Thursday, November 8, 2012

Product Review: The Bowery, NY Hipster and it's upscale buddy Ludlow


A big "thanks!" to J.Crew Guy In Canada who is graciously reviewing Men's items from J.Crew with us. In this review, he looks at the J.Crew's Bowery pants for men:
The Bowery is found on the lower east side, home to skid row in the 1970s and CBGBs and now a very much much up and coming area with prices and development reflecting that.  Ludlow according to a quick Google search is a market town in Shropshie, England close to the Welsh border.  Not too sure why the need to leave NY for a cool name for suiting, but they did.  Guess England helps justify the bump up in price and possibly style.

The Bowery is a wonderfully cut pant by our friends at J.Crew who enjoy naming clothing and colours after well known NYC locations.  The pant comes in both slim and classic cuts.  To be clear the classic works well on most men, slim, not skinny with some room in the leg and seat for those of us with skater's butt and altletic legs.  This cut is not like BR's classic cut, this one has a more streamlined, slim look and feel.  BR does a slimmer look, but you need to move to Monogram to get that and with that a very big jump in price. The Bowery slim is that, a lean version of the original Bowery, just sleeker or in J.Crew speak 'slim and trim' version of the Bowery.  I haven't dipped my toe into the slim Bowery yet, the classic Bowery suiting my frame much better.

Whether you want a casual look with some polish, cotton Bowery #17249 or the upscale, very much on trend Bowery slim in Donegal wool #13305 there's one for you or yours.  With cotton and wool choices and in between I often wonder why I glance over at the more famous Ludlow.  Ludlow pants are the most fashion forward in cut and use the best fabrics the suiting elves at J.Crew stitch up.  They are a slightly nicer pant than the Bowery with a slimmer leg and better fabrics.  But are they worth almost twice the price of the Bowery?  Guess it depends if you want the best Frank and his team offer up.  My advice, grab the Bowery and watch for sales for Ludlow.  Ludlow pants just like the good stuff in a department store get their own section in the web store, while Bowery are found with the other trouser offerings from 'crew.  One thing the Ludlow pant has in it's favour are the matching jackets and the wide variety of choices in cloth.  From brand name wool fabrics to cotton chino to tuxedo they seem to have all the bases covered.  The best one in my mind right now is the flannel Ludlow #18215, gray flannel much like Gary Grant might have worn in North By Northwest.  Classic fabric and killer cool.  Meanwhile the best bang for your buck in Bowery is #44448 in charcoal wool, it'll match everything from washed denim jackets and Shetland wool sweaters to pressed shirts and ties.

Right now both GQ and Details tell me that wool and flannel and more importantly tweed are very much where my dress pants dollars need to be spent and looking at what J.Crew's offering I'm buying.  Both of these pants are lined to the knee and well finished in a slim looking and fitting cut.  Check out the current November GQ to see many examples of tweed from reasonable prices to designer with wow, that's more than my mortgage payment and car payment combined costs.  But they also show our favorite way to spend, a J.Crew model and the suit looks great, bet you will too in a pair of Bowerys or Ludows.


Another fantastic review! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his insightful take of the Bowery, a classic pair of pants that should be in everyone's closet!
 
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's Bowery for Men? Do you own any of their Bowery pants? If so, please share with us your review. :)

13 comments:

  1. I'm looking for some nice looking casual pants for hubby, the Bowery is perfect. I like that it comes in slim and classic fits. Thanks for the review!

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  2. Thanks for another fantastic review, J.Crew Guy in Canada!

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  3. An idea when suiting will go on sale? The promo codes don't typically work on the Ludlow stuff.

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    1. Stephen, promos on suiting are rare. Watch the sale rack every once in awhile some Ludlow offerings show up.

      Last month they offered 25% new items and I grabbed the Ludlow in tweed wool. You might find a deal at a store closer to Christmas or online late in the season.

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  4. Another great review - I'm really enjoying your reviews, JCrew Guy!

    My husband loves the Bowery Classic, but he finds that he has to size up on the inseam length in comparison to other retailers - he finds his normal inseam length to be a lot shorter in this cut.

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    1. I guess it all depends on what type of break you like on your pants. I prefer no break which my tailor usually gives me a raised eyebrow about. He thinks it's too short, but I like it that way over the full break. But as I'm only 5'9" I think I look better that way.

      GQ/Details and the like do show most guys with little to no break on their pants. A side note; narrow pants do look better shorter, while fuller cut ones work with a slight break.

      Denim, in my mind go long.

      Hope this helps.

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  5. Thank you so much for these reviews! I would love a review of Jcrew's dress shoes.

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    1. I find the sizing spot on, but the quality far below Allen Edmond's or Alden. I have a few pairs that I've picked up on sale with the added percent off. They are okay, but not worth what they ask for them.

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  6. This review was great, but I just wanted to mention that I'm pretty sure the Ludlow was named after a street on New York's Lower East Side, not a town in Shropshire :)

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  7. quick review of J Crew's mens dress shoes, having owned many: not worth 1/3 of their price! Stay away!

    And yes, the inseams on these are about an inch too short !

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    1. JB - my husband would agree with your comment on the dress shirts. He prefers the Crewlet versions over retail.

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  8. Your review is great! Just wanted to let you know the Ludlow suit is named after Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side just like Bowery, Stanton, Essex etc. keep up the great reviews!

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  9. I think Ludlow is named as such because of the style. The traditional suit cuts are british/european, italian and the american sack suit. Ludlow is slim with narrower style lapels, which is a british suit trait.

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