it doesn’t have pockets I don’t buy.
14
I agree with the other comments about lowering the price of the clothes. I am retired, on a fixed income, but still want to look nice, and I love EF. But, I usually buy J Jill, which is sort of like a cheaper version of EF. And, I look for used, but in good condition, EF stuff on Ebay.
19
As an old woman, I love Eileen Fisher's clothes. They fit. They look good, and they feel good. They're not expensive.
(Those who say they can't afford EF should consider buying one or two pieces and wearing them all the time. A French trick.)
51
Could you please, please adjust the uniform so that it works better for short women! I love your clothes, but the the kimono is problematic at 5'1"...
16
@A Little Grumpy, have you tried EF's petite sizes?
9
@A Little Grumpy get a good seamstress. I am 5’1” and have been wearing Eileen Fisher since 1989. And there is never a time when I wear it that I don’t feel great!
9
I agree with Tp from Maine: I believe EF clothes are classic and classy, but a retired teacher and copyeditor cannot spring for $174 blouses. Wish EF had a mezzanine line using the best patterns with, perhaps, less expensive fabrics.
24
Very interesting interview. I’d love to learn more on how co-creation works
17
This is a timely article given the recent news about Amazon influencing managers at Wholefoods to curtail union activity. Eileen Fisher should be used as a blueprint for inspiring business models and as a case study in MBA programs. Eileen Fisher's success is also evidence that being 'relevant' is more important than 'innovative' as innovation is not necessarily relevant for all sectors or target audiences - but 'relevance' is universal.
59
I like (but can not afford) her clothes. The styles fit all bodies. And perhaps targeting older women is a smart business move, since that is where the money is.
33