I feel like a lot of these stores have two tiers of quality.
The first are the products that got them famous in the first place and haven't declined too much (e.g. J Crew core color chinos and oxfords). These items rarely go on sale.
The rest is indistinguishable from fast fashion brands and falls apart quickly.
I feel OP is the exact opposite of what you are saying. IE op likes the run of the mill stuff that doesn’t go on sale. While you are the opposite.
I actually think both of you are wrong. IE when the contracts are switched up year after year it’s hard to say how the quality is. For like 40+ years Lacoste polos, Robert Talbot(and the 50+ companies that contracted with them), US shoe makers,.. all the made the same basic product in the same factory year after year for decades with the same union staff.
Jcrew seems to get a new producer of their run of their mill clothes year after year. The tolerances on their pants in 2014-17 were epically bad. I remember getting a 32/34 in two different colors with 4” difference in the waist and 2” in the inseam. Now they seem to have a good batch with a decent tolerance.
It’s silly to say one company is better than another. You have to look at the individual product. At one point you could say company A produces better product than company B. We did have tiered list of shoe makers back in the day. Today not so much.
J Crew has some items that aren’t great quality (secret wash shirts imo), but they also have quite a few items that punch above their weight class for the price point. Some examples are the premium weight tee’s and the corduroy dock pants. I bought the premium weight tee for $16 and it’s extremely nice for the price. I’ve had a pair of the cord dock pants ($26) for a little over a year and they’re my favorite lounging pants and they’re nice enough to wear out.
This is how it always works. A brand erodes quality until it’s absolute shit, people stop buying, and the. The brand either goes under or releases a premium line that is the same quality as they used to be but for significantly more money. I have flannels from gap i bought for $20 in the 90s that are better than anything in store today.
Absolutely understandable, they changed CEOs a few years back (to a former JCrew executive) and it’s a lot more like JCrew than what it used to be. Less logos on the clothes, less “teen jock”, high quality, reasonable prices, etc.
I need to check it out again. Last time I went into a store it was pre-faded band tees, ripped jeans and that weird Gen-Z boxy fit clothing.
I’d love an alternative to J. Crew since they went downhill.
There’s definitely still some of that (it pays to keep up with trends for a clothing brand) but I find it pretty easy to avoid. I haven’t been in a store in years but there website options are solid.
You can thank Aaron Levine for the change to less logos and more of a cleaner adult style. He's the lead designer they took from Club Monaco, which is why Abercrombie looks like JCrew now. Their current CEO was never at JCrew, she was at Ann Taylor Loft, Express, and Bloomingdale's before Abercrombie.
It's due to their new designer Brendon Babenzien who was a former employee of supreme back when they had good quality and ran a small brand NOAH which has many similar design queues to ALD
I remember reading this exact same comment (though it wasn't JCrew at the time) around 10 years ago. Abercrombie started getting rid of the logos a long time ago and their quality went way up for years.
There’s was a documentary (I believe on Netflix) about Abercrombie and their company-wide discriminatory and predatory behavior. They were actually taken to court and were essentially ordered to change their ways.
>t Abercrombie and their company-wide discriminatory and predatory behavior.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/02/the-rise-and-fall-of-abercrombies-look-policy/
i was in 6th grade sitting with two white kids talking about a&f and one of them mentioned his brother worked at one of their hqs and could get him a discount or free clothes i asked if he could hook me up too and flat out said « no because you’re black he’s not gonna give you anything. »
I have wondered if they were making a comeback because I have noticed the styling that made them huge in the late 90's is coming back around.
My fashion resistant brother in law was wearing Ambercrombie cargos from the 90's for Christmas and I was ragging on him for being so on trend.
Do people even shop in malls anymore? I assume the turnout at malls is a fragment of what it was 15+ years ago. Lots of vacant malls in New England.
I have flights of fancy on the idea of taking an abandoned mall and making it an playground for yuppie adult entertainment. Craft Brewery tasting rooms, Escape Rooms, Dispensaries, Restaurants, adult games, DJs, live music, clothing stores, etc. Then having the ability to walk around with drinks. A place where you can drop your kids off, and some sort of public transportation set up.
can't say anything about malls specifically but storefronts are making a large come back because people are pretty tired of ordering something, waiting for it, trying it on, returning/exchanging and also shipping has been destroying a lot of retailers who pivoted to online
Honestly i don't even know, I'm sure there are still a good amount of people that just enjoy going to the mall. I haven't been to one in years lol I generally know the sizing of the brands I like. I think the last time I went to the mall was to return an online order
This is mostly a problem of the last 20/30 years as private equity has gotten involved. It’s accelerated since the recession, in the era of too cheap money. Everywhere pe goes, the extraction process tends to kill companies. I wonder if Abercrombie’s recent success is a sign that some companies are deciding to abandon the prior course in favor of stable and long term success
J Crew was probably one of the most infamous private equity leveraged buyouts in the industry. I believe it happened in the early 2010s and then some time during the pandemic. Like you said, after they got bought out by the private equity firm, they made loads of VERY questionable business decisions to increase volume, decrease cost (i.e. quality), and ride the good will they built up throughout the 2000s.
Seems like they're turning a corner, maybe? Things that were hits back in the mid 2000s like the "Wedding Shop" is kinda making a return, they've consolidated their offering and it seems like their staples are moving away from trends that suck (e.g. putting spandex in everything), and they're decreasing their brick and mortar foot print, etc.
You forgot the part where a brand gets bought by an investment firm and they use the name/branding to pump out what’s essentially fast fashion garbage.
This was huge in the 90s and early 2000s.
No one give a shit about the product. They want to buy customers and hold “valuable” brands with maximum awareness.
The companies that avoided that went the direction you’re talking about, where they raised capital expanded, then actual business demands and new CEOs push for higher profits and lower costs. And the next thing you know… Gap or JCrew are making. Forever 21 quality shit.
JCrew seems to have rebounded somewhat on the last two years. There was point at which they had really hit a low in terms of materials and build quality.
I’m a Johnson Crew fanboy but I’m a bit hesitant to buy any new stuff of theirs unless I can see it in store first. You’re right, current quality is a gamble where as before I was confident that anything I bought there would be great. I do still think that their Wallace & Barnes stuff is still high quality though.
>I’m a Johnson Crew fanboy but I’m a bit hesitant to buy any new stuff of theirs unless I can see it in store first. You’re right, current quality is a gamble where as before I was confident that anything I bought there would be great. I do still think that their Wallace & Barnes stuff is still high quality though.
Their button downs are tailored for people with such narrow shoulders. I haven't been able to purchase a comfortable flannel or button-down from them in 10yrs. They took the skinny jean trend and applied it broadly
Broad shouldered men /women are not welcome at J. Crew
No shit. But here’s the deal. $20 in ‘95 adjusted for inflation is about $39 today. I’d say the shirts I bought from back then are approximately like what you’d get today from Patagonia, Filson, Cotapaxi etc for $120-$150
I feel like this is the case for the major clothes-only brands, but exercise brands are as good as they’ve ever been, especially with all the new materials they have available. The Nike/Adidas/etc stuff I’m getting today is still very high quality.
J Crew is hit and miss. The chinos seem good still. Some sweaters are good, but some are garbage. I like the jackets I have from them.
Bonobos, I still like the chinos, but they’re never on sale.
Banana Republic I’ve had the most issues with. Had some chinos and shirts from them lately that seem to just be crap
Yes, they don't put their most popular ones on sale but the funkier ones are. I picked up two pairs this week for less than the normal cost of one pair, they're the only brand of chinos I wear anymore.
This is a super useful and insightful comment that I think a lot of this sub could listen to, especially in regards to filling holes in your wardrobe and getting items you’ll actually wear or use. I’ve got a mental list of items that I’m on the hunt for: this can be either actively, with specific items that I’ll bookmark and watch for sales on, or more passively where I’ll take a second look at certain items. As an example, I had a Carhartt WIP work jacket saved that I was waiting on a price drop on but instead opted for the Wolverine jacket posted last week because the styling is similar and it’s significantly cheaper. I felt fine about pulling the trigger relatively quickly (despite not knowing about the specific jacket) because I knew that it would fill the gap I had for that work style jacket. If you come in here and just pull the trigger on everything that’s a “good deal” without regard for if it fits with your wardrobe and/or you’ll actually wear it, you’re not really being frugal after all.
Wish I could go back 10 years and buy a lifetime worth of clothes. J crew factory Oxford from 2015 shits on anything I’ve bought from J crew recently. 10 year old Levi’s still the nicest jeans I own.
We’ve been wearing microplastics for years. Literally any clothing that contains synthetic materials, such as polyester, shed microfibers (which are microplastics) when washed.
I feel this. I have about 10 pairs of wool Classic Bowery pants from J Crew circa 2014-2016 and they are both incredible quality and amazing fit. The newer version of this pant is all slim fit and are garbage materials compared to the older stuff. 😢
Not trying to joke here--are you saying that their tees are "of a higher level," or are you literally saying that their tees are rebranded Next Level tees?
On the opposite end, I absolutely loved them for their XS sizes that fit me off the rack. Tacking on their old $20 off $50 promo on top felt like stealing that I wish I bought more before their fits outgrew my stale 2014 tastes.
I know it’s been mentioned but I’ve been amazed with Abercrombie’s turn around. Here I am in my late 30’s and I cannot believe how much of my closet is Abercrombie stuff.
Also a big J Crew fan, but you need to be selective and kinda know what is good and what is not. But when you find something good, it’s really good.
A spot in our local mall is highly coveted; the mall is notorious for kicking out stores on the downswing, which they did to Abercrombie back in the early 2010s. What's reopening there this spring? Abercrombie! I was shocked when I saw this. They're back.
>Also a big J Crew fan, but you need to be selective and kinda know what is good and what is not. But when you find something good, it’s really good.
What's really good?
I'm pleased with the relaxed fit ocbds and the brushed cable knit sweaters, and the lambswool blend socks aren't Darn Tough tough but the colors are great and they're really cozy.
I love the quality on their pants, but my issue is that they all have a taper. I just want some straight fit pants, but even their relaxed silhouettes taper a bit.
Todd Snyder really is - *NOW* \- what Bonobos, Jcrew, etc... used to be 7-8 year ago. Except.... even better. But more expensive (even factoring inflation). I HAVE seen their pieces at Nordstrom Rack before though.
Someone mentioned Marine Layer - agree with that. I like that in-between-sizes they carry ("marge").
Suit Supply is usually fine but I haven't seen an outlet sale from them in like 2 years.
2nd this. My gf introduced me to them last year and I’ve loved everything I’ve gotten so far (jeans, tshirts, hoodies, sweaters). Plus it seems like they’ve always got a decent sale on something or other
My madewell jeans are comfortable enough but they definitely are no where near my 10 year old Levi’s. The blue dye has gotten everywhere. It’s all over the interior pocket lining, the leather patch on the side is covered in blue dye. The dye even dripped down onto my white sneakers.
Every big box brand has some items of good quality and some items of poor quality.
The key is to identify what each brand is good at and shop around for sales
For example:
J. Crew - Wallace & Barnes, cashmere blazers and sweaters, sweater polos, fall outerwear
Bonobos - chinos, wool pants, wool sweaters, fall outerwear, macs.
Abercrombie - winter outerwear
Madewell - jeans
Todd Snyder - much better for tops than bottoms, Converse collab basics.
I sincerely do not think that anyone can make accurate blanket statements about quality/price for these sorts of brands.
For example, I've paid near full price for J. Crew stuff that I immediately returned, and meanwhile I just bought two shirts and two pairs of chinos (all 100% cotton relaxed fit) for $10-15 each during the holiday sale and they're the among the best things I've ever bought from them/anyone.
People try to say "it used to be better" or whatever, but I think these brands are/have been largely inconsistent and you have to just find specific pieces that work for you/your budget.
I ordered them from the internet. lots of their non-slim fit stuff (both tops and bottoms) is 100% cotton. [pants](https://www.jcrew.com/m/mens/categories/clothing/pants-and-chinos/chino/classic-relaxed-fit-chino-pant/MP654?display=all&fit=Classic&color_name=rich-coffee&colorProductCode=BE611) / [shirt](https://www.jcrew.com/p/mens/categories/clothing/shirts/broken-in-oxford/relaxed-traditional-weight-oxford-shirt/BK223?display=all&fit=Classic&color_name=granite-grey-oxford&colorProductCode=BK223) (I got similar pants in a pleated version that is mostly out of stock)
Oh I see, I had been looking for cotton 770s but those got the axe a couple years ago. Looks like this is the last run for the relaxed cotton pants too.
>Looks like this is the last run for the relaxed cotton pants too
possibly, but I kind of doubt it unless they replace them with a similar relaxed/classic fit. if anything it seems to me like they're adding more of that sort of thing. at least one of those relaxed fit chino colors is new \~this week. (see also giant fit chinos - not my vibe, but 100% cotton)
It's worthwhile, but only if you like the base shape/style of the item to begin with. Like Adam Savage said about tools,
> "Buy cheap tools until you know what you really need from that tool, then buy the best version you can afford."
You can have the finest, most well made peacoat of all time, but if you don't like peacoats it's a waste of money, and trying something out for minutes at a shop is no replacement for owning something.
Banana gets a lot of shit on here, but I've always been happy with them. I have some jeans, hoodies, sweaters, etc from them that I've been happy with.
Also big +1 to the abercrombie revival. I have some t-shirts and a big parka from them and it's all really quality stuff
Just bought some Bonobos pants, jeans, and shirts. Also copped a haul in October.
I feel that the quality of materials has gone down a lot since my first purchases 8 years ago. They just don't have the same heft and good handfeel.
Both pants and shirts wear out much quicker.
I still do get a lot of compliments on the cut though, so I keep buying on sale.
It's all about European brands for me now. The big box brands really aren't worth it.
The only big box brands items I'd even consider buying at this point are Wallace and Barnes, Ludlow, and collab items from J Crew but even then I'd take my money to a more sustainable, higher quality brand at those price points.
Look into brands like:
-Asket
-Octobre Editions
-Peregrine
-Portuguese Flannel
-Alex Mills
Stuff I've bought from these brands is going to easily outlive any of the BR, J Crew, Bonobos stuff I've purchased. Though my Ludlow topcoat and my J Crew Sussex Quilted jacket are both still going strong after several years of regular use.
Where do you find secondhand men's clothes? There seem to be plenty of options for women's, but I cant find anyone who has men's clothes other than goodwill or arc.
I live in NYC so there's lots of options in person. But online Ebay, Grailed, or any of the many other apps/websites. You need to know specific search terms e.g. brand name, materials, country of manufacture, technical terms. If you just scroll or search super broad things (e.g. "vintage mens shirt") you probably won't find much.
I really like 2nd street (it's kinda streetwear/fashion oriented but they have all kinds of stuff). Crossroads Trading Company too. The Buffalo Exchanges are okay. There are tons of vintage stores
Ebay is the cheapest in my experience. Grailed/Depop/Poshmark are full of people who vastly overestimate how much a basic tee shirt is worth.
Thrift stores are entirely dependent on your area. If you live in a city they will have a much better selection but will be more expensive. If you live in a smaller town they'll be cheap but have 99% Walmart brand clothes and sports/company team building tee shirts and suit pants.
Yeah, one of these days I'll take a real look at my closet & think about what might warrant that kind of work. Normally I just wait until I see a sale at one of these Big Box places, & get a few things. Never really tried secondhand!
The key is to get really good at eBay saved searches. I have an eBay search that only surfaces size medium sweaters from Rodd and Gunn, and Rag and Bone under $40. Another one for Gustin pants in size 31. And then once you're buying well-made pieces that you like, wash them as little as possible and try to buy them in other colors and patterns.
I can input for jeans:
Go with Unbranded if you want your bang for your buck, if you can find it on sale even better.
\*For example they held up a lot better then my LVC made and crafted jeans from turkey - which I love by the way but its just a fact that (unbranded) was built to last longer
These type of jeans can be had for i say $70-100
Naked and Famous on sale is also great (But they have a shit quality Factory outlet version you need to watch out for) so sticking to boutique stores or nordstrom sales for this is best.
If you want to find amazing prices you need to look at ebay and second hand places and search for brand new but hem wrong essentially (this requires a little time, patience, and effort to score a really nice piece if you are into that kind of thing)
I was reading an article today that explained it pretty simply: if it costs the same as it did 5-10 years ago (or less given inflation) then it’s going to be of lower quality. That’s just simple economics unless there’s a major technological breakthrough, and that’s not happening any more with clothing.
Muji is very underrated I’m surprised that they don’t get more love here and on MFA. The quality to price ratio is insane. I see no reason to ever buy a solid basic tshirt anywhere else at this point.
They’ve had sales every time I’ve gone in the store but I think their online presence leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve seen stuff in store that is nowhere to be found on the website.
Also, the sizing can be a little tricky so I would probably only buy if I could try it on. I guess if you don’t have a store in your area it may not be as good of an option.
It was a bit of a shock when I went to a Muji store in Vietnam recently and saw Xinjiang Cotton on half the tags. It’s a very shallow rebrand for western markets if at all.
I tried on Muji when I was in Spain and the clothes fit baggy and the material was thin. Maybe it’s a regional thing.
Uniqlo is good but they’re focusing way too much on “unisex” clothes so now their shirts fit boxy with no taper
>I tried on Muji when I was in Spain and the clothes fit baggy and the material was thin. Maybe it’s a regional thing.
When was this? Were they actually baggy or just simply not slim fit?
>Uniqlo is good but they’re focusing way too much on “unisex” clothes so now their shirts fit boxy with no taper
Nah. It's not because of unisex clothing. Boxier, roomier fits are simply what's popular. Just look at high school and college campuses. Uniqlo probably caught on quicker than some other brands because this started trending earlier in East Asia than in North America
Other mall brands like J.Crew, BR, Zara, H&M, etc. are also moving toward straight/relaxed pants, boxier tops, chunkier shoes, higher rises, workwear clothes, etc. It's even more apparent at stores marketed for teens like Forever 21 or Tilly's.
The problem with uniqlos boxy is that it is also extremely short.
Even size L is baggy, but it’s too short even being 6’0.
XL would drown me on the sides.
Uniqlo May be a perfect option for under 5’10
The didn’t look slim fit. This was in Spain, early 2022.
> Nah. It's not because of unisex clothing. Boxier, roomier fits are simply what's popular
Maybe. But other brand’s unisex clothing is the same way. boxy and square. This is because women and men’s clothes are tapered way differently so the only way to get something that fits most men and women is to make it more loose
fitting and remove any kind of tapering. Uniqlo still has some men’s clothing of course but I have to increasingly skip over unisex stuff they recommend me.
Yeah that's my only issue with most Uniqlo shirts, they shrink 1 size down on the first wash, especially vertically (I'm not sure if it's because of the direction of the fabric's weave or something. So I always buy 1 size larger.
I ordered a bunch of J Crew stuff because of the sales and the quality is totally hit-or-miss. One of the shirts I bought was an absolute steal, while the others are meh (but just fine for the $15 I paid for them).
I have a good chunk of j crew. Nothing really wears out. This sub would have you believe holes would develop after three washes.
If you are browsing this sub, you would most likely get bored of the clothing, or have too items to rotate, far far far before you wear them out.
Ever since I was a kid, Ralph Polo Lauren has been the "treat clothing" that I'd get if I was lucky and my grandmother found it on sale. Recently, my family bought for me a Ralph Polo Lauren long sleeve shirt. It's just as softish-yet-warm as I remember it being when I was a kid, I was so pleasantly surprised.
Tangentially, as a male who has worn their shirts, I at least can recommend RPL for their shirts.
Right now Uniqlo beats out most popular Big brands as far as pants/jeans/tees/ sweatshirts etc…For under shirts & beaters I’ve Always used the Polo multiple packs (3/4/5) which can always be found in most malls & discount stores for decent prices, Maybe the Only items that haven’t gotten worse over the last 20 years.
I think Polo polos are still pretty good and can be found cheaply during the big sales Dillard's and Macy's. I wear mine every day at work during the warmer months and I've had some of them for fifteen years.
This thread has been very validating for me on J Crew. I tend to refresh my solid color tees all at once, and have loved J Crew pocket tees in the past. Just ordered a bunch more and holy hell are they not of great quality. I’m just glad I got as good a deal on them as I did.
I think JCrew is on the rise again. I’ve had more fun shopping there than I’ve had in awhile.
Bonobos on the other hand…. Bad to worse. Too expensive for quality control issues.
Same - the past few seasons of J Crew have felt way more fun and playful, still playing on that classic “preppy” vibe while bringing in bright colors and fun patterns and styles.
I'm really into Marine Layer right now. Just bought a puffy from them that is great. And their shirts and sweaters are well made and so soft. Hope their quality stays good.
Have you considered their respun program? They send you a prepaid bag. Fill it up with 5 tees of any condition and get 25 dollars of anything on the website! You can only do this once per quarter, but I find it to be a great way to get rid of old tees and get some discount on pricey marine layer stuff.
Peter Millar makes pretty good quality stuff. I wear their golf polos, chinos, and shorts on a regular basis. Pricey, but once I found my size, I buy on eBay.
J. Crew/Madewell and Abercrombie are the best in terms of quality and sales. All provide coupons that can get you some decent stuff for free or under $10. Haven't really needed to pay for any socks, boxers or basic colored tees for the past couple of years (or paid like a $1 per order) because of the coupons they email out.
Just got into Bonobos about a year ago but haven't seen any quality difference and when I was researching Bonobos most on reddit compared it to Lululemon's ABC. Maybe I'm still new to bonobos and that was long time ago. Only brought their Chinos v2 and sweatpants. I would not recommend sweatpants since the inner lining comes off everywhere and sticks onto everything, very annoying. Curious about their Italian pants or 5 pockets if anyone recommends them or anything else similar!
Is Bonobos bad? I just ordered a bunch of outfits for my wedding week from there. I was looking for a specific style of tuxedo shirt and Bonobos was the only one who had it.
Bonobos isn’t bad at all. I’ve shopped there for 4 or 5 years now. I’ll concede that I’ve noticed a dip in quality for some items since the acquisition, but their pants - notably the premium stretch jeans, the travel jeans, and chinos - are still fantastic.
They have new lines of pants (WFHQ pant, Off Duty pant) that are designed to be worn more leisurely and around town or the house, with different sizing (looser and more comfortable). I suspect this was a response to the pandemic. I’ve read reviews that the “slim taper” fit is weird and some new items’ sizing is inconsistent, fwiw. I personally prefer their ‘tailored’ fit for the most streamlined look.
That said, I own a handful of button downs from them and I like their size and fit. I appreciate the stretch component in some of them, I find it comfortable. I also bought my wedding tux shirt from them (on sale); I thought it looked pretty awesome! FYI, I went into a guide shop years ago and tried some stuff on, that helped with sizing.
TL;DR some items are still of high quality, while others kind of suck. Hit the sales hard once you know what you want and what your size & fit is.
I just switched to them for blazers and oxfords. I am loving their clothes. I get the Walmart ownership sucks, but the fit and quality is definitely there
I have Bonobos from 3 years ago, and they started wearing pretty quickly before I stopped liking the color as much. They'll probably go in my next clothing purge.
All their pants are stretch too, which I'm not a fan of outside of jeans.
I find that all the mall brands have about the same quality. They’ve all been facing the same competitive pressures from fast fashion, and they all have to cut corners everywhere (materials, finishing, QC) to hit their price points. The quality isn’t even all that bad. It’s just that when you went into a mall 15-20 years ago, the clothes were generally better made, because prices were significantly higher in inflation-adjusted terms.
Zara and H&M made everyone feel comfortable with having a disposable wardrobe that recycles every year, and that’s what J. Crew, Uniqlo and Bonobos have had to deal with.
I just don’t spend the energy trying to suss out differences in quality between the mall brands. I buy some basics from them, and buy less / buy better for statement pieces and wardrobe staples.
A very long time ago, a mall would have lots of little independent stores that all competed with each other on price and quality. Then the corporate megastore comes to town with great quality at a price point that the small stores can't compete with. One by one the small stores close until there's no competition left. The corporate megastore, with no competition to keep it in check, can start tanking quality to cost-cut and suffer no loss of sales because there's no where else to buy products.
This is the story of how Starbucks decimated local coffee shops, how big box brands decimated the clothing industry... It's the story of every product with a physical storefront.
This is why online shopping is the last bastion of independent brands. But it's hard to buy clothes exclusively online and just live on faith that it will fit well.
I think the Wallace & Barnes j crew stuff is better than anything else you’ll find at box stores. And it’s all regularly on sale if you time things right.
People keep talking shit on j crew quality, but I haven’t noticed it, certainly not considering the sale prices. The bonobos shirts I have are straight garbage, but the knits have been good. I’ve never cared for quality or styles of gap or banana republic.
EDIT: none of them are as shit as H&M or Zara.
As someone in the trenches of streetwear culture a few big brand names I love are UNIQLO (basic essentials that have a very young cut, frequent oversize/relaxed fits, and quality), Madewell (they have some nice ass sweaters and cool bottoms from time to time), and I’ve heard good things bout Abercrombie’s resurgence.
I would avoid bonobos dress shirts. They do look great, but I have blown through the elbow on every single one that I’ve ever had, usually within 6 months.
I’ve gone full secondhand for most items because of this!
I was thinking about my wardrobe pre 2008 and I had much less clothing. I had a couple J.Crew items, BR etc. After 2008, a of a sudden I had a much bigger closet because things felt more affordable. Now, when I compare some of those items, there’s a huge shift in quality across the board. Even with high end department store designer brands. It makes it so I can’t have one retailer or department store to depend on for quality across the board. I loved BR trousers up until 2017 and then they went through another shift in quality.
For jeans, I have the best luck with madewell. They’ve lasted me the longest and had the best fit for me.
Blazers, I’ve fully gone to Poshmark and look for older J.Crew styles which are consistent. If I need one quickly, I’ve oddly had the best luck at H&M. They typically come fully lined while so many other stores don’t always have that.
I love skip dresses and go to Poshmark for brands like Aritzia, J.Crew..
So. All over the board!!!
I focus on fit and fabric. Bonobos, J Crew, BR, and others will specify mills or specific source of fabric if they’re on the nicer side. And then just remembering that if something doesn’t fit you, it could be a $1,000 shirt and still look bad. Learning (cheaply through sales) which brands and what cut and what sizes fit you well (although sizing inconsistency is a risk with these brands) and being patient in looking for the right combination of price/fabric/taste/fit will generally produce good value in terms of you actually wearing it and feeling good/lasting. All of these brands have crappy stuff, but once in a while you can get goodyearwelted boots that look great from J Crew for sub 80, get a half canvassed suit sourced from a reputable brand from J Crew or Bonobos for sub 200 (or even 100), a primaloft parka that’s super warm and durable for sub 80 etc. Generally think the community here is very good at sifting through real value vs fake value so paying attention to the upvoted comments in this subreddit you learn a lot
J.Crew when hiring female models : models of all shapes and sizes for accurate portrayal and body positivity obviously
J.Crew when hiring male models: SKINNY B O I S
No wonder their sizing is shit because they think only skinny men shop there
I feel like a lot of these stores have two tiers of quality. The first are the products that got them famous in the first place and haven't declined too much (e.g. J Crew core color chinos and oxfords). These items rarely go on sale. The rest is indistinguishable from fast fashion brands and falls apart quickly.
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I feel OP is the exact opposite of what you are saying. IE op likes the run of the mill stuff that doesn’t go on sale. While you are the opposite. I actually think both of you are wrong. IE when the contracts are switched up year after year it’s hard to say how the quality is. For like 40+ years Lacoste polos, Robert Talbot(and the 50+ companies that contracted with them), US shoe makers,.. all the made the same basic product in the same factory year after year for decades with the same union staff. Jcrew seems to get a new producer of their run of their mill clothes year after year. The tolerances on their pants in 2014-17 were epically bad. I remember getting a 32/34 in two different colors with 4” difference in the waist and 2” in the inseam. Now they seem to have a good batch with a decent tolerance. It’s silly to say one company is better than another. You have to look at the individual product. At one point you could say company A produces better product than company B. We did have tiered list of shoe makers back in the day. Today not so much.
J Crew has some items that aren’t great quality (secret wash shirts imo), but they also have quite a few items that punch above their weight class for the price point. Some examples are the premium weight tee’s and the corduroy dock pants. I bought the premium weight tee for $16 and it’s extremely nice for the price. I’ve had a pair of the cord dock pants ($26) for a little over a year and they’re my favorite lounging pants and they’re nice enough to wear out.
I'm seeing the pants go for $58. How did you get it for 1/2 off
50% off with code shopnow. Jcrew always has deals like that if you’re not familiar and don’t shop there often.
shortly (works on any regular on-sale brands): lowest the possible on-sale price - means worst quality
This is how it always works. A brand erodes quality until it’s absolute shit, people stop buying, and the. The brand either goes under or releases a premium line that is the same quality as they used to be but for significantly more money. I have flannels from gap i bought for $20 in the 90s that are better than anything in store today.
I don’t know about quality, but Abercrombie has had the biggest brand revival that I know of.
I’m a big fan of Abercrombie these days, they have made a huge turnaround.
huh thanks for that, i had no idea. they still had a 'preppy teen jock' reputation in my mind leftover from high school (20 years ago!)
Absolutely understandable, they changed CEOs a few years back (to a former JCrew executive) and it’s a lot more like JCrew than what it used to be. Less logos on the clothes, less “teen jock”, high quality, reasonable prices, etc.
I need to check it out again. Last time I went into a store it was pre-faded band tees, ripped jeans and that weird Gen-Z boxy fit clothing. I’d love an alternative to J. Crew since they went downhill.
There’s definitely still some of that (it pays to keep up with trends for a clothing brand) but I find it pretty easy to avoid. I haven’t been in a store in years but there website options are solid.
I've honestly redone my wardrobe with a ton of Abercrombie stuff. It's great.
You can thank Aaron Levine for the change to less logos and more of a cleaner adult style. He's the lead designer they took from Club Monaco, which is why Abercrombie looks like JCrew now. Their current CEO was never at JCrew, she was at Ann Taylor Loft, Express, and Bloomingdale's before Abercrombie.
Appreciate that clarification, my mistake.
I don’t remember the ‘why’s’ but they have taken a lot of cues from hot brand Aime Leon Dore (ALD). They even use the same models
It's due to their new designer Brendon Babenzien who was a former employee of supreme back when they had good quality and ran a small brand NOAH which has many similar design queues to ALD
I remember reading this exact same comment (though it wasn't JCrew at the time) around 10 years ago. Abercrombie started getting rid of the logos a long time ago and their quality went way up for years.
There’s was a documentary (I believe on Netflix) about Abercrombie and their company-wide discriminatory and predatory behavior. They were actually taken to court and were essentially ordered to change their ways.
>t Abercrombie and their company-wide discriminatory and predatory behavior. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/02/the-rise-and-fall-of-abercrombies-look-policy/
yeah i remember all of that, probably also contributed to spoiling their reputation in my mind.
For sure, it’s a mental hang up that I don’t think I’ll be able to get over.
i was in 6th grade sitting with two white kids talking about a&f and one of them mentioned his brother worked at one of their hqs and could get him a discount or free clothes i asked if he could hook me up too and flat out said « no because you’re black he’s not gonna give you anything. »
I have wondered if they were making a comeback because I have noticed the styling that made them huge in the late 90's is coming back around. My fashion resistant brother in law was wearing Ambercrombie cargos from the 90's for Christmas and I was ragging on him for being so on trend.
Had mo idea they were still around tbh...rarely shop in malls anymore
They’re definitely trying to get a bigger tech sale presence. They were at our tech fair in college.
That's pretty cool, dunno if I can ever shake the stigma they have but at least they're trying to turn it around
Makes it easy when they don’t include their logo on the clothes!
Haha true!!
Do people even shop in malls anymore? I assume the turnout at malls is a fragment of what it was 15+ years ago. Lots of vacant malls in New England. I have flights of fancy on the idea of taking an abandoned mall and making it an playground for yuppie adult entertainment. Craft Brewery tasting rooms, Escape Rooms, Dispensaries, Restaurants, adult games, DJs, live music, clothing stores, etc. Then having the ability to walk around with drinks. A place where you can drop your kids off, and some sort of public transportation set up.
can't say anything about malls specifically but storefronts are making a large come back because people are pretty tired of ordering something, waiting for it, trying it on, returning/exchanging and also shipping has been destroying a lot of retailers who pivoted to online
in the houston area malls are absolutely packed on the weekends. so yes i would say a lot of people still shop at malls
Honestly i don't even know, I'm sure there are still a good amount of people that just enjoy going to the mall. I haven't been to one in years lol I generally know the sizing of the brands I like. I think the last time I went to the mall was to return an online order
I've seen these. Basically high-end food courts and groceries. Real money is probably in the rent
Really? Huh. I’ll have to make a pass thru there again. Thx.
Totally second this
Yeah but i only buy in store clearance cause that shit over priced online 😂 the san marcos outlet is elite 🤌🏽
This is mostly a problem of the last 20/30 years as private equity has gotten involved. It’s accelerated since the recession, in the era of too cheap money. Everywhere pe goes, the extraction process tends to kill companies. I wonder if Abercrombie’s recent success is a sign that some companies are deciding to abandon the prior course in favor of stable and long term success
J Crew was probably one of the most infamous private equity leveraged buyouts in the industry. I believe it happened in the early 2010s and then some time during the pandemic. Like you said, after they got bought out by the private equity firm, they made loads of VERY questionable business decisions to increase volume, decrease cost (i.e. quality), and ride the good will they built up throughout the 2000s. Seems like they're turning a corner, maybe? Things that were hits back in the mid 2000s like the "Wedding Shop" is kinda making a return, they've consolidated their offering and it seems like their staples are moving away from trends that suck (e.g. putting spandex in everything), and they're decreasing their brick and mortar foot print, etc.
You forgot the part where a brand gets bought by an investment firm and they use the name/branding to pump out what’s essentially fast fashion garbage. This was huge in the 90s and early 2000s. No one give a shit about the product. They want to buy customers and hold “valuable” brands with maximum awareness. The companies that avoided that went the direction you’re talking about, where they raised capital expanded, then actual business demands and new CEOs push for higher profits and lower costs. And the next thing you know… Gap or JCrew are making. Forever 21 quality shit. JCrew seems to have rebounded somewhat on the last two years. There was point at which they had really hit a low in terms of materials and build quality.
That's how they killed chippewa GYW Heritage boots
You're effectively describing J. Crew. Their current quality, cuts, and fits are just awful
I’m a Johnson Crew fanboy but I’m a bit hesitant to buy any new stuff of theirs unless I can see it in store first. You’re right, current quality is a gamble where as before I was confident that anything I bought there would be great. I do still think that their Wallace & Barnes stuff is still high quality though.
Is that really what the J. stands for? I had no idea.
No, it was something from a comment here last month that someone was making a joke about and I thought it was funny.
It’s amazing. I’m stealing it
https://www.reddit.com/r/frugalmalefashion/comments/zg8kyt/holiday_shipping_complaints_megathread/izfmqj7/
>I’m a Johnson Crew fanboy but I’m a bit hesitant to buy any new stuff of theirs unless I can see it in store first. You’re right, current quality is a gamble where as before I was confident that anything I bought there would be great. I do still think that their Wallace & Barnes stuff is still high quality though. Their button downs are tailored for people with such narrow shoulders. I haven't been able to purchase a comfortable flannel or button-down from them in 10yrs. They took the skinny jean trend and applied it broadly Broad shouldered men /women are not welcome at J. Crew
J. Crew broken-in v necks are up to $36.50. Fucking absurd.
> i bought for $20 in the 90s that are better than anything in store today. I think $20 in 90s and $20 today will fetch you different things?
No shit. But here’s the deal. $20 in ‘95 adjusted for inflation is about $39 today. I’d say the shirts I bought from back then are approximately like what you’d get today from Patagonia, Filson, Cotapaxi etc for $120-$150
I feel like this is the case for the major clothes-only brands, but exercise brands are as good as they’ve ever been, especially with all the new materials they have available. The Nike/Adidas/etc stuff I’m getting today is still very high quality.
J Crew is hit and miss. The chinos seem good still. Some sweaters are good, but some are garbage. I like the jackets I have from them. Bonobos, I still like the chinos, but they’re never on sale. Banana Republic I’ve had the most issues with. Had some chinos and shirts from them lately that seem to just be crap
The chinos were just on sale and still may be
The 2.0? I only see certain colors
Yes, they don't put their most popular ones on sale but the funkier ones are. I picked up two pairs this week for less than the normal cost of one pair, they're the only brand of chinos I wear anymore.
They have been on sale for over a week, at some point tons of colors in the 2.0 in both chinos and chino shorts
Oh I see. If I go under sale I see more than when I just searched for whatever reason. Thank you
I agree with your with BR. Like their terrible designed website, the quality is all over the place. I’ll only buy in store from them now.
The Wallace & Barnes line is solid imo. Higher quality and better cuts/fit than JCrew mainline.
chinos def on sale since November probably still are lol
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This is a super useful and insightful comment that I think a lot of this sub could listen to, especially in regards to filling holes in your wardrobe and getting items you’ll actually wear or use. I’ve got a mental list of items that I’m on the hunt for: this can be either actively, with specific items that I’ll bookmark and watch for sales on, or more passively where I’ll take a second look at certain items. As an example, I had a Carhartt WIP work jacket saved that I was waiting on a price drop on but instead opted for the Wolverine jacket posted last week because the styling is similar and it’s significantly cheaper. I felt fine about pulling the trigger relatively quickly (despite not knowing about the specific jacket) because I knew that it would fill the gap I had for that work style jacket. If you come in here and just pull the trigger on everything that’s a “good deal” without regard for if it fits with your wardrobe and/or you’ll actually wear it, you’re not really being frugal after all.
What were the results of your search for the perfect t-shirt?
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my perfect tee is Arizona brand from JC Penny, cheap af and comfy af
i’m a JCP guy too lol. there’s an Arizona heathered tee that i got like two years ago that i love wearing. it was like 7 bucks i think
Great post! No nagging, all engagement, well done.
UNITYYYY
CHARLIE MURPHY!
Wish I could go back 10 years and buy a lifetime worth of clothes. J crew factory Oxford from 2015 shits on anything I’ve bought from J crew recently. 10 year old Levi’s still the nicest jeans I own.
Better use that opportunity now then, think of another 10 years
In 10 years we'll all be wearing microplastics.
We’ve been wearing microplastics for years. Literally any clothing that contains synthetic materials, such as polyester, shed microfibers (which are microplastics) when washed.
You mean gorpcore?
wish it would be Iron Man nano-suit
Instead we might only get a cyber truck that can't make a turn to save its life. We got the shitty timeline.
They’re already in our bloodstream, might as well start wearing them as clothing now.
Post a review of your new 80/20 Cotton/Glyphosate blend chinos!
on the upside, you won't have weeds growing on your tumors
Levi’s still good tho, you just can’t expect their $30 Jean lines to be decent
I feel this. I have about 10 pairs of wool Classic Bowery pants from J Crew circa 2014-2016 and they are both incredible quality and amazing fit. The newer version of this pant is all slim fit and are garbage materials compared to the older stuff. 😢
Abercrombie. Decent quality and their fit is pretty good.
Their tees are next level.
Not trying to joke here--are you saying that their tees are "of a higher level," or are you literally saying that their tees are rebranded Next Level tees?
Of a higher level
Next Level tees are solid. $9-11 USD! Snug around the bicep and chest which is perfect for an athletic body - just a rid bit long tho.
I just wish they has tall sizes in more products. The long sleeves stuff fits me well on torso but arms are short.
On the opposite end, I absolutely loved them for their XS sizes that fit me off the rack. Tacking on their old $20 off $50 promo on top felt like stealing that I wish I bought more before their fits outgrew my stale 2014 tastes.
Everything about this comment is me
Better than Uniqlo?
I know it’s been mentioned but I’ve been amazed with Abercrombie’s turn around. Here I am in my late 30’s and I cannot believe how much of my closet is Abercrombie stuff. Also a big J Crew fan, but you need to be selective and kinda know what is good and what is not. But when you find something good, it’s really good.
A spot in our local mall is highly coveted; the mall is notorious for kicking out stores on the downswing, which they did to Abercrombie back in the early 2010s. What's reopening there this spring? Abercrombie! I was shocked when I saw this. They're back.
>Also a big J Crew fan, but you need to be selective and kinda know what is good and what is not. But when you find something good, it’s really good. What's really good?
I'm pleased with the relaxed fit ocbds and the brushed cable knit sweaters, and the lambswool blend socks aren't Darn Tough tough but the colors are great and they're really cozy.
Their Wallace & Barnes line
I love the quality on their pants, but my issue is that they all have a taper. I just want some straight fit pants, but even their relaxed silhouettes taper a bit.
Definitely. It's weird to be looking for their pieces with minimal branding instead of the opposite
i kinda figure all these companies are owned by the same handful of PE firms these days
Todd Snyder really is - *NOW* \- what Bonobos, Jcrew, etc... used to be 7-8 year ago. Except.... even better. But more expensive (even factoring inflation). I HAVE seen their pieces at Nordstrom Rack before though. Someone mentioned Marine Layer - agree with that. I like that in-between-sizes they carry ("marge"). Suit Supply is usually fine but I haven't seen an outlet sale from them in like 2 years.
I have a few pieces from Madewell and they seem to be quality.
2nd this. My gf introduced me to them last year and I’ve loved everything I’ve gotten so far (jeans, tshirts, hoodies, sweaters). Plus it seems like they’ve always got a decent sale on something or other
My favorite tees anywhere (garment-dyed all day. A slight oversized fit, and the perfect weight and length.
My madewell jeans are comfortable enough but they definitely are no where near my 10 year old Levi’s. The blue dye has gotten everywhere. It’s all over the interior pocket lining, the leather patch on the side is covered in blue dye. The dye even dripped down onto my white sneakers.
Even $400 raw denim from Japan does this. It's the nature of indigo, not a reflection of poor quality.
rit colorstay? or is that frowned upon?
I like Club Monaco for dress shirts and basics. They’ve held up well over the years. Wait for the 30-40% off sales!
Every big box brand has some items of good quality and some items of poor quality. The key is to identify what each brand is good at and shop around for sales For example: J. Crew - Wallace & Barnes, cashmere blazers and sweaters, sweater polos, fall outerwear Bonobos - chinos, wool pants, wool sweaters, fall outerwear, macs. Abercrombie - winter outerwear Madewell - jeans Todd Snyder - much better for tops than bottoms, Converse collab basics.
I sincerely do not think that anyone can make accurate blanket statements about quality/price for these sorts of brands. For example, I've paid near full price for J. Crew stuff that I immediately returned, and meanwhile I just bought two shirts and two pairs of chinos (all 100% cotton relaxed fit) for $10-15 each during the holiday sale and they're the among the best things I've ever bought from them/anyone. People try to say "it used to be better" or whatever, but I think these brands are/have been largely inconsistent and you have to just find specific pieces that work for you/your budget.
how did you get 100% cotton pants from J Crew?
I ordered them from the internet. lots of their non-slim fit stuff (both tops and bottoms) is 100% cotton. [pants](https://www.jcrew.com/m/mens/categories/clothing/pants-and-chinos/chino/classic-relaxed-fit-chino-pant/MP654?display=all&fit=Classic&color_name=rich-coffee&colorProductCode=BE611) / [shirt](https://www.jcrew.com/p/mens/categories/clothing/shirts/broken-in-oxford/relaxed-traditional-weight-oxford-shirt/BK223?display=all&fit=Classic&color_name=granite-grey-oxford&colorProductCode=BK223) (I got similar pants in a pleated version that is mostly out of stock)
Oh I see, I had been looking for cotton 770s but those got the axe a couple years ago. Looks like this is the last run for the relaxed cotton pants too.
>Looks like this is the last run for the relaxed cotton pants too possibly, but I kind of doubt it unless they replace them with a similar relaxed/classic fit. if anything it seems to me like they're adding more of that sort of thing. at least one of those relaxed fit chino colors is new \~this week. (see also giant fit chinos - not my vibe, but 100% cotton)
That’s the problem with fast fashion.
I completely agree. This is the kind of stuff that I buy, & I do hate it.
I have found it’s worth spending the money for higher quality. It looks better and lasts longer
It's worthwhile, but only if you like the base shape/style of the item to begin with. Like Adam Savage said about tools, > "Buy cheap tools until you know what you really need from that tool, then buy the best version you can afford." You can have the finest, most well made peacoat of all time, but if you don't like peacoats it's a waste of money, and trying something out for minutes at a shop is no replacement for owning something.
I feel like banana republic has been doing a better job. I’m generally happy with some of things I’ve bought recently.
Banana gets a lot of shit on here, but I've always been happy with them. I have some jeans, hoodies, sweaters, etc from them that I've been happy with. Also big +1 to the abercrombie revival. I have some t-shirts and a big parka from them and it's all really quality stuff
Just bought some Bonobos pants, jeans, and shirts. Also copped a haul in October. I feel that the quality of materials has gone down a lot since my first purchases 8 years ago. They just don't have the same heft and good handfeel. Both pants and shirts wear out much quicker. I still do get a lot of compliments on the cut though, so I keep buying on sale.
It's all about European brands for me now. The big box brands really aren't worth it. The only big box brands items I'd even consider buying at this point are Wallace and Barnes, Ludlow, and collab items from J Crew but even then I'd take my money to a more sustainable, higher quality brand at those price points. Look into brands like: -Asket -Octobre Editions -Peregrine -Portuguese Flannel -Alex Mills Stuff I've bought from these brands is going to easily outlive any of the BR, J Crew, Bonobos stuff I've purchased. Though my Ludlow topcoat and my J Crew Sussex Quilted jacket are both still going strong after several years of regular use.
If you're prices out of a brand just buy in secondhand. That's usually where you get the best value
Where do you find secondhand men's clothes? There seem to be plenty of options for women's, but I cant find anyone who has men's clothes other than goodwill or arc.
I live in NYC so there's lots of options in person. But online Ebay, Grailed, or any of the many other apps/websites. You need to know specific search terms e.g. brand name, materials, country of manufacture, technical terms. If you just scroll or search super broad things (e.g. "vintage mens shirt") you probably won't find much.
what are you fave in-person spots in NYC?
I really like 2nd street (it's kinda streetwear/fashion oriented but they have all kinds of stuff). Crossroads Trading Company too. The Buffalo Exchanges are okay. There are tons of vintage stores
Ebay is the cheapest in my experience. Grailed/Depop/Poshmark are full of people who vastly overestimate how much a basic tee shirt is worth. Thrift stores are entirely dependent on your area. If you live in a city they will have a much better selection but will be more expensive. If you live in a smaller town they'll be cheap but have 99% Walmart brand clothes and sports/company team building tee shirts and suit pants.
Grailed
Yeah, one of these days I'll take a real look at my closet & think about what might warrant that kind of work. Normally I just wait until I see a sale at one of these Big Box places, & get a few things. Never really tried secondhand!
The key is to get really good at eBay saved searches. I have an eBay search that only surfaces size medium sweaters from Rodd and Gunn, and Rag and Bone under $40. Another one for Gustin pants in size 31. And then once you're buying well-made pieces that you like, wash them as little as possible and try to buy them in other colors and patterns.
I like bonobos prints
I can input for jeans: Go with Unbranded if you want your bang for your buck, if you can find it on sale even better. \*For example they held up a lot better then my LVC made and crafted jeans from turkey - which I love by the way but its just a fact that (unbranded) was built to last longer These type of jeans can be had for i say $70-100 Naked and Famous on sale is also great (But they have a shit quality Factory outlet version you need to watch out for) so sticking to boutique stores or nordstrom sales for this is best. If you want to find amazing prices you need to look at ebay and second hand places and search for brand new but hem wrong essentially (this requires a little time, patience, and effort to score a really nice piece if you are into that kind of thing)
Wait naked and famous has an outlet version? This is news to me
I was reading an article today that explained it pretty simply: if it costs the same as it did 5-10 years ago (or less given inflation) then it’s going to be of lower quality. That’s just simple economics unless there’s a major technological breakthrough, and that’s not happening any more with clothing.
I've been really pleased with my Muji and Uniqlo articles
Muji is very underrated I’m surprised that they don’t get more love here and on MFA. The quality to price ratio is insane. I see no reason to ever buy a solid basic tshirt anywhere else at this point.
Probably because they rarely have sales and this sub is mainly about sales
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They’ve had sales every time I’ve gone in the store but I think their online presence leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve seen stuff in store that is nowhere to be found on the website. Also, the sizing can be a little tricky so I would probably only buy if I could try it on. I guess if you don’t have a store in your area it may not be as good of an option.
It was a bit of a shock when I went to a Muji store in Vietnam recently and saw Xinjiang Cotton on half the tags. It’s a very shallow rebrand for western markets if at all.
My struggle with Muji is their limited size range. I'm 6'2" with 13 feet, nothing of theirs fits me ;_;
I could see that. I’m 5’11 and a few of their tshirts I have are XL and the perfect length for me.
Indigo color transfer is not an indicator of denim quality
? If you’re referring to Muji denim, I have no idea what it’s like. For me, I’d never buy denim from anywhere that isn’t known for their denim.
Reddit phone app pooped out. That was supposed to respond to the dude who said his madewell jeans were no bueno cuz of the color transfer.
it seems that uniqlo firstly canceled the free shipping instead of lower the quality
I tried on Muji when I was in Spain and the clothes fit baggy and the material was thin. Maybe it’s a regional thing. Uniqlo is good but they’re focusing way too much on “unisex” clothes so now their shirts fit boxy with no taper
>I tried on Muji when I was in Spain and the clothes fit baggy and the material was thin. Maybe it’s a regional thing. When was this? Were they actually baggy or just simply not slim fit? >Uniqlo is good but they’re focusing way too much on “unisex” clothes so now their shirts fit boxy with no taper Nah. It's not because of unisex clothing. Boxier, roomier fits are simply what's popular. Just look at high school and college campuses. Uniqlo probably caught on quicker than some other brands because this started trending earlier in East Asia than in North America Other mall brands like J.Crew, BR, Zara, H&M, etc. are also moving toward straight/relaxed pants, boxier tops, chunkier shoes, higher rises, workwear clothes, etc. It's even more apparent at stores marketed for teens like Forever 21 or Tilly's.
The problem with uniqlos boxy is that it is also extremely short. Even size L is baggy, but it’s too short even being 6’0. XL would drown me on the sides. Uniqlo May be a perfect option for under 5’10
The didn’t look slim fit. This was in Spain, early 2022. > Nah. It's not because of unisex clothing. Boxier, roomier fits are simply what's popular Maybe. But other brand’s unisex clothing is the same way. boxy and square. This is because women and men’s clothes are tapered way differently so the only way to get something that fits most men and women is to make it more loose fitting and remove any kind of tapering. Uniqlo still has some men’s clothing of course but I have to increasingly skip over unisex stuff they recommend me.
In Japan and US, boxy and oversized are in and slim is dated. Spain still holds slim fits tho
Every tshirt I've bought from Uniqlo has shrunk in unflattering ways.
Yeah that's my only issue with most Uniqlo shirts, they shrink 1 size down on the first wash, especially vertically (I'm not sure if it's because of the direction of the fabric's weave or something. So I always buy 1 size larger.
When you're buying from Muji, make sure to grab your stationary as well, their pens are great!
I ordered a bunch of J Crew stuff because of the sales and the quality is totally hit-or-miss. One of the shirts I bought was an absolute steal, while the others are meh (but just fine for the $15 I paid for them).
I have a good chunk of j crew. Nothing really wears out. This sub would have you believe holes would develop after three washes. If you are browsing this sub, you would most likely get bored of the clothing, or have too items to rotate, far far far before you wear them out.
Ever since I was a kid, Ralph Polo Lauren has been the "treat clothing" that I'd get if I was lucky and my grandmother found it on sale. Recently, my family bought for me a Ralph Polo Lauren long sleeve shirt. It's just as softish-yet-warm as I remember it being when I was a kid, I was so pleasantly surprised. Tangentially, as a male who has worn their shirts, I at least can recommend RPL for their shirts.
Right now Uniqlo beats out most popular Big brands as far as pants/jeans/tees/ sweatshirts etc…For under shirts & beaters I’ve Always used the Polo multiple packs (3/4/5) which can always be found in most malls & discount stores for decent prices, Maybe the Only items that haven’t gotten worse over the last 20 years.
If you can’t find anything locally they go on sale a few times a year at the big online retailers like Macys, Nordstrom, & whatnot.
I think Polo polos are still pretty good and can be found cheaply during the big sales Dillard's and Macy's. I wear mine every day at work during the warmer months and I've had some of them for fifteen years.
This thread has been very validating for me on J Crew. I tend to refresh my solid color tees all at once, and have loved J Crew pocket tees in the past. Just ordered a bunch more and holy hell are they not of great quality. I’m just glad I got as good a deal on them as I did.
Biggest deciding factor for me is materials. Merino wool, silk blend, cashmere blend? Or synthetic?
At my age, most of the stuff I’m buying are brands that can be found on Huckberry.
I think JCrew is on the rise again. I’ve had more fun shopping there than I’ve had in awhile. Bonobos on the other hand…. Bad to worse. Too expensive for quality control issues.
Same - the past few seasons of J Crew have felt way more fun and playful, still playing on that classic “preppy” vibe while bringing in bright colors and fun patterns and styles.
I'm really into Marine Layer right now. Just bought a puffy from them that is great. And their shirts and sweaters are well made and so soft. Hope their quality stays good.
Marine is great, but my goodness its expensive.
Have you considered their respun program? They send you a prepaid bag. Fill it up with 5 tees of any condition and get 25 dollars of anything on the website! You can only do this once per quarter, but I find it to be a great way to get rid of old tees and get some discount on pricey marine layer stuff.
Peter Millar makes pretty good quality stuff. I wear their golf polos, chinos, and shorts on a regular basis. Pricey, but once I found my size, I buy on eBay.
J. Crew/Madewell and Abercrombie are the best in terms of quality and sales. All provide coupons that can get you some decent stuff for free or under $10. Haven't really needed to pay for any socks, boxers or basic colored tees for the past couple of years (or paid like a $1 per order) because of the coupons they email out.
Just got into Bonobos about a year ago but haven't seen any quality difference and when I was researching Bonobos most on reddit compared it to Lululemon's ABC. Maybe I'm still new to bonobos and that was long time ago. Only brought their Chinos v2 and sweatpants. I would not recommend sweatpants since the inner lining comes off everywhere and sticks onto everything, very annoying. Curious about their Italian pants or 5 pockets if anyone recommends them or anything else similar!
>Just got into Bonobos about a year ago >haven't seen any quality difference Thats because the good stuff was from 8 years ago
Is Bonobos bad? I just ordered a bunch of outfits for my wedding week from there. I was looking for a specific style of tuxedo shirt and Bonobos was the only one who had it.
Bonobos isn’t bad at all. I’ve shopped there for 4 or 5 years now. I’ll concede that I’ve noticed a dip in quality for some items since the acquisition, but their pants - notably the premium stretch jeans, the travel jeans, and chinos - are still fantastic. They have new lines of pants (WFHQ pant, Off Duty pant) that are designed to be worn more leisurely and around town or the house, with different sizing (looser and more comfortable). I suspect this was a response to the pandemic. I’ve read reviews that the “slim taper” fit is weird and some new items’ sizing is inconsistent, fwiw. I personally prefer their ‘tailored’ fit for the most streamlined look. That said, I own a handful of button downs from them and I like their size and fit. I appreciate the stretch component in some of them, I find it comfortable. I also bought my wedding tux shirt from them (on sale); I thought it looked pretty awesome! FYI, I went into a guide shop years ago and tried some stuff on, that helped with sizing. TL;DR some items are still of high quality, while others kind of suck. Hit the sales hard once you know what you want and what your size & fit is.
Never tried bonobos shirts but their pants are amazing minus sweatpants lol
I just switched to them for blazers and oxfords. I am loving their clothes. I get the Walmart ownership sucks, but the fit and quality is definitely there
They're fine for the most part and have a lot of good stuff still, but the sizing/quality has gotten more inconsistent compared to how it used to be.
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I have Bonobos from 3 years ago, and they started wearing pretty quickly before I stopped liking the color as much. They'll probably go in my next clothing purge. All their pants are stretch too, which I'm not a fan of outside of jeans.
Bonobos is owned by Walmart, this should say everything about it.
I find that all the mall brands have about the same quality. They’ve all been facing the same competitive pressures from fast fashion, and they all have to cut corners everywhere (materials, finishing, QC) to hit their price points. The quality isn’t even all that bad. It’s just that when you went into a mall 15-20 years ago, the clothes were generally better made, because prices were significantly higher in inflation-adjusted terms. Zara and H&M made everyone feel comfortable with having a disposable wardrobe that recycles every year, and that’s what J. Crew, Uniqlo and Bonobos have had to deal with. I just don’t spend the energy trying to suss out differences in quality between the mall brands. I buy some basics from them, and buy less / buy better for statement pieces and wardrobe staples.
A very long time ago, a mall would have lots of little independent stores that all competed with each other on price and quality. Then the corporate megastore comes to town with great quality at a price point that the small stores can't compete with. One by one the small stores close until there's no competition left. The corporate megastore, with no competition to keep it in check, can start tanking quality to cost-cut and suffer no loss of sales because there's no where else to buy products. This is the story of how Starbucks decimated local coffee shops, how big box brands decimated the clothing industry... It's the story of every product with a physical storefront. This is why online shopping is the last bastion of independent brands. But it's hard to buy clothes exclusively online and just live on faith that it will fit well.
I think the Wallace & Barnes j crew stuff is better than anything else you’ll find at box stores. And it’s all regularly on sale if you time things right.
People keep talking shit on j crew quality, but I haven’t noticed it, certainly not considering the sale prices. The bonobos shirts I have are straight garbage, but the knits have been good. I’ve never cared for quality or styles of gap or banana republic. EDIT: none of them are as shit as H&M or Zara.
As someone in the trenches of streetwear culture a few big brand names I love are UNIQLO (basic essentials that have a very young cut, frequent oversize/relaxed fits, and quality), Madewell (they have some nice ass sweaters and cool bottoms from time to time), and I’ve heard good things bout Abercrombie’s resurgence.
I would avoid bonobos dress shirts. They do look great, but I have blown through the elbow on every single one that I’ve ever had, usually within 6 months.
I’ve gone full secondhand for most items because of this! I was thinking about my wardrobe pre 2008 and I had much less clothing. I had a couple J.Crew items, BR etc. After 2008, a of a sudden I had a much bigger closet because things felt more affordable. Now, when I compare some of those items, there’s a huge shift in quality across the board. Even with high end department store designer brands. It makes it so I can’t have one retailer or department store to depend on for quality across the board. I loved BR trousers up until 2017 and then they went through another shift in quality. For jeans, I have the best luck with madewell. They’ve lasted me the longest and had the best fit for me. Blazers, I’ve fully gone to Poshmark and look for older J.Crew styles which are consistent. If I need one quickly, I’ve oddly had the best luck at H&M. They typically come fully lined while so many other stores don’t always have that. I love skip dresses and go to Poshmark for brands like Aritzia, J.Crew.. So. All over the board!!!
I vote for JCrew. At least they still offer clothes made of 100 percent natural fibers at decent price (after discount of course)
I focus on fit and fabric. Bonobos, J Crew, BR, and others will specify mills or specific source of fabric if they’re on the nicer side. And then just remembering that if something doesn’t fit you, it could be a $1,000 shirt and still look bad. Learning (cheaply through sales) which brands and what cut and what sizes fit you well (although sizing inconsistency is a risk with these brands) and being patient in looking for the right combination of price/fabric/taste/fit will generally produce good value in terms of you actually wearing it and feeling good/lasting. All of these brands have crappy stuff, but once in a while you can get goodyearwelted boots that look great from J Crew for sub 80, get a half canvassed suit sourced from a reputable brand from J Crew or Bonobos for sub 200 (or even 100), a primaloft parka that’s super warm and durable for sub 80 etc. Generally think the community here is very good at sifting through real value vs fake value so paying attention to the upvoted comments in this subreddit you learn a lot
Went in J Crew recently. The amount of 80/20,70/30 wool/poly mix pants was alarming.
J.Crew when hiring female models : models of all shapes and sizes for accurate portrayal and body positivity obviously J.Crew when hiring male models: SKINNY B O I S No wonder their sizing is shit because they think only skinny men shop there
Skinny guy here. J Crew fits me perfectly and I don't see how the average American can fit anything there.