Celebrate Dads with Donuts (& J.Crew of course!)

J.Crew is offering customers a $25 gift card for purchases of $125+ at their Men's shop. They will even offer some donuts to make it extra sweet. This offer takes place Saturday June 11, 2016 from 10AM to 12PM.

This is a cute way to celebrate Father's Day! ;)

Will you be taking advantage of this promotion? Any items you are interested in? If so, please share!

For Our Best Customers {an invitation to our private suiting event}

"Thanks!" to many of you, who let us know about the following promotion.

J.Crew is offering their "best customers" to take an extra 30% off select suiting from the Fall/Winter Collection. The email being sent to customers includes a unique, one-time promo code. Customers can also show the email above (click here) to have the offer applied in stores. The offer expires January 25, 2015. The fine print includes with suits are part of the sale:

*Offer valid in J.Crew stores and at jcrew.com from January 13, 2015, 12:01am ET through January 25, 2015, 11:59pm ET on the purchase of the following men’s suit styles: Ludlow in Italian wool flannel (02298, 02299, 04314, 06926, 06928, A9196, A9596); Ludlow in heathered Italian wool flannel (17557, 30139, 03813); Ludlow in windowpane Italian wool flannel (A9198, A9199, A9520); Ludlow in English Donegal tweed (A9184, A9185, A9480); Ludlow in glen plaid English wool (A9191, A9192, A9516, B4261, B4263); Ludlow in Japanese chambray (75321, 75427); Ludlow in water-resistant Italian wool (A9200, A9206); Ludlow in Italian corduroy (A9182, A9183); Ludlow in Black Watch English wool (A9209, A9210, B4259, B4260); Ludlow in pinstripe Italian wool (A9207, A9208); Crosby in heathered Italian wool flannel (B2087, B2090); Crosby in herringbone windowpane English wool (B0240, B0241). Offer not valid in J.Crew Factory stores, at jcrewfactory.com or on phone orders. Offer cannot be applied to previous purchases and cannot be redeemed for cash or used in combination with any other offer. One-time use only. This email must be presented in store at time of purchase to receive discount. To redeem online, enter the above code in the promo code box at checkout. Limit one promo code per order. Offer valid in the U.S. and Canada only. Terms of offer are subject to change.

This is a wonderful promotion! Very rarely does J.Crew's suiting for men go on sale. So if you were in the market, this is the time to pick one up!

Will you be taking advantage of this promotion at J.Crew? What item are you hoping to pick up? Please share!

J.Crew Suiting for Men: the Reinvention

"Thanks!" to J.Crew Guy In Canada who shared the following article from the Wall Street Journal (click here to read in its entirety) with us:

The Reinvention of the Entry-Level Suit
Affordable no longer equals regrettable. Thanks to a suiting revolution led by J. Crew, men without thousands to spend can step out in fashion-forward styles that look like a million
By John Ortved
September 19, 2014

TWO YEARS AGO, Collins Ward, 34, a principal at a Manhattan-based private-equity firm, was looking for a new charcoal-grey suit. Though his closet was stocked with $2,000-plus ensembles from Armani and Ermenegildo Zegna, Mr. Ward headed downtown to J.Crew, where he purchased a jacket ($425) and trousers ($225) from the brand's Ludlow line.

"I've worn a suit every day to work for 10 years, and I tried a lot of the nicer, more expensive Italian brands," said Mr. Ward. "Frankly, [the Ludlow] is a good price point, and has the slimmer fit of the Italian brands."

The starter suit is not what it used to be. A generation ago, a man without a great deal of means—whether he was embarking on his first job or attending his first wedding—had to settle for boxy cuts in rayon and wool-blends from departments stores. But beginning a decade ago and ramping up over the past five years, there has been a veritable revolution in men's suiting priced under $1,000. Brands like J.Crew, Club Monaco and Suitsupply have invested in fine Italian wools, slimmer cuts and refined construction to produce moderately priced suits that offer men something similar to, and occasionally indistinguishable from, their upscale counterparts.

"It's something that we've not only noticed but also celebrated—the democratization of fashion," said Jim Moore, creative director of GQ. "You don't just get kind of a dumb-dumb business suit. It's got all the trappings of a suit that could cost three or four times its price."

Producing the suits "overseas," usually in Asia, keeps those prices moderate. However, these brands teach their factories how to better construct the jackets and trousers. High-end fabrics help. While mills like Loro Piana and those in the Biella region of Northern Italy make textiles for the planet's most expensive brands, they're not above accepting business from a company like J.Crew, which can leverage economies of scale to satisfy a new class of educated consumers.

Those buyers know what a great suit is meant to look like, thanks, in large part, to the Internet. In the past few years, the Web has supplied young men with an ocean of information—from blogs showing the right way to wear a pocket square to street-style shots to slideshows rounding up the dapper Mad Men of Sterling Cooper & Partners. "I cannot stress the importance of what the street-style bloggers have done," said Eric Jennings, director of menswear at Saks Fifth Avenue. "Having these images at your fingertips 24/7, you can see how it's put together. I think it's inspired a lot of Americans guys."

If there's a Lenin of this revolution, it's J.Crew, which introduced its Ludlow in 2008. Four years later, the brand dedicated an entire store to the suit in downtown New York. The Ludlow range has expanded from three initial offerings to a line of tuxedos, cotton summer suits, and offshoots, like the Traveler, made with three-ply wool meant to better hold its shape, and the Crosby, made for more athletic builds. "It took about two years to get the shape and details right. It has all the inner facings of a bespoke suit," said head of J.Crew menswear Frank Muytjens of the Ludlow development process. The suit also features a high armhole, narrow lapel, slim waist, a soft shoulder and a slightly shorter body length. These attributes are common across the new under-$1,000 suiting landscape, as is the selling of pants and jackets as separates.

For fabrics, Mr. Muytjens looked to storied mills around the world, from Abraham Moon & Sons in England to Larusmiani in Italy. As the line became more popular, he added corduroys, Irish linens and English tweeds. "[J.Crew] hit that sweet spot that men crave—a go-to suit that fits them, but also changes a bit every season in its fabrication," said Mr. Moore.

While J.Crew may have struck while the iron was hot, there was a key precursor. Mr. Moore cited Calvin Klein's introduction of its White Label line a decade ago as a pivotal factor... "Over the last 10 years, that mainstream guy has not only moved with fashion, he's also moved with elevation of fabrics."

...In 2012, he noticed guys without $2,500 to spend wanting a similar type of suiting, and began developing the Freeman, a hand-tailored, fully canvased suit—made in America starting at $1,100. "The Ludlow Suit is imported," said Mr. Kilroe. "Generally, when a brand doesn't specify where a suit is made, it's because they don't want the customer to know.

..."Guys don't trade down," he said. "Even during the recession, if they were buying Armani, they didn't trade down. They just waited. When they're at a certain level, they like to stay there. It's their pride."

J.Crew's suits for Men are amazing. One of my local J.Crew stores carries them, and one can tell the quality and fit are there.

The comment that stood out for me: "[J. Crew] hit that sweet spot that men crave—a go-to suit that fits them, but also changes a bit every season in its fabrication". This is why I think the men's side of J.Crew keeps knocking it out of the park, season after season.

Honestly, I would love Frank Muytjens to guest design a capsule collection for the women's side of J.Crew. Who is with me! ;)

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's suits for men? Any points of the article resonate with you? If so, please share!

JGIC Product Review: Sole to Sole

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 several shoes for men:

I've read in a recent GQ that men notice watches, women look at shoes.  I could add other things men and women may or may not look, but that would take the blog in a whole other direction.

Shoes can definitely be seen as an investment.  Goodyear welts, well made construction, top quality leather all adding up to shoes that can be worn for years and need to be due to the price.  Sometimes I want a cheaper shoe fix; something to switch up the usual choices in my footwear collection.  Suede shoes are more precious and not nearly as durable as leather and in my mind more of a fair weather choice.  This fall I added two to the shoe army I'm assembling, one form BR the other from J.Crew and here's how they stack up.

The Harington suede buck #64609 in rockface grey was a shoe I stalked for sometime before jumping off my wallet.  Luckily I scored a pair on sale along with an additional 30%.  The regular price was $206 for us in Canada, thankfully I ended up around $105.  Nice shoe, lighter greyish green colour.  Great shoe for denim, chinos and the like.  A comfortable buck sole that felt great right out of the box and fit true.

Our friends over at BR hooked me up with a blue suede number, called the Owen oxford in you got it "Elvis" navy suede.  (Okay I added in the Elvis bit.)  The regular price was $128, but with a discount they came to about $88.  Very similar look, fit and feel to the ones from J.Crew.  This makes me wonder if the 'crew shoes are just a 'little' over priced?  Neither pair is an investment and so a price around $100 was fine.  Sure I'd prefer a pair from Allen Edmunds or Alden, but at four to six times the price?

Suede shoes are a great option for a guy to have in his closet.  And lately I've seen a pair of chocolate suede wingtips, the Allerton #55753 on sale at J.Crew.  They maybe only a additional discount away from being on my feet.

Another fantastic review! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his in-depth look at the footwear collection!
 
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's footwear for Men? Do you own any of their shoes? If so, please share with us your review. :)

J.Crew Factory Dress & Skirt Sale

"Thanks!" to many of you, who shared the following email & promotion from J.Crew Factory.

For the ladies! J.Crew Factory is offering 30-40% off select Women's Dresses and Skirts. This offer expires February 12, 2013.

For the guys! J.Crew Factory is offering 40% off select Men's Button-Downs. This offer expires February 12, 2013.

It is always nice to see another promo (or two!) over at J.Crew Factory. :) It is even better that both of these offers apply to online and in store purchases.

Will you be taking advantage of this promo? Did you pick up an item or two? Please share! :)

JGIC Product Review: Denim Reviews {High, Medium & Low}

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 several denim items for men:

Denim, all of us are forever in search of the perfect pair or better yet the perfect pair on sale.  While I'm not a jean snob or denim head here's my take on high, medium and low denim.  I'll start low, aka cheap and work my way up.

Levis 514, decent straight cut, slightly narrow opening and available is an amazing range of washed and denim.  You can find them at department stores or better yet stores like T.J. Max or the Canadian version Winners.  You can regularly find them for as low as $29.  They've even been spotted at Costco for a little over $8 which is insane.  How is that possible?  The jeans are good, very serviceable and can't be beat for $29 let alone $8.  More of a medium rise, these size honestly, meaning the real size of your waist and inseam.  Thankfully the label showing your waist sizes quickly fades after several washing so people won't be able to read what your 'real' size is.

An average priced denim is J.Crew's slim straight cut.  Ever so slightly slimmer than the Levis 514s and also available in a variety of washes.  My personal favorite is the slim-straight jean in dark worn wash #29243 for about $100.  Great fit, ever so slightly distressed, but without the heavy handed over the top finishing some denim has.  I prefer my jeans to look natural and not overly processed, much like how I like food. These jeans are such a great fit, slim not skinny and so easy to put with a blazer or sweater and look dressed up.  I usually wear a 30" inseam, but I ordered these in 32" and that length was perfect, long enough to fit the floor, but not that they'll drag on the floor. A lower rise than the Levis, but not as low rise as the J.Brand; I classify these as a true mid rise. Dress pants need to be slim without a break, showing a little ankle while denim should be slightly longer with ankles fully covered.  Haven't done the rolled cuff look yet, maybe if I was living in Williams-burg or ten (fifteen?) years younger.  Whatever size you wear in other J.Crew pants will be the same in their denim.

Ah premium denim, the thing you buy on payday, but never when you're flat broke.  Tough to rationalize laying out $250 or more for jeans.  I am not a fan of the over bedazzled back pockets, heavy handed distressed/processed denim and the idea of paying to have holes in jeans escapes me.  My favorite high end denim company is J.Brand.  Well made in the US, beautiful denim with minimal distressing.  Johnny or Kane are both great fits in a wide range of washes.  These are true low rise and have an incredible fit with the softest denim.  Like J.Crew vanity sizing happens with J.Brand and you'll move down at least an inch from what you wear in Levis.

All three of these are avaliable in corduroy, which is also a great option.  Now what will I buy next time?  After wearing both J.Brand and J.Crew I will say good-bye to Levis 514s.  The other two have better cuts and far nicer denim, even if it's several times the price.  With J.Brand being over twice the price of the slim-straight cut from Jenna and company it'll be J.Crew for me next time, they really nailed it with fit and fabric.  When you try them on be sure to look in the mirror at your but, because everyone else will be.  And if you need to get your denim shortened promise me you'll get them with the original hem, slightly more expensive than the standard hem, but they will look so much better.  And none of these are the dreaded mom or dad jeans.

Another fantastic review! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his great reviews on jeans, and finding that perfect pair.
 
Are you a fan of J.Crew's denim? Are there any pieces that you would highly recommend to buy or avoid? If so, please share with us your review. :)

JGIC Product Review: My Housekeeper Broke Up With Me

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 several J.Crew items for men:

Cue Taylor Swift ..... "We are never ever getting back together" ..... mood set?  Okay here it is.

For the past year and a half I've had a housekeeper/cleaning lady.  Every two weeks she'd clean the house from top to bottom.  All for the reasonable price of $100.  Then she suddenly stopped showing up.  I sent a text and no response; does this mean it's over?  And if so back my spouse and I go to cleaning the house Sunday mornings after watching CBS Sunday Morning and having coffee together.  Imagine the fun of bonding over cleaning products, micro cleaning cloths and a job well done.

So she ditched us; then I started to do the math and thought hey now, look what I can buy!  That small $100 every two weeks was $200/month and better yet, $2400 a year, after taxes.  Which is well north of $3000 before deductions.  Nothing to sneeze at.  The options were endless; trips, new TVs, reno for a room in the house, but as this is a J.Crew blog here's what I'd like to do.

Ludlow suit in Prince of Wales check in Italian flannel.  This suit is killer, a patterned fabric in ever so soft wool.  Not too loud a look, more classic that makes a guy stand out against the sea of navy and solid grey suits.  The jacket #22259 and pants #22274 come to about $800 Canadian, something I'd have a had hard time justifying before the split, but now that she's left me why not?  A Thomas Mason shirt in a solid blue, say the #31736 in peri, in the Ludlow cut would look great against the grey suit.  The tie needs to give the look a little punch, otherwise it may be a little too tame.  So I think the silk tie #36982 in azalea; basically a solid navy tie with a bright fuchsia stripe would look great.  I'm close to $1000 Canadian now without the nasty taxes and I still need shoes.

Time to economize and skip buying a new belt, I bought two this fall both the stitched edge belt #16137, one in black the other in dark caramel.  But since I'm flush with cash I want some 'nice' shoes.  The Alred Sargent Balmoral cap toes #46794 look good, but they are only in black and I wear brown shoes over 80% of the time.  They're nice but if I'm spending $600 I want what I want, Aldens.  Incredibly beautiful shoes, made in the US, and sadly no shipping to Canada, but since I'm dreaming I'll get these in either cordovan bluchers #20767 for $661 American or the cordovan chukkas for $650.

Now I still have some cash and need to finish this look off with the wire stripe tie clip for $88 and a pocket square for $45 in white and pen stripe #61576.  Damn I look good!

The reality is the money will go elsewhere, car rental in Maui and a helicopter tour of the island and some other incidentals next month, but it's fun to dream right?  But now I have to go scrub the kitchen floor.

Another fantastic review! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his great post on what he plans to do with his "extra spending cash".
 
If you had extra money to spend on J.Crew, which pieces would you get? Are there any pieces that you saved up for? If so, please share with us your review. :)

JGIC Product Review: Come on J.Crew where is it?

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 J.Crew's color selection for men:

It all started with a silly idea of getting a new one.  I had a great, soft wool v-neck sweater from Club Monaco in a pale powder blue.  It looked great and I wore it out, literally.  Sadly while it served me well it's gone on to a better place so I need a new one.  So J.Crew where is it?

Checked out cashmere options #85984; yeah there are fourteen different colours, none in that damn powder blue colour.  Looked over at my good friend merino #93735 and it was almost there in faded peri, but too washed out and not quite there.  I even tried cotton-cashmere, but nope not even close.  So how about it J.Crew, can you knit up a nice little v-neck for me in cashmere powder blue?

And while we're at it here are a few more things you need to make for me.  Everyone has or knows of the infamous J.Crew roll neck.  I've had one in a denim blue wool (who knows where that went?) and currently I have a wool one in an athletic grey, but what I really want is a roll neck in merino wool in some good colours, like a dark rich forest green and possibly a dark cream, say oatmeal.  Since you're knitting the cashmere one in powder blue you might as well make the roll neck in merino.

The Ludlow is almost perfect #18615.  But how many charcoal grey pairs does a guy need?  Currently I have three, I think I'm good, but I'd like some more colour options say a darb olive green, or a rich chocolate brown?  Besides most guys have navy and grey and may want a new colour too.

So thanks J.Crew, let me know when you you've finished stitching those up.

Another fantastic review! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his in-depth look at the all these pieces!
 
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's color palette for Men? Do you own any of their more colorful sweaters? If so, please share with us your review. :)

JGIC Product Review: Life's a Beach

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 J.Crew's warm weather finds for men:

This winter is dumb and if I stay here much longer so I am. Thankfully J.Crew and company has got me covered. Sandy beaches, warm water here I come.

Board shorts, gotta have 'em. I have three pairs from J.Crew and they all fit just like all the other men's pants from J.Crew. So feel comfortable ordering your regular size and you're good to go. I have #56558, the midnight blue is perfect and the cargo style is not baggy or loose like you think when you think cargo. The only thing you need to watch is the inseam length. Tall guys can go long, regular sized fellows should stick to 7" or 9" depending on how much cardio you do. Anything shorter than than tends to best suited to a personal trainer, very short men or a show-off. The only other advice I have is to get something to wear inside. These board shorts are unlined which in my life means no mesh underwear to keep things in place. When worn without a liner prepare for some chaffing. So get a speedo to wear under them. Some guys wear plain underwear in theirs with underwear's name showing out of the boardshorts, but that is cheesey and way too Jersey Shore in my mind.

Shorts are another must have. My favorites are the 9" broken-in chino short #67140. Again only tall guys need to look at the 11" ones unless you're doing the skater boy look which I am way too old for. The really dark colours look best on guys with darker skin or a great tan. Paler or lighter skin works best with the chino colours and such. My go to colours are the khaki and cream ones. Everything matches and they mask stains from the sand. The really bright ones are just too in your face for me, but some fellows love them.

On top I go with either polos, (see last week's post) or untucked, slightly rumpled button down oxfords. Roll up the sleeves, keep the collar unbuttoned and channel your inner J.F.K. A great option is #27156 in white. You can't go more classic or look bad wearing one. If it cools off grab a hoodie or a sweatshirt like the vintage fleece zip hoodie #86607 in heather blueberry. Fitted, but not tight and don't size up, that way too loose look is best suited for hanging out a home and not on a beach vacation. Feeling a little more stylish and French influenced? try the Halyard stripe button hoodie in navy and you'll be too cool for words. And please no beer tank tops.

Flip flops are a must, my brand of choice is Reef. Good arch support and easy to wear all day. The cheaper J.Crew ones are okay for short distances. I do like the PT Island Slipper #01274, but close to $100, ouch. Now if you really want to push the prep look try some Sperry Top Siders in a great colour. And wear them sockless or if you must wear socks get the cheaters otherwise known as the no-show loafer socks #10089. I wear them all spring and summer with sneakers and dress shoes. No way I will wear dress shoes without socks.

Finally a book and a hat. I wear Nike dry fit ball caps, comfortable and they breathe and are easy to wash. Book wise I went with an ereader in a matte screen. No more carrying pounds and pounds of books for me. More room in my suitcase for clothing!

As to this Canadian winter, I'm outta here!

Another fantastic review! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his in-depth look at the all these pieces!
 
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's warm-weather pieces for Men? Do you own any of their shorts/ board shorts? If so, please share with us your review. :)

JGIC Product Review: The Polo

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 tackles a classic staple in any guy's closet: the Polo.

As a kid growing up there was the one item that was cool; a polo with a popped collar showed who had style.  If you were really preppy you wore a sweater draped over your shoulders and tied around the neck.  I tried it once, but since my name wasn't Skippy or Biff I couldn't quite pull it off; but I did pop the collar.

J.Crew polo shirts are okay; but whether it be the logo or the time I grew up in or possibly the cache, Ralph Lauren and Rene Lacoste are the two I prefer.  There's just something very special in my mind about these two brands of polo shirts.  In all items of clothing I prefer to fly under the radar, no branding showing, no logos, no names to be seen.  But the polo shirt doesn't work that way for me.  I want the guy on horseback swinging his mallet or the smiling croc with it's teeth showing.  Don't mind Gant either with it's US emblem.  Poor J.Crew the only polos I've seen with logos are the factory ones, which maybe just as serviceable don't have that factor X the other guys do.

I have a few J.Crew polos, all well cut, great colours and good qulaity cotton.  But Ralph has something they don't.  His cotton has slightly more texture, least in the cotton pique I have.  The Polo polo also has longer tails, the ones in back slightly longer to really channel that preppy vibe.  And I love the Polo logo, especially when it's made of several colours and not just one.  And the fact that Lacoste is designed in France and many are still made there makes it even more special than one from a factory in China.  Perhaps it's my early years as a university student wanting the big name logo, but living on a student's budget that gives them their edge over their J.Crew cousins.  J.Crew certainly gets the colours right, but the Ralph and Lacoste ones have every so slightly larger collars and the very special logo on the front left side.

Now J.Crew does slub cotton with it's cool texture and look along with pique, lightweight and striped ones and I have one referred to as jaspe, but as good as they are I still want a crocodile on mine or a man on horse back.  Before you get all "he's just into labels" remember where you're reading this.  And for the record I do sort of like my labels.   I have one over-sized croc from Lacoste, but since the logo is black on a black polo it's subtle and not too in your face like the Big Pony from Ralph.

Where J.Crew does well is in fit, high arm holes, trim cuts and well placed buttons.  They wash well and stand up for years.  The slim cut works well without making me look like a sausage.  But both Ralph Lauren and Lacoste offer trim cuts.  And if you have a decent tailor they can slim down your regular polo for that custom fit.  Nothing better than going to the tailor and having an okay polo trimmed into a wow you just came from the gym one.

So like I said, J.Crew polos are fine, but I still would rather pay more and get the guy on the horse of the reptile on mine.

"Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his take on J.Crew!

I find the debate relating to "logos on polos" an interesting one! I know the men in my life prefer to not have any logo showing, while I know some others who definitely wear them proudly.

As for J.Crew's polos... I own several from the Women's line (and purchase many for my DH, from the Men's line). They usually hold up very well and they fit great. They really are that exceptional piece of clothing that looks timeless.

What are your thoughts on this post? Do you have any men's polos from J.Crew? Are you a fan of the visible logo? Do you pop your polo's collar? If so, please share with us your take. :)

JGIC Product Review: The Main Event

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 tackles J.Crew products and their rivals' counterparts (in particular, Banana Republic).

All of us, or at least most of us, are die hard, dyed in the wool, J.Crew addicts. But do any of us wear only J.Crew each and everyday? While 'crew makes up better than 70% of what I wear it's not the only thing I buy.

From my perspective the main rival to J.crew is BR. Yeah I can only imagine the sounds you're making now. Air sucked in through clenched teeth, shock and amazement. Settle down now, sure J.Crew tends to be slightly more stylish and fashion forward, but BR has to be doing something right considering they are roughly three times the size of J.Crew. So here's my take on some of similar items offered by both and how they stack up. And all of this is regarding in house items and none of the second party goods sold by either company.

Merino sweaters are a staple for me, v-neck, crew neck, full zip and even half zip. Both BR and 'crew make them. Who does it better? This one is close, but there are certain advantages that J.Crew has. BR uses too many blends with poly or arylic while calling them extra fine merino. BR also thinks I have arms like Grover. J.Crew wins here for 100% merino and getting the sleeve length right. Both do great colours. Crew has more form fitting cuts and is slightly more classic. BR does mix it up a little with some pattern and trim, but in the end round one goes to J.Crew.

Tailored dress pants are another item that I wear each and every week to work. J.Crew has the famous Ludlow and Bowery, both favorites of mine. BR has the Monogram, Heritage and tailored options. I do prefer what Frank and the team at J.crew produce, but BR is getting dangerously close to J.Crew with their current offereings. Factor in the almost constant state of sales and discounts being offered by BR J.Crew's edge is basically shot. The one area BR is off on is the inseem length. I regularly order pants longer from BR to compensate for the varying inseem length. Crew always fits me perfectly in leg length. But when I can get a pair of pants from BR that retail for $240 on sale for $99 then with an additional discount of 30 or 40% off the J.Crew advantage is gone considering they rarely see the sale rack. Ludlow is my favorite, but I can be bought and the prices from BR are getting me.

Ties, go with the dress pants, no contest, J.Crew all the way. Made in the U.S. and competitive prices make these a no-brainer. BR does make some nice ones, but made in China and varying widths and similar prices to J.Crew make this another win for Mickey and company.

Dress shirts, J.Crew has the washed favorite and it's various brothers while BR does both standard fit and a tailored one. J.Crew favours the button down and I have roughly twenty some to prove it. Fabrics are always cotton. They do some variety in pattern and fabric weight but nothing like BR. Cotton, cotton with stretch and then some. BR does a wide range of collars and cuffs and patterns. But there's something about J.Crew that I prefer. I do love me a shirt with stretch and BR makes some good ones, but J.Crew just seems to suit and fit me better. And then there's that corporate thing BR does. They just seem more business than J.Crew. I'd like to call this one a draw but according to my closet it's J.crew all the way.

So what about you? I know I've only covered the men's side so you need to dish on the women's items. Does J.Crew trump the offereings from BR? Who does it better?

"Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his take on J.Crew!

Personally, I find it hard to substitute J.Crew's offerings with other retailers. Even though I might complain about the prices, or the quality at J.Crew, they really do offer the best items (in terms of style and fit) for me. I rarely purchase items from the Gap, BR, Anthropologie, Lands End Canvas, and Fossil now.

With all that said, if I had to pick a category where J.Crew needs to catch up... it would be perfect tees. I have tees from the Gap that can withstand washing after washing without holes or unraveling. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for J.Crew's tees. I have to treat them very carefully, which kind of defeats the point of tees (that they are casual and easy to care for).

What are your thoughts on this post? Do you have any pieces that you think another retailer does better? If so, please share with us your take. :)

JGIC Product Review: The Name Game

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 tackles the naming of J.Crew products.

Everyone has most likely heard or sung the song; it's part of pop culture.  And our friends over at J.Crew really seem to enjoy putting their own spin on it.  From clothing to colours it's all fair game.  I really think J.Crew is onto something.  Giving a recognizable and memorable name to an item to makes it more popular, at least around here on the blog circuit.  From the Ludlow to the Bowery to the 484, all names that have worked and are easy to call to mind.

But sometimes the names seem slightly off or just a little odd.  Plaited sweater, hmm what's that all about?  Wouldn't cotton casual sweater or everyday sweater work better for a guy.  Do you think the average guy knows what plaited is?  Maybe plaited works and the naming team is educating us.  The the Halyard striped hoodie, granted J.Crew is preppy, but how many of you knew it referred to sailing and knots?  Wallace and Barnes is a mind field of interesting handles, the sawtooth parka, the Sinclair sweatshirt and the Kilworth shirt.

Don't get me wrong J.Crew does truly nail it with some of it's labels like sunwashed fleece or tie-dye indigo, two of my favorite names.  And the men's side isn't the only one having fun.  Hacking jacket, okay I won't comment on this name it's too easy.  Lady jacket and the Memo dress, can the email shirt be far off?  Colours are some of the best names, favorites that come to mind are vintage barn red, stormy sea blue and melted caramel.

If I listed all of the names this post would be far too long and it would give you nothing to comment on.  So which ones do you think are the best, most memorable or just plain bad?

"Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his take on J.Crew! Some of the names that J.Crew gives their products are truly memorable like the Icon Trench. I am also a big fan of the way they name their shades of colors (like "Authentic Red" and "Vintage Berry").

My main concern with J.Crew's marketing team is with some of the descriptions for the items. Sometimes you are not sure what you are reading. (How many times have we heard the phrase "Copywriter from Space" on this blog from fellow JCAs???) ;)

What are your thoughts on this post? Do you have any pieces that you love or question the naming of? If so, please share with us your story. :)

JGIC Product Review: The 80 / 20 Rule

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 tackles a different topic: a few items we wear all the time and the rest we rarely wear!

All of us have heard the 80/20 line; you wear 20% of your clothing 80% of the time.

My 80/20 tends to be made of two fabrics, denim and fleece.  Love me some J.Brand denim, but with prices from $250 and north I default to Levis 514s which can be had on the cheap for $30 - $40.  Straight cut slim and in varying shades of washed and indigo.  Haven't tried J.Crew's denim yet, but knowing me how far away can that be?

As this is a J.Crew blog here it is, fleece.  I am a fleece addict, with knits from Roots, J.Crew and Polo all adding up to far too many hoodies, crew necks and sweat pants.  (BTW does anyone ever sweat in said sweat pants?  I seem to sofa surf with a TV remote in mine.)  I have fleece from our favorite addiction, cotton pullovers in shawl collars, crew necks, full zip hoodies and said 'lounge' pants.   My most recent fleece is #96219 a shawl collar pull over in an oatmeal colour.  Like all J.Crew fleece tops it's fitted but not tight in a very soft cotton.  The shawl collar is not as big and cumbersome as earlier versions from J.Crew nor as scrimpy as those commonly found at BR.  I usually wear them with a tee or button down underneath.

The sunwashed fleece offerings #61640 are another good choice, I have two, one in green the other in a very pale sunwashed blue.  The cotton while soft is slightly crisper than the un-sunwashed items.  Same great fit as the pullovers, the current hot colour in my mind is deep cove, great colour blue.  The full zip numbers usually called utility are either all cotton or 50/50 cotton/poly.  I have one of each.  The all cotton ones are of a slightly heavier weight fabric while the cotton/poly ones are even softer in a slightly lighter knit.  The new arrival section shows even a wide striped crew neck in sunwashed summit orange or potter blue which looks great and very on trend.

With over 5 different fleece in varying shades of grey, no book references please, I find that the athletic grey colour is the most versatile, but I am known to sport green and blue and even oatmeal or black.  Stop by my house any time after work is finished on a weekday or on the weekend and you'll find me wearing 20% of my wardrobe, fleece, 80% of the time.

So what are you wearing 80% of the time?

"Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his thoughtful look on another intriguing topic! Once again, I am guilty of wearing a select handful of pieces over and over again (while rarely wearing others). For example, I have gotten my fair share of use out of the sweatshirts (like the Tortoise-Button Stripe Sweatshirt) and button-down shirts (like the Buffalo-Check Shirt). Yet, I do not get to wear enough the lovely Library-Print Doll Dress.

What are your thoughts on this post? Do you have any pieces that you wear all the time? What pieces do you love but never get a chance to wear? If so, please share with us your story. :)

JGIC Product Review: The Best Thing I Never Bought

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 tackles a different topic: a few items considered and then never bought, and the relief of not getting it!

Have you sat glued to the computer's screen, finger poised above the enter button ready to click or not and submit your order? All too often I have wavered and thankfully so. Here's my short list of the greatest thing I never bought.

There have been numerous things I've bought thinking they would change my life; make me more stylish; totally change my look. What they did in fact was lower my bank balance and raise what I owed the credit card company. Far too easy to click and spend restlessly, from a few wildly bright ties to iffy cuts of pants I've pretty much done it all.

One of my worst bits was a pair of shoes a few years back, they were beautiful, shiny and painful. They hurt my feet from the moment I slipped them on. Sure they looked good, but I felt like Cinderella's ugly step sister trying to squeeze my foot in and make it work. That was a waste of $200.

Then there is my strange need to buy things more than once. How many pale blue dress shirts does a guy need? Apparently I seem to regularly forget that I have a few of them. Usually once a year a new one shows up to hang next to the others that are already there. Along with the pale blue numbers are the ones that in idea sound so good, but in reality match nothing and are far too much of a fashion risk making me the fashion casualty. If I'd only stay focused and remember who I am. It's like the tourist visting some exotic locale, who buys something that all the people wear there. Once returning home all it does is make you look silly.

But back to my title, The Best Thing I Never Bought. There have been cord jackets on sale in odd colours, cashmere in ice cream bright colours and seersucker pants. All part of my collection of the best bits I dodged.

How about it, what's the best thing you never bought?

"Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his thoughtful look on such an intriguing topic! I am personally guilty of hovering over the submit button (on a daily basis!), wondering if I really should be getting an item or not. Although, my ending usually involves regret (wondering why I did not get it!) ;)

What are your thoughts on this post? Do you have any experiences with not buying something or buying something you regretted? If so, please share with us your story. :)

JGIC Product Review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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 his top picks of shoes for for men:

J.Crew's men's shoes, the title says it all.  I've owned many pairs of shoes from J.Crew purchased at various times over the past ten years, some I've loved and worn into the ground; some collect dust on the shelf and some I just shake my head and question my sense or lack of.

One pair of shoes I've enjoyed for years is the Allerton blucher (#55751) in a dark chocolate colour.  Years ago I read how the Italians wear dark richly coloured brown shoes with everything, from grey flannel to navy to black.  Believing that these are the most stylish men in the world I jumped on the dark brown train and for the next five years wore only dark brown shoes with eveything.  The key is making sure your shoes have a rich dark brown colour.  You make make so so brown shoes look far better by simply pilshing them with black shoe cream.  Sounds crazy, but it works, adding a deep dark patina to the shoe, a real depth of colour.  An occassional use of the black polish/shoe cream really does better the brown shoe.  Don't do it everytime, but just until you reach that glorious desired colour.

The Allerton is no Allen Edmunds or Alden; but let's keep some perspective here.  Compared to the American made shoes the J.Crew ones pale, but are a pair of Aldens three times better?  Guess it depends on the guy paying.  For me a $600 pair of shoes is out of the question, unless I only get one pair a year.  In all honesty I want some variety and a more inexpensive pair or two or three allow that.  The fist pair of Allertons from five years ago were the go to pair, from flannel grey wool to washed out denim to cords and chinos they did it all.  Sadly they wore out, both the sole and the interrior.  So I scored a new pair on promo this fall.  Not quite the same quality leather, but they beat many of the mall brands.

The other well worn shoe is the MacAlister (#79438).  My first pair was from eight years ago and I loved these suede boots.  They did overtime from spring until fall with chinos, denim and even shorts.  When they finally were done I tried the replacement MacAlister in a store.  They were unlined and lacked the quality of the previous pair.  I tried them and they are fine, but not what I had before.  Looked at and tried Clarks which are so poorly sized and uncomfortable I pitched them after a few weeks.  So back to J.Crew and the current offereing.  I wear them but still miss the previous ones.

Harington bucks (#64609) are a new addition in rockface grey.  The bucks reddish colour sole and green grey colour will be a real help to my spring summer wardrobe.  They are very light in weight and fit pefectly.  Comfortable and the slightly reddish sole are right on trend.  While other companies show bright soles, I'm more preppy and conservative so these suit me so much better.  Not too sure how they will hold up over the long term.

Ah Sperry shoes, transport me back to my youth and the 80s, Levis or shorts with deck shoes.  The Sperrys I have are the first ones offered (#13509).  These are possibly the most limited shoes as they work best with shorts.  I find the profile to just look slighly off with pants, even the beloved washed out Levis 501.  And unless my feet were more cushioned in the 80s they shoes are not great for walking, better suited to looking good.

I do have other shoes in my closet and they fall into the hit and miss zones as well.  Hugo Boss boots from seven years ago, a true hit in the deep rich Italian brown leather.  But the recent Boss shoes in black, yeah I actually bought black shoes this fall after so many years without, show the company living off it's name and a dive in quality and wearabilty.  Allen Edmunds are beautiful, but for $400 they should be.  There's even a couple of mall brands that are pretty good for the price.  But for sneakers for me there's just one name, ASICS.  The Japanese sneakers are the best for comfort and style.  The models with Tiger name are my favorite; sligtly retro with so many colour choices.  Come summer they're the only ones for me.  My red ones and blue ones took me all over NYC in 2010 and my feet never complained once and they gave me some style as well.  How many walking shoes tourists wear can say that?

As an online shopper a real bonus to J.Crew's men's shoe offerings is the fit.  Their sizing is very consistent.  While the quality seems to be lower than previous years they still offer styles that work for me.  If they'd only bump up the leather quality and construction.

So which shoe is the good, the bad and the ugly?  Guess it all depends on your wallet and need.

"Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his in-depth look at the various types of footwear that J.Crew offers! I am sad to hear that the men's collection is also experiencing a decline in quality over the years. I thought it was just the Women's line. :(

What are your thoughts on any of the J.Crew footwear for Men discussed in this post? Do you own any of these shoes? If so, please share with us your review. :)

JGIC Product Review: Dear Santa {Top 10 List!}

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 his top picks for for men:

Well ladies, you asked for it and here it is, my version of a top ten list.  No it's not ten items and no it's no in any particular order.   But for those of you interested these are items I have or would enjoy getting..  Hint, hint, wink, wink.

1. J.Crew makes some wonderful ties and most guys have some decent silk ones, but how about wool or a wool/silk blend? My personal favorites are the ones that match so many different things and work with suits, chinos and even denim.  Try the Shadow-Stripe Tie in Charcoal (#39962).  Made in the USA allowing you to feel good about spending money and helping the economy.
   
   Pindots have been featured and recommended by GQ, the style bible for many of us.  Why not try one in academy purple?  Item #51133 will work nicely.  And purple looks great with grey suits or trousers.  White shirt and you're good to go.
   
   Last tie suggestion, Macartney Stripe in Wool-Silk (#15037).  A grey field with a pop of bright colour, in golden mustard, aka yellow, or felt green or bright pomegranate.  And by the way who names these colours?
2. A good tie needs some bling, a silver tie clip works.  Not some diamond studded piece, we all know that diamonds are for the ladies.  Try one of the silver J.Crew ones like the Rounded Sterling-Silver Clip (#11327), or the Bobby Pin Sterling-Silver Tie Clip (#11323).  Both of these are slimmer, smaller ones so if your guys wears wide ties buy him a tie from the above list or get him #21821 which will work well on a wider tie.
3. The Classic Roll Neck Sweater.  I remember seeing these way back in the nineties, and this new one is updated with a slimmer cut.  I have one from last year and it's works great with a tee underneath or a button down.  My personal favorite is the Heather Indigo (#33108).  And don't all guys look good in blue?
4. Another cozy option is the Marled Lambswool Shawl Collar Sweater (#49202).  Again an easy option, go with a tee under it or a button down shirt.  In my opinion the hot colour is heather cognac.  Perfect for going out for dinner or a movie, or just hanging out.
5. Love me some good fleece and J.Crew makes some study, comfortable ones.  My go to uniform for watching TV in the evening is a fleece crewneck and pants.  Warm, comfortable and easy to wash.  Try the Utility Fleece Pant (#34194).  I wear a medium in the fleece utilty fleece and in dress pants and jeans take a 33" so hope that helps you find the right size.
   
   Throw a crewneck in there and you're good to go.  Try #96270.  Size wise a medium is somewhat fitted, but not tight or cheesey looking, so if you're wanting a more relaxed loose look size up.
   
   If fleece can be dressed up it's the Shawl-Collar Sweatshirt (#51890).  No one will think you're ready for a job interview, but the collar moves you past the usual sweatshirt look.
6. Bright colourful socks or strongly patterned ones are another thing the GQ boys endorse.  While Corgi makes some wonderful ones I'm unable to get behind $38 (Canadian price) socks.  Try #76803 in Blue Teal red or for the more conservative fellow #19320 in Heather Charcoal Stripe.  I'd list more options but you get the picture.
7. Every Christmas list needs some cashmere and here it is, in a one size fits all scarf.  Try a plaid like #54175 or a solid such as #54104.  I can't speak for the wear or piling as I have wool ones from BR, sorry J.Crew but they offered a better deal and the colour I was after.
8. For guys with a sense of humour or someone who has everything try "How to be a Man" by Glenn O'Brien.  He writes a monthly column for GQ titled "The Style Guy" and if the book is like his column it'll be fun and worth a read.  It's #73047 and for $34 for us Canucks it should be worthwhile.
9. Every list needs some ridiculous item and here's mine, a chrome plated, made in Spain stapler for his desk.  It's just under $400 (#23891).  And seriously if a guy could afford a $400 stapler he should have staff to do that sort of thing for him.
10. If your guy swims or you have a hot holiday planned get him some good board shorts.  Now these are unlined meaning there's no mesh underwear deal inside, but they fit great, wear well and will help him look cool.  I have a couple pairs and they worked so well in Maui last year I'm going there again in 2013.  Trunks/board shorts with an elastic waist band make you look more 'muffin top'-ish and who needs that so go with ones like a 7" or 9" inseam one.  Check out #82845 in Chilmark Plaid or a Solid Cargo Board Short (#56558).  These fit just like other J.Crew pants so take a peek in his waist band and get him some that fit.

I tried to keep the list as easy to get right as possible.  If you're more flush with cash get him a Ludlow Blazer and for those of us on a budget try a Croc- Embossed Leather Flask (#38773) for about $40.  And like the old cliche says it's the thought that counts.

What a great "top ten" list for gentleman this holiday season! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his in-depth look at the classic gifts that every man should get!

By the way, how crazy is the price of that stapler!? Is it meant to be used? And if so, who is buying and using this? I can kind of understand expensive pens. But an expensive stapler?! J.Crew Guy In Canada is right: if you can afford that stapler you can afford to not staple (oh the catch!)

What are your thoughts on any of the J.Crew pieces for Men discussed in this post? Do you own any of these pieces? If so, please share with us your review. :)

JGIC Product Review: Baby It's Cold Outside

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 J.Crew's outerwear for men:

As the temperature drops it's crucial to stay warm and stylish, not always too easy especially when the temperatures really get cold.  Here's my take on a few offerings from our friends at J.Crew and maybe even a reference to the competition at BR.

The University Jacket (#96037) is a personal favorite.  I've had mine for over four years and while they have added 'kissing welt pockets' the coat is basically unchanged.  Mine is charcoal with Thinsulate and a real work horse.  While mine lacks the kissing pockets (maybe if I had them I'd pucker up more?) it is so very practical.  With the collar popped and yes you should pop your jacket's collar.  From hoodies and denim to turtleneck or dress shirts and tie with wool pants this goes with them all.  The fabric wears like steel and after four years no sign of pilling or adverse wear, take that cashmere sweaters.  While is warm without being too heavy it's no heavy down filled puffer jacket.  I definitely recommend this one, classic well made and a good value especially with sales.

The Dacota down jacket (#17343) is the way to go for serious warmth from J.Crew.  I picked mine up last year right before Christmas with a great discount.  It's very light, slightly more fitted than the University jacket and warm.  I find that if this jacket isn't warm enough I should get inside immediately.  While it does come with an unlined hood in the collar your best best is a cashmere or wool hat, (see #33871 or #33828).  I have a cashmere one from two years ago and it's warm.  The down jacket is what I wear shoveling snow and running errands on the weekend.  It washes beautifully and it's a bonus not having to worry about dry cleaning which is the best way to make a down jacket ineffective.

As to the well advertised pea coat, aka the authentic Bayswater Peacoat (#87195), I actually picked up on from my friends over at BR.  I know, I know a BR review and recommendation on a J.Crew blog.  The fabrics used in the peacoat are the same as the University jacket and I was after something different, hence the BR peacoat.  It's a faint plaid, fitted and looks sharp, but in all honesty not as warm as the University jacket or as practical.  While a single breated jacket looks good open or closed the peacoat loses something when it's open and unbuttoned.

Finally for a warmer winter day the Boulder down vest (#50836) is awesome.  Worn with a wool sweater it can't be beat.  Like the Dacota jacket it's light, slighly fitted and washes perfectly.  Definitely something to add to your collection.

All these jackets fit true to size and with the sales being offered an even better deal.  No reason to be chilled or cold with great offerings like these around.

Another fantastic review! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his in-depth look at the outerwear collection!
 
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's outerwear for Men? Do you own any of their coats? If so, please share with us your review. :)

JGIC Product Review: My Go To Guy - The Washed Favorite Shirt

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 J.Crew's Washed Favorite Shirts for men:

Everybody should have a go to guy; that person that you bounce ideas off of, share a beer with and is the one you can count on to get you out of a tough situation.  My go to guy is the washed favorite shirt by our friends at J.Crew.  He fits me perfectly; not tight and poor quality yeah I'm looking at you Zara; the fit is always the same with odd sleeve length or varying cuts (eyes cast towards BR); they always wash up beautifully and keep their shape *cough Gap* and it's easier to find a deal *nods towards Ralph*.  Maybe they don't offer real shell buttons and some logo on the chest, but do you want to advertise something you had to pay for?

My bromance with the washed favorite shirt began years ago when I picked up a white button down in what was then the 'new' J.Crew cut shirt.  This 'new' cut is known known as the classic.  That white button down has worked with ties and v-neck sweaters, dark washed denim and even worn untucked with shorts and a pair on sneakers in the height of summer.  I checked the label of my good buddy and he's from 2007 and still going strong.  Yeah he's slightly worn and a little frayed and while he may only come out on weekends now, he's the first one.

Lately some new guys have shown up.  Okay, in all honesty there are more than 25 of the guys hanging upstairs in the closet, all washed favorite shirts.  Quite the collection I know, but in my defense it has taken several years to amass my army of J.Crew shirts.  And you must admit, for me J.Crew nailed the name, washed favorite shirt.  I've got gingham, micro in red and black; blue and a purple in medium gingham #47358, plaid #94694 and many more, some end on end action #25314, a stripped one in grey and yes there are solids too #68015.  So many of the shirts are from the past few seasons, but the cut and the quality remain the same.

J.Crew does offer a light weight option in the spring, but I find that the fabric wrinkles so much easier than the standard weight cloth.  If I'm going to spend all that time ironing it better last longer than the drive to work.  While the style guys at J.Crew might be recommending the rumpled, wrinkled look I prefer to look at little more polished when I'm being professional, earning my keep.  The standard cloth that J.Crew uses works great for me, either pressed with a tie and maybe a sweater or blazer or hung to dry and then just tossed into the dryer to soften the crunchiness and wear on the weekend.

The washed favorite shirt works for me and is my go to guy.  Whether button down or point collar, with a tie looking polished and professional or all rumpled with rolled up sleeves on the weekend it can't be beat.  And like so mnay of us do buying them on sale is even better.  Because of the fit there's no need to worry if it will fit.  Right now I'm eyeing up the golden beach tattersall #94686 (got to love a name like beach at this time of the year.)  And by the way all the oxfords, tartans and secret washed shirts have the same cut.  The flannels and workshirts are okay, but are slighty looser and usually feature two chest pockets with exterrior buttons that leave nipple marks when worn with a sweater, not a cool look for me.  So I'm sticking with the washed favorite and all it's close cousins, in my mind it just can't be beat.

Another fantastic review! "Thanks!" again to J.Crew Guy In Canada for his in-depth look at the classic staple of washed favorite shirts!
 
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's Washed Favorite Shirt for Men? Do you own any of their shirts? If so, please share with us your review. :)

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. :)