Back to Basics
While I may fantasize of having a 100% alpaca-wool sweater for every day of the week, unfortunately my bank account can’t keep up with my imagination. You have to search for brands where you’re maximizing the value of your money and I think these ones nail that requirement.
Uniqlo
Most certainly you’ve heard of this Japanese powerhouse of a brand. It’s certainly not perfect but because of the large selection, decent pricing, and quality, it’s hard to look past this brand. If you do choose to browse and pick something up, I have some recommendations:
Focus on their quality pieces
Not all clothes are made with the same care and precision, and this is certainly true for Uniqlo. Using their shirts as an example; the Uniqlo U 100% cotton crew necks are of much better make and craftsmanship than their overblown Airism tees. The Airism, while not a horrible shirt, is not made with the same quality of the U crewneck or their Supima shirts. All the shirts are priced at $20 (at the time this was written) but for what you’re paying, I recommend getting the better bang-for-buck clothing.
Look for black label clothing
Black label usually refers to the idea of higher-end products. What Uniqlo does is, quite literally, attach a black label with their logo on products I found to be of much better make than some of their other products (most of their black labels will be on outerwear such as coats and jackets). Also, Uniqlo denim has tiers, so you should be on the lookout for jeans that have a black label saying Uniqlo Jeans—these are made from a reputable Japanese mill called Kaihara.
Always look at the material composition
I found that using the materials is a good way to determine the quality of clothing that Uniqlo sells. The more natural fabrics they use (e.g. cotton, wool, linen, etc.), the better the piece actually is. While you can’t completely avoid natural/synthetic blends, higher percentages of natural materials is what you should aim for.
Utility Short Blouson for $80
Honestly, I’m surprised Uniqlo has a piece like this; 100% cotton makeup for most of the jacket. Also, there’s a ton of features to this jacket (such as the corduroy collar). Cropped cut and it’s made to be true-to-size.
Taken from the Uniqlo website
If there’s one thing I will forever keep purchasing, it’s this (note: this is not the overhyped “Airism” tee). This shirt is 100% cotton jersey (jersey meaning it’s a sort of knitted construction), durable, and fits great. I personally like true-to-size (so a size small for me) because I like the fit but if you’re more into that boxy-fit and oversized look, I recommend going up a size
As a final note, I would highly recommend going for their tops because they’re usually pretty great: good construction, materials (sometimes), and design. Their pants and such are…lackluster, to say the least.
2. J.Crew
J.Crew, most definitely, is a step-up in price from Uniqlo, albeit a smaller one. A year ago, I would’ve never recommended them because of its tacky and run-through designs paired with inconsistencies in terms of quality; not to mention the upcharge on prices for pieces that aren’t whatsoever worth the price tag. However, with new creative director Brendon Barbenzian, I have seen noticeable changes to its pieces that have piqued my interest. The brand is finally returning to its roots of heritage clothing with actual thought put behind it, and on top of tons and tons of sales, you can’t miss the new and improved J.Crew. Here are some of my favorite pieces:
Giant-Fit cotton chinos
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I stumbled upon these: actual wide-fit chinos (and not just some spray-on jean looking garbage advertised as wide to bring in customers). One clear thing about these: the amounts of colors and sizes means there’s something for everyone. The colors have a vintage feel that look beautiful and, thanks to the 100% cotton composition, will age like wine. I also love the cut of these as they’re the original way chino’s are meant to be worn (since the 90’s). These are high-waisted but, depending on your height, can be worn any way; I find that pulling it up all the way makes the cuffs come up to my ankles, so I keep it mid-rise usually. It’s a versatile pair of pants that, with quality and design, culminates into a staple in your wardrobe. $98 is definitely a steep price, but for what you’re getting, it might be worth investing into.
Taken from the J.Crew website
Heritage-cotton half-zip sweater
These also caught my eye. I personally love the look and extra pop that half/quarter-zip sweaters give off compared to your standard crewneck. While I’m not really sure what heritage cotton means, the fabric looks absolutely sublime. It has a visible thick knit (for cotton) and gives a beautiful pop of color (not to mention, there are more bright colors that still fall in line with the upcoming Autumn/Winter season). The fabric looks sluggish on the outside and yet, has the appearance of a blanket; definitely worth looking into. I also like the scrunched bottom waistband; it’ll sit on your hips without being too flowy. 100% cotton and it keeps you warm—$98 for this is definitely worth it in my opinion.
Taken from the J.Crew website
Wallace & Barnes Herringbone Chino
Yet another chino (JCrew is really on a roll). It’s a more classic cut where it’s slightly tapered from the knee down, but it’s still has a nice leg-opening. I think the construction and design in these pants is a culmination of JCrew’s capabilites; beautiful herringbone fabric, classic silhouette, and elegant pleats on the front and back. Since it is from their upscale subbrand, Wallace & Barnes, I should only expect it to be of better make, but I’m still surprised.
Taken from the JCrew website
3. L.L. Bean
Imagine if J.Crew and Patagonia had a child; that’s what I would describe L.L. Bean as. Rugged workwear, but still elegant in its own way. It has a charm of its own and the fact that you can look like not just a lumberjack, but a sexy lumberjack, with their clothing is great. The quality is great, especially for the price you’re getting it and the designs are classic.
Merino-Wool Quarter Zip Sweater
Taken from the L.L. Bean website
The great thing about this specific sweater is that you’re getting not just any wool, but merino wool.
Merino is a specific type of wool taken from a select group of sheep and since you can’t harvest as much volume as normal wool, it’s often much more expensive. The upside is that you’re getting a much higher quality fabric—it’s much softer and significantly warmer too. The thing I love about L.L. Bean is that it’s priced at a very generous $120. While this certainly isn’t cheap by any means, it is completely worth it for the product you’re getting. If you scour the internet for this kind of item (made specifically of this wool), you’re likely to get results that are significantly more expensive. So if you’re planning on investing into a knit sweater, I’d put this in as a good contender: lots of versatility and immensely useful.
Canvas Tote-Bag
Taken from the L.L. Bean website
I know I was glazing L.L. Bean’s clothing, but my god, this thing is beautiful. I’ve felt it firsthand and the construction is impeccable; unlike you’re standard, flimsy everyday tote-bags, this one is built sturdier than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biceps. I genuinely believe that this can stop a bullet because this canvas fabric is just so well-crafted and, unlike other tote-bags, I am not afraid of this ripping or getting damaged. Also, the double stitching just adds more strength and durability to the bag itself which is a nice touch. I think that the best part is that this is one of the few things L.L. Bean makes 100% in the U.S.A. American construction is generally what I prefer just because the quality tends to be a step above the rest and just generally better overall. I think a nice touch are the color and sizing options—beautiful shades (whether you want a vintage-type feel or a more vibrant color) mixed with varying sizes means there’s going to be something for everyone (bonus points for adding custom pins to the bag). I highly recommend this and am going to pick one up for myself as well.
One thing to note about L.L. Bean: if you’re ever thrifting or going vintage shopping, you might be able to find some absolute gems from older designs of L.L. Bean. Not guaranteed but always something to look out for.
4. Unbranded Brand
Japanese selvedge denim is a pretty hard commodity to get your hands on, usually because of the price (these ranging from usually around $200, all the way up to the $1000+). However, this company makes selvedge denim in all shapes and form for an absolutely astounding price—around $95-150.
Is this still expensive? Yes, but for the product you’re getting (keep in mind, this is selvedge), it’s an absolute steal. And one might think that with the price being comparatively low, the quality must suffer; however, I’m here to tell you that from what I’ve seen, I don’t find this to be the case. This company is actually a subsect of another company called Naked and Famous, a leader in the selvedge industry and a very well-known producer. Unbranded Brand’s jeans are all sourced from its parent company and because they put no money into advertising, they manage to keep the prices low.
So if you’re in the market for you’re first pair of selvedge, these are definitely a good place to go.
Taken from the Unbranded Brand website
This is only a tiny fraction of what the company sells; there’s much more fits and types of denims that they offer so I recommend you check it out
These are just some of many brands that I personally love for their versatility and reasonably-priced products. But always remember, do your research and find your own brands that you love; these are meant for essentials/everyday clothing type of stuff and not uniqueness. That, you’ll have to search for.
