“We wanted to add a
well-established, fashion-casual
men’s and women’s clothing line
known for dependability,
performance and design to our lineup.”
—Shannon West, Costco vice president
The venerated Hathaway company, which
has stood for fashion and style for more than
150 years, has inked an exclusive deal with
Costco, pairing its high-quality clothing
with Costco’s high-value philosophy.
The right fit
Men’s button-down dress shirt
Costco (Hathaway) $14.99
National department store $59.50
Boutique clothier $75.00
Prices based on a survey taken in the Seattle
area in June 2007.
stringent tests run from examining thread count
and checking for unfinished seams to testing color
fastness after repeated washings. Country regulations, such as labeling laws and flammability standards, are also strictly enforced.
“Much of the work is done by hand rather than
computerized machines,” Bob notes. “All collars are
hand-turned for a neat finish, shirt pockets are
placed by hand for perfect positioning and pattern
matching, threads are hand-clipped and garments
are hand-pressed and packed. You usually find such
personalized work only on custom-made clothes,
costing a lot more.”
I’m tickled with the extra care taken with
pocket placement, as poorly aligned pockets are a
pet peeve of mine. Wanting to conduct my own
quality-assurance test, I take home Costco’s num-ber-one-selling Hathaway item, which Shannon
describes as “the shirt that started an empire”: the
men’s 100 percent cotton, long-sleeve dress shirt.
I first inspect Hathaway’s signature element: the
unbreakable three-hole buttons with “Hathaway”
embossed on the front. The holes form a triangle for
added strength that is proven to keep buttons on
longer than other buttonhole styles. I find no rough
edges inside the holes to gnaw away at thread and am
particularly pleased with the pearly white finish on
the button. Call me picky, but plain-finished buttons
sometimes dull down a shirt’s appearance.
The 100 percent combed-cotton fabric is soft
yet strong, with a silky finish and a smooth, polished look. Each row of stitching features stylish
single-needle construction, except side seams, which
are double-stitched for extra strength. The seams
are strong, flat, tidy and clean-looking. I find no
cut-rate puckering.
Other features, such as the collar, the pocket
and the two-button adjustable rounded-corner
cuffs, exude quality from the get-go. The pleasing
thin stripes on the shirt align perfectly with the
pocket, making it seem to disappear. And, being
machine washable, this shirt is low maintenance.
I am impressed. The price of this exceptional
dress shirt is just $14.99. Comparable shirts sell for
$50 to $60 in clothing stores.
There are plenty of Hathaway garments to choose
from this fall in all warehouses. The men’s 100 percent cotton, long-sleeve dress shirt will be available
in five new colors and patterns, including white and
gray. It arrives in early November in two styles: the
more casual button-down and the dressier modified spread point collar (with extra stays). Sizes run
from small to extra-extra-large. Women, take note:
I wear this shirt, too, and love it.
The Hathaway men’s quarter-zip, long-sleeve
sweater arrives in early November. It has a vintage
look and generous fit, and is 100 percent combed
cotton for softness. It sells for $29.99, versus comparables at $75 to $100. (Sounds like a winning
Christmas gift.)
Also be on the lookout for the comfy long-sleeve,
brushed carbon twill, 100 percent cotton men’s shirt
at $18.99. It’s great for cold winter wear, and I am
particularly drawn to the tartan plaid. (The hubby
tried on a sample of this shirt and didn’t want to give
it back. Not to worry: We’ll pick up some when they
arrive in mid-October.)
Women should not miss the gorgeous all-over-cable, V-neck Lady Hathaway sweater at $19.99.
Made of luxurious 100 percent mercerized cotton
yarn with a fashion-forward slightly tapered silhouette, it’s available in warehouses now in luscious
colors, including chocolate, wisteria, carnation and
classic navy.
For a great underpinning, try the super-soft
Lady Hathaway camisole, $12.99 for a two-pack.
Featuring stretch cotton, adjustable straps and hidden bra support, it is upgraded with finer cotton
threads and slightly more spandex for better body
shaping. The backside hardware is now painted to
match the fabric. Joy of joys—there are no annoying tags to rub skin raw.
What a perfect way to welcome fall—in
Hathaway style. C
Costco’s
Hathaway
fashionista look
A CLOSE FAMILY friend is a
fashion stylist for movie stars
in Hollywood. I asked her advice
on how best to wear this fall’s
Costco Hathaway lineup. Here
is her take.
Hathaway men’s button-down, long-sleeve dress shirt:
“Pair with dark jeans and loafers or driving shoes. Leave
untucked for a younger, more
casual vibe. The white shirt
looks great on women, paired
with a high-waist pencil
skirt—similar to Sharon Stone
wearing a men’s shirt to the
Oscars. It is also a perfect
beach cover-up.”
Hathaway men’s spread-col-lar, long-sleeve dress shirt:
“For dinner, wear tucked in
with gray slacks, nice black
belt and dress shoes.”
Hathaway men’s thin-stripe,
long-sleeve dress shirt: “When
buttoned down, pair with a
solid black, gray or brown suit.
With the collar open, wear
under a solid-color V-neck
sweater with jeans.”
Hathaway men’s overwash,
100 percent combed-cotton
sweater: “It makes the perfect
travel sweater when paired
with a T-shirt and jeans. Or
dress it up with a button-down shirt and khakis.”
Hathaway men’s long-sleeve,
brushed carbon twill shirt:
“Plaid is always great for fall
with dark jeans or tan khakis.”
Lady Hathaway all-over-cable, V-neck sweater: “Pair
with a men’s white button-down and denim for a more
casual look. To dress up, wear
with a khaki pencil skirt.”
Lady Hathaway camisole:
“A great basic. Wear under a
solid button-down for a pop of
color. Also great under dresses
for additional coverage, or
layer two colors and pair with
shorts or skirts.”—PV
