The End of Steve & Barry's and Bitten SJP?

Posted by

July 8, 2008

Steve & Barry's is in big trouble, according to The Wall Street Journal. The chain, which specializes in university sportswear and carries celeb endorsed lines such as Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker, Dear by Amanda Bynes, and Eleven by Venus Williams, is said to be closing 100 stores, and may face total liquidation unless emergency financing can be found.

I won't be shedding any tears. The first and last time I ever stepped into a Steve & Barry's store was when SJP launched her Bitten line, and since that was a huge disappointment, I have no reason whatsoever to shop there. If Steve & Barry's does, in fact, get liquidated, the fate of Bitten is yet unknown...I'm hoping that this, er, setback, would give rise to a new fashion collection by Parker.

Perhaps she could redeem herself by teaming up with H&M or Topshop. Heck, even if she did a collection for Kohl's or JCPenney's we'd be happier. Somehow I don't see Target tapping that. Sure hope they don't get licensed to Sears or heaven forbid, Kmart. Uh oh...what if Walmart scoops that up? Whatever happens, nothing could be worse than what she did for Steve & Barry's - right??

Will you be sorry to see Steve & Barry's go?

Comments (17)

Posted in: Budget Fashion, Off the Rack

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Comments

Heavens no i wont be sad to see them go.....they were pointless, and i looked up SJP's clothing line online, and i wasnt impressed ONE BIT. her sex in the city clothes be ON POINT (sometimes) but c'mon now...why S&B's??? and everyone else needs to up their line of clothes EXCEPT target, i love that store lol. and yea i can see her going to H&M that would be hot.

#1 ashley on 2008-07-08 06:58 (Reply)

i loved her clothes im a person that cant afford much so i was happy to find out i could shop somewhere and have enough to be happy

#1.1 carolyn on 2009-01-13 18:53 (Reply)

I had the exact same reaction you did the first time I checked out Bitten. Just prior to that, my first reaction to Steve and Barry's was "who blew up Old Navy?"

They really missed their mark, big time. Price point is not everything, especially to the fashion conscious. And there are plenty of retailers who do disposable and inexpensive but of-the-moment fashion - think Target, Forever 21, etc.

#2 Karo (Homepage) on 2008-07-08 08:26 (Reply)

I wouldn't worry too much about Sears/Kmart snapping up S&B. They've got problems of their own. Oh, and I don't have an S&B anywhere near me. It doesn't sound like I'm missing much.

#3 MW on 2008-07-08 08:44 (Reply)

The clothes are awful! I bought two pairs of pants in NY and the fit was atrocious...close them down, you're doing us a favor!

#4 Tasha on 2008-07-08 09:29 (Reply)

Glad to see them go!!! That just goes to show that you can't build your company on the backs of the poor in third world countries and get away with it forever! S&B were notorious for finding the loopholes in the system to keep their prices low, not to mention their clothes were NOT attractive.

#5 Peaches on 2008-07-08 09:42 (Reply)

I'm not going to miss SJP's Bitten collection, it was rather boring. But I like what S&B offers in terms of university wear. Where else can I find a sweatshirt for my college at $15, instead of the $35 that the university store offers and the $50 that the alumni association offers? And in a range of colors and styles too! Here's hoping that they don't shut down any of the campus locations.

#6 M on 2008-07-08 11:23 (Reply)

Good riddance. I couldn't BELIEVE how cheaply made the celeb lines were, and what a mess everything else was at my local S&B. Bleh.

#7 Sal (Homepage) on 2008-07-08 11:54 (Reply)

I will be sorry... I was underwhelmed by SJP's line, but I got an amazingly cute Lucky Charms shirt there and an actually really comfortable pair of jeans. I just get so dang giddy when I see a shirt for $8...

#8 reva (Homepage) on 2008-07-08 13:54 (Reply)

I've never shopped there, but I do feel badly for those who did shop there because I know for fact that for some, it's really all they could afford next to Target and Walmart.

#9 Joann on 2008-07-08 14:08 (Reply)

Although all of S&B's merchandise was less than stellar, however, I did manage to buy two items from the Bitten line that I get compliments on everytime I wear them: a dark rinse slightly relaxed skinny jean and a black wool coat. $10 jeans that everyone thinks are designer, what more can you ask for. If you're near one, you might find a gem in the rough.

#10 Rachelle on 2008-07-08 19:37 (Reply)

M: I agree that their campus locations make sense, that's where they got their start, that's where they should have stayed.

Joann: I definitely appreciate the need for more budget clothing options but as another reader pointed out, price point isn't all that matters. Customers deserve better, and this is the message we're trying to give retailers like S&B.

Thanks for all the great feedback, it's really informative to hear what everybody thinks

#10.1 The Budget Babe on 2008-07-08 23:19 (Reply)

I'm into budget-friendly apparel but SJP Bitten line was just a total bummer. It just looks so cheap. No Boundaries clothing line from Walmart is way much better.

#11 bingkee on 2008-07-09 11:48 (Reply)

I'm late getting in on this post since I'm currenlty on a shoptox and trying to abstain from reading your great blog!! But I had to add my input..I am very sad Steve and Barry's is facing shutdown. I don't have a Steve and Barry's near me, but I do look forward to making my yearly Dallas trip and hitting them up. I never had any problems with the clothes I purchased from both the Bitten and Dear by Amanda Bynes line. They've lasted just fine, and hey, you can't beat a full lenght wool coat for $20!

#12 Christina on 2008-07-10 10:57 (Reply)

I worked for them and I am super glad to see them close. I feel bad for the people still employed but this company promoted so many Males whom I witnessed harassing young adult females who were employees that it made my skin crawl.

And the racial slurs, rampant. Good bye "good ol' boys" and good riddance!

#13 steveandbarryssux on 2008-07-19 14:31 (Reply)

I think it's sad to see the company close down. i worked for them in India and the US and I gotta say that they did'nt work the back of any developing nations. I also dont think they EXPLOITED any loopholes in the system.
These guys were good (i dont know about the female harresment though). They had people who were responsible for their success... like Andrew Seligman, Avi Sonpal, and so on.
They gave a normal person a chance to fill their wardrobe in a limited budget.
And they sure did give Old navy a run for their money.

#14 Sohel Merchant on 2008-08-23 07:08 (Reply)

I worked for them for a while. They made promises they couldn't keep, They sent managers all over the country for weeks at a time that were waiting for their store to open near their home, and if you shook the cage, they got rid of you. I am so glad to see the NY staff feeling what we felt. Good ridance. I feel for the employees that gave 100 percent to make that company work when all it was about was the top getting greedy!This is what happens when you treat people wrong!

#15 Dark Knight on 2010-03-05 12:42 (Reply)

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