Online Shopping Picks: Everlane

Editor’s note: Sometimes, items that project great style are hard to find, especially at good prices. These articles aren’t necessarily a reflection of deals or sales for a particular brand, but noteworthy picks at the moment that can be had for affordable prices. For more Online Shopping Picks, head here.

Diving into a brand that's steadily on the way up.

Diving into a brand that’s steadily on the way up.

In the past two to two-and-a-half years or so, Everlane is a brand that’s raised a lot of eyebrows in the online fashion community. Their model of radical transparency and their desire to disseminate lots of information about how they do what they do has been praised by lots, as much as their clean, crisp aesthetic has also garnered positive reviews. They’re among a rare set of brands (J. Crew would probably be another) that do both men’s and women’s apparel very well, especially when it comes to staple essentials. They’ve been steadily expanding their wares on both sides, and have got a whole slew of releases planned for this spring — among others, they just dropped men’s henleys and a luxurious-looking merino blazer. The brand also has a new sweatshirt release and a spring jacket upcoming. For those of us that can’t wait though, there’s plenty of great goods on the site now. Check out picks below and share your thoughts on Everlane beneath that!

#1. The Henley Tee in Charcoal — $35 

An anticipated drop from Everlane that hopefully lives up to the hype.

A much-anticipated drop from Everlane that hopefully lives up to the hype.

One of Everlane’s latest product launches has easily been one of their most anticipated. When looking at the types of basics they’ve been putting out, this is a move that just makes sense — a henley is a masculine basic that can be layered all kinds of different ways (under a shawl cardigan or a v-neck sweater, to start) and brings to mind a certain rugged, old-time aesthetic. And given all the ways it can be worn in a neutral color like charcoal, this is a key pick — it meshes well with black jeans or dark denim and sturdy boots, in addition to chinos. Plenty of sizes are available right now in charcoal and other colors (almost shockingly so), and the price is excellent — lower than a comparable J. Crew staple, for example.  (Note: Look for an in-person review of one of these in white in the coming weeks). 

#2. The Cotton Pocket Tee in Slate — $15

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An underrated style basic in a unique color.

 

So the second item on this list keeps to the theme of darker-colored neutrals, which Everlane seems to do so well. While this is just a simple pocket tee, that item is fairly underrated as far as a men’s style piece. While short-sleeve henleys are a wise choice as well, sometimes you want something with more structure — that’s where the pocket tee comes in. It looks different than a traditional crewneck because of that chest pocket, and  the unique color helps it stand out from more basic options as well. This T-shirt would pair well with slim dark denim or a pair of navy trousers on the more hi-low spectrum of style; it also acts as a good neutral with some colored shorts. Don’t forget about the terrific price either — if Everlane is to be believed, comparable shirts retail for more than two times as much.

#3. The Slim Fit Denim Shirt — $55

A rugged staple for fall and winter — at a nice price, too.

A rugged staple for fall and winter — at a nice price, too.

There are so many good reasons to keep your closet stocked full of classic essentials like white OCBD’s and chambray shirts, yet in the fall and winter, it’s also handy to have a great denim shirt on-hand. Everlane also makes a deeper indigo denim shirt, and they just started selling a grey denim number, too, but the real gem of their collection is this medium denim option. It’s less overtly trendy than something like a light-wash denim shirt, and it goes with more pairings, too. It would fit perfectly with broken-in khaki chinos in either the fall or winter, and it would add a rugged, dressed-down appeal to charcoal trousers, too. This particular wash would also stand out well with black denim and a rich wool tie.  The price is very favorable when compared to a more expensive option from J. Crew, as well.

#4. The PK Polo in Hunter Green — $35

A color not typically seen on most polos, at a reasonable price.

A color not typically seen on most polos, at a reasonable price.

It might not exactly be polo weather right now for those of us in the north of the U.S. and in other cold climes, but within a couple months, it’ll be more than time for some short-sleeves. The great thing with Everlane is that they seem to keep inventory well-stocked and prices fairly consistent, so you could expect polos like these to stick around for quite a while. The fit on these looks to be solid — trim but not too tight, although one wonders if the photos shot on the model weren’t shot about a size too big (most of us prefer a slimmer-fitting polo at the sleeves and through the body). This particular item also comes in a color not seen tremendously often on polos — the deep hunter green would mesh well with wardrobe staples like tan chinos, and it would even sit right at home with lightwash jeans for the warmer months.

#5. The Twill Weekender Bag in Reverse Denim/Brown Leather — $95

For those who want to travel with style in mind.

For those who want to travel with style in mind.

No mention of Everlane would be complete without examining the brand’s gear — these pieces are what put them on the map for most of us style-conscious guys, and it seems like they’ve built up their apparel from around their bags, curiously enough. The theory would hold that dressing well goes hand-in-hand with what you carry for travel and everyday use, and these bags hold up that end of the deal quite nicely. These pieces, particularly the reverse denim weekender pictured above look crisp, clean and simple — the solid colors and lack of ornamentation or logos mean they’re not overly gaudy. From personal experience, the weekender bag is definitely meant to handle short spurts of usage — mine got used pretty hard across a summer in NYC, and I ended up replacing it with this bag instead. However, for those who need a true weekend bag, these pieces look outstanding and should provide just enough space for travel essentials. Most importantly, the price quite honestly destroys options from comparable brands. This isn’t built like a heritage bag from Filson, to be sure, but it should work just fine for the price.

Most notably with Everlane, an entire outfit, from apparel to accessories, could be built from the Everlane website, down to your wallet  — that’s the sign of a brand catering to the needs of customers while keeping style in mind.

And finally, a quick thought for all of you into Kickstarter clothing projects — be sure to check out Tom Cridland’s ongoing campaign — they’re a British company trying to break into the U.S. market and offer slim chinos in standout colors, including a nice deep navy option. Expect an in-person review of those within the coming days!

Have you bought from Everlane before? What’s on your wishlist from the brand? Let me know and thanks for reading!

 

 

 

Online Shopping Picks: Uniqlo

A well-known online retailer with an expanding brick-and-mortar presence.

A well-known online retailer with an expanding brick-and-mortar presence.

Editor’s note: Normally, brand or site round-ups haven’t been covered here on the site. However, sometimes seasonally appropriate or standout items just jump off the page. These choices don’t reflect sales picks at the moment, but simply offer a snapshot of great products from a (hopefully) affordable brand.

Uniqlo is one brand that’s gained a lot of traction in the fashion and style world over the past few years. Through the heavily-touted launch of their e-commerce website in 2012 to a quickly expanding presence in terms of physical retailers, they’re building something unique — starting from a base customer who likes colorful, basic activewear and catching the attention of more fashion-conscious consumers, too. The best part is the way they do it — by stocking affordable staple items and catering to crowds who also love it when they turn the equation on its head (with the recent relaunch of their much-loved +J Collection featuring Jil Sander). Check out the below picks for some fresh ways to incorporate the brand’s modern, fresh feel into your wardrobe.

#1. +J Wool Flannel Chesterfield Coat  — $229.90

A razor-sharp topcoat with unique detailing.

A razor-sharp topcoat with unique detailing.

For the first pick in this rundown, we’ll stick with a sharp piece from the brand’s +J relaunch. While sizing isn’t available across the board in this option, this piece changes up the typical topcoat silhouette with those peak lapels and a slim fit. It’s also a deep, neutral color that would pair well with all manner of pants and shoes. Beware of that slim fit though — it looks to be pretty trim. (For more details, check out this Dappered review). On the cheaper side, there’s also Uniqlo’s Wool Cashmere Chesterfield Coat — however, sizing for that piece is even more limited. Does anyone have any experience with this particular model?

#2. Denim Shirt — $14.90 (On Sale)

A fall essential that differs from other denim shirts.

A fall essential that differs from other denim shirts.

An earlier piece covering online shopping picks from J. Crew Factory also recommended picking up a denim shirt — but this piece differs from that option in some key ways (hey, what’s wrong with having lots of blue in your closet?). For one, the lack of buttons on the collar dresses up this piece ever so slightly. From personal experience, a denim shirt is almost an essential fall layering piece — the deep, dark blue shirt provides the same versatility up top as a dark pair of jeans does. A denim shirt looks crisp and polished under a tan herringbone or charcoal blazer, and pairs with just as many different types of sweaters as a white OCBD. The same holds true for darker shades of pants, as well. From personal experience, this shirt fits nice and trim, and while the collar is thin, it stands up just fine to knit ties. Keep in mind that this piece can be had for an exceptionally low price at the moment, too.

#3. Extra Fine Merino V-Neck Cardigan — $49.90

A neutral (yet not totally-plain) option that pairs well with lots of fall colors.

A neutral (yet not totally-plain) option that pairs well with lots of fall colors.

Cardigans are definitely continuing to have a moment across men’s style, from chunkier, throwback inspirations to thinner, crisper variations like this one. As sizing options continue to go quickly, it’s definitely worth jumping on while it’s still around. While chunkier cardigans convey rugged style, a trimmer cut in a good go-between fabric like merino looks more work-ready and appropriate with chinos, a knit tie and say, a denim dress shirt like the one above. Of course, this piece could definitely still be layered over a henley or long-sleeve shirt with ease. And given the price, it’s a comparable deal to more expensive options, too.

#4. Slim-Straight Selvedge Jeans — $39.90 (On Sale)

Selvedge denim at a nearly unbeatable price.

Selvedge denim at a nearly unbeatable price.

Some might argue that it’s not worth buying selvedge at such a low price, but there’s no better time to buy a pair of jeans like this, especially when more expensive variations can run well into triple digits. Another upside to these jeans is that it provides a great incentive to dip into the world of selvedge denim — if it’s a great fit, it could be worth researching more. This particular pair includes classic selvedge detailing at the cuffs, and a slim-straight fit that (from personal experience with Uniqlo jeans) is trim and tailored without being too tight. That navy color is going to look great with just about any pair of shoes this fall and winter, from casual leather sneakers to sturdier boots, while a selvedge cuff perfectly complements the chillier weather we’re starting to see across much of the country.

#5. Jacquard Socks

A rustic pattern (for your feet) that brings to mind heavy Nordic influences.

A rustic pattern (for your feet) that brings to mind heavy Nordic influences.

While socks aren’t by any means the most eye-catching purchase from any website, they could easily become an eye-catching part of an ensemble — and that’s why reaching for a pair with some pattern is always a solid choice. At their current price, they’re positively a steal for one pair alone — even moreso  given that you can snag some of Uniqlo’s sock options for $12.90 for three pairs. A jacquard-inspired print calls out the Fair Isle patterns typically seen on sweaters this time of year – why not bring a similar flair to your feet? And if you pick up a pair of heavy boots for trekking through the snow (or stomping your way through a rock concert), you’ll need something else to combat the cold.

That’s all for this edition of Online Shopping Picks. Do you have any favorite picks from Uniqlo? Any personal experience with the brand? Leave it all below!