Exploring the Field -part 2

In the world of clothing there are many places to go that are eager to facilitate in the shopper's needs. Today I'd like to share my findings from the world of "retail houses".

As someone who does not regularly shop in the Netherlands for the more refined pieces - England, Italy and thrifting seem to far better cater to my needs (be it fit, quality, or price-quality comparison) - I must admit I felt a bit in unfamiliar waters when shopping around for places to apply.

Oger is a well-known house, considered by many to be the crème-de-la-crème of gentlemen's fine clothing in the country, but my occasional visit to the various premisses of Oger (pronounced Ogér, as in French) yielded me the impression that there was nothing to shop for.
Be it the staff's attire: consistently wearing their trousers at a length suggesting they stole them from the children's department to adequately show off their eternally mismatched shoes in preferably overly light cognac, to match the tasteless splash (or should I say torrent) of contrast-coloured stitching wherever possible, all suggesting a sort of peer-pressure invoked need to dress as foolish and loud as possible to "demonstrate" a sense of style and fashion. Not to mention their attitude towards customers being equally clownish and snobbish. No the "gentlemen" of Oger still have much to learn concerning manners, be it in dress or behaviour.
Granted, their knowledge of sartorial affairs is well above that of the average punter, and the collections contain many a desirable piece (frankly excluding most of Oger's own line), but it still is nothing compared to the better houses in Great Britain and Italy, and the premium paid on the prices makes it almost worthwhile to shop abroad for that reason too.

However, I digress. There were several maisons I'd be happy to apply to, though non where I found a vacancy. A trip down memory lane (and my closet) brought a very specific shop to my attention: The Boston Trader. Although I must admit that over a third of their stock is a bit to scruffy of flashy for my personal taste and the name's appalling, I have bought two of my first suits here - a dark-grey herringbone and a beige and grey glen-check with a mid-blue over-check - and I usually am pleased by the displays in their windows.
I also see potential at The Boston Trader, both for me, and the store. So much so, I've decided to move it to my top-pick for now, and will write on it more elaborately in a separate post.

My last two picks are Eduard Pelger, a 150 year old Dutch establishment selling brands such as Church shoes, and Borelli ties and shirts, that I was previously unacquainted with, and Maison de Bonneterie, which does have several openings for sales staff.

After the weekend I shall start the open applications and applying to the aforementioned vacancies. I'm curious (and sceptical) to see how things will turn out.

Meanwhile, I've started sketching, and (re)discoverd I have no drawing-skills whatsoever..